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Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

~ Remembering the Civil War in East Tennessee

Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

Tag Archives: George Henry Thomas

Lightning Strikes at Chickamauga: Wilder’s Mounted Infantry Brigade: KCWRT, Jan. 15, 2019

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by knoxcwrt in news, speakers

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George Henry Thomas, Jim Ogden

“His command…merits the thanks of the country for its noble stand at the crossing of the Chickamauga…”, affirmed Major General William Rosecrans speaking of the role played by Col. John T. Wilder’s vaunted “Lightning Brigade” in the opening act of the Battle of Chickamauga.

Major General George Thomas was equally effusive in recommending Wilder for a promotion to brigadier citing his “ingenuity…in occupying the attention of the entire corps of the rebel army”, his “valor”, and “excellent service” … “before and during the battle of Chickamauga”. Three stars clearly shone brightly in the dark of the Union disaster at Chickamauga.

One was that of Old Pap Thomas whose heroic stand at Snodgrass Hill saved the Union army and garnered him the sobriquet of “Rock of Chickamauga”. The second was that of Gordon Granger who marched to the sound of the guns and, with Thomas, helped save the day.

And the third was none other than that of an Indiana industrialist, now colonel, John Thomas Wilder. In the six months leading up to the battle, through scouting and raiding in Middle Tennessee and giving battle at Hoover’s Gap, Wilder had crafted and molded one of the most powerful and unique units of the Civil War.

Come join on January 15 (please note the date) us as Historian Jim Ogden relates the story of Wilder’s famed Mounted Infantry Brigade and how they proved their mettle at Chickamauga.  From a key role on the initial Union left to the application of deadly firepower on the Union’s new right, Wilder’s Brigade shaped the action wherever they were on the field. Famously armed with the Spencer Repeating Rifle, the Brigade’s success was due not just to the new arm, but also to the leadership exercised by Wilder and his lieutenants and the character of the men under them. All of this and more will be a part of Ogden’s talk, “Lightning Strikes at Chickamauga.” This is one you’re not going to want to miss!

Jim Ogden, Chief Historian at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, is an historian, teacher, and tour guide par excellence. A frequent speaker at Round Tables and historical organizations across the U.S., Jim is a longtime friend of the KCWRT, our most visited speaker, and the first historian to be awarded with an honorary lifetime membership to our organization.

A native of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Jim joined the National Park Service in 1982 and served at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Russell Cave, and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania before returning to Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP in 1988 as historian, the position he now holds. Jim has taught numerous history courses, led hundreds of tours and army staff rides, and written several articles on the Civil War. He also has appeared in several TV productions including “Civil War Journal”, “Civil War Combat”, and “History Detectives”.

Over the years Jim has been the recipient of a host of awards for his scholarship, preservation and advocacy work. His most recent awards include the United States Army Commander’s Award for Public Service and the Civil War Trust’s National Park Service Preservation Advocate Award, both bestowed in 2017.

Jim, his wife Lora, and their son Jamie (born on the133rd anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg) live in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia near the Chickamauga Battlefield.

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The Rock fails to roll: George H. Thomas at Kennesaw Mountain

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by knoxcwrt in Civil War leaders, news

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Atlanta campaign, Benjamin Franklin Cheatham, Brian Steel Wills, George Henry Thomas, Joseph Johnston, Kennesaw Mountain, Knoxville Civil War Rountable, Old Slow Trot, Patrick Cleburne, Rock of Chickamauga

George Henry Thomas

George Henry Thomas

The American Civil War opened avenues for many individuals to emerge as leaders in the conflict.

In 1861, George Thomas brought with him a West Point education and extensive earlier service in the field, including active involvement in the Mexican- American War. Before Thomas could become one of the most renowned general officers to serve the Union, however, he had to overcome doubts concerning his Virginia birth, his fidelity to the Union cause, and his willingness to wage campaigns zealously against his fellow Southerners.

His meticulous manner, reflected in the pre-war nickname, “Old Slow Trot,” also raised questions in the minds of superiors and some colleagues about the degree to which Thomas might be able to contribute to ultimate Union victory. George Henry Thomas overcame his doubters to become one of the Union’s top generals, known best to history as “the Rock of Chickamauga.”

Even so, when ordered to punch through the defenses of Joseph Johnston at Kennesaw Mountain during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, Thomas found the work formidable in the face of some of the Confederacy’s finest fighters —Patrick Cleburne and Benjamin Franklin Cheatham.

Come join us as author and historian Brian Steel Wills takes us for an in- depth look at the triumphant life and career of General Thomas while zeroing in on one of his more challenging days.

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Welcome to the KCWRT

The Knoxville Civil War Roundtable is a organization dedicated to remembering and studying the Civil War in East Tennessee.

Find out how to join the KCWRT on our membership page.

Meetings of the KCWRT are held at the Bearden Banquet Hall (5806 Kingston Pike). A dinner buffet is served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $17 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations must be made or cancelled not later than 11:00 am on the day before the meeting. Call (865) 671-9001 to make or cancel reservations.

Roundtable business is conducted at approximately 7:15 p.m.

A guest speaker, normally an author, educator, or historian of national prominence in his or her field, speaks for approximately one hour, on some aspect of the American Civil War. Additional information about this month's speaker can be found in the current issue of The Scout's Report.

This address is followed by a brief question and discussion period. Cost (for those not dining) is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers.

The normal schedule of events at each meeting is as follows:

6:30 p.m. - Buffet Dinner
7:15 p.m. - Roundtable Business
7:30 p.m. - Speaker + Questions/Discussion
8:45 p.m. - Adjournment

Now available

Protect your pate with this fashionable and utilitarian cap. Made of cotton twill, it is durable, yet comfortable, and displays the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable logo prominently in front. Our caps are proudly worn by Ed Bearrs and they are an excellent accessory for your civil war history adventures. Priced at only $15.00, you too could look like a national treasure!

“Its Memory Alone Remains”
The Battle of Fort Sanders took place on what is now known as Fort Sanders Hill near downtown Knoxville. Nothing remains of the original fortifications however this short film provides excellent information about the fortifications and the battle. The fortifications were designed by Orlando Poe who encircled the fort with a deep trench which was not visible upon approach to the walls of the fort. Poe also had interwoven telegraph wire among the tree stumps surrounding the fort which presented a nearly impassable barrier, and utilized brush from the cut trees as additional camouflage. The resulting battle was brutal, resulting in large casualties.
Produced by Steve Dean, this documentary was filmed on a full-scale reproduction of the bastion with the dimensions of the earthwork and ditch taken from Orlando Poe’s description. The title of this film was taken from an 1890’s Blue and Gray Reunion Medal.
Available for purchase at $15.00.

“The Hidden Battlefield”
From the renowned Heartland Series, “The Hidden Battlefield” retells the history of the battle of Campbell Station. On November 16, 1863, nearly 20,000 soldiers fought on two fronts, with hundreds of deaths. Unfortunately little remains at this location to commemorate the 6-hour battle for possession of the crossroads at Campbell Station that resulted in two Medals of Honor being awarded.
The illustrious and knowledgeable Gerald Augustus is featured in this presentation.
Available for purchase at $15.00

All items are available for purchase at our monthly meetings or by mail to PO Box with check to KCWRT for amount of purchase. add $5 for postage and handling and email to zachsam@yahoo.com with order.

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Abraham Lincoln Alfred Pleasonton Alfred Waud Ambrose Burnside Antietam Army of Northern Virginia Army of the Potomac Atlanta campaign Battlelines: Gettysburg Battle of Stones River Battle of the Wilderness Braxton Bragg Brian McKnight Brian Steel Wills Centreville Champ Ferguson Chattanooga Chickamauga Civil War Civil War in East Tennessee Civil War in Knoxville Civil War outlaws Civil War partisams Civil War Trust crowdsourcing Culp's Hill Curt Fields Earl Hess Ed Bearss Ed Caudill Edwin Forbes Fort Dickerson Frank O'Reilly Fredericksburg Free State of Jones Ft. Sanders George Armstrong Custer George Henry Thomas George McClellan George Meade George Rable Gettysburg Henry Wirz J.E.B. Stuart James Longstreet Jefferson Davis Jim Lewis Jim Ogden John Marszalek John Singleton Mosby Joseph Hooker Joseph Johnston Joseph Wheeler Knoxville Civil War Rountable magazines Manassas Junction march through Georgia news during the Civil War newspapers Paul Ashdown Richard Ewell Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee. George Pickett Rutherford B. Hayes Scout's Report T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson Ulysses S. Grant United States Military Academy University of Alabama Vicksburg video West Point William P. Sanders William Tecumseh Sherman Wyatt Moulds

Recently on KCWRT.org

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  • KCWRT April meeting, Chickamauga field trip canceled
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