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Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

~ Remembering the Civil War in East Tennessee

Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

Tag Archives: Joseph Johnston

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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Richard McMurry tells KWCRT Joseph Johnston gets ‘too much credit’ for transforming the Army of Tennessee

29 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by knoxcwrt in Civil War leaders, news, speakers

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Army of Tennessee, Braxton Bragg, Chattanooga, Civil War, Joseph Johnston, Richard McMurry

Historian Richard McMurry told the August meeting of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston gets too much credit for being a “miracle worker” in November 1863 when he too command of the Army of Tennessee south of Chattanooga.

Most of the things that happened to change the army during that winter, McMurry said, “would have happened anyway no matter who was the commander.”

Here’s a video excerpt of McMurry’s talk:


KCWRT-McMurry from Jim Stovall on Vimeo.

Historian Richard McMurry discusses the undue credit that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston receives for “turning the Army of Tennessee around” in the winter of 1863-64 when he took command. Many of the things that happened to re-invigorate the army would have taken place no matter who was in command. The speech was given on August 9, 2016, to the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable.


Johnston took over the Army of Tennessee in November 1863 when it was demoralized and in disarray. McMurry listed some of the things that Johnston did to get the army ready for its spring battles:

  • He reorganized the command and thus restored its morale.
  • He made useful suggestions for transporting food more efficiently.
  • The men built relatively comfortable shelters for the winter.
  • More railroad cars became available and thus more food, clothing and supplies were shipped tot he army.
  • Johnston reduced the number of mouths the army had to feed by granting furloughs.

Many of these things would have happened anyway, McMurry said, but Johnston gets credit for them. The reputation of Braxton Bragg, one of the army’s previous commanders, has suffered because these things had not happened on his watch.

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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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  • Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend, Oct. 26-27, 2019
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