Meeting Dates
The organization meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month September
through May. Meetings are held in the Williamsburg Regional Library
Theatre located at 515 Scotland St in Williamsburg, VA, unless otherwise
posted. The meetings begin at 6:30 PM. Membership is open to the
general public.
May's Speaker
MONTHLY MEETING NOTICE
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Dr. Jerry Wooten
“Johnsonville”
Join us on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the Williamsburg Regional Library
Theatre.
This presentation will also be presented via Zoom. Details for the Zoom
link will be provided by a follow up meeting announcement several days
prior to the meeting date.
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Dr. Jerry Wooten will present “Johnsonville”.
Too often the Civil War in Tennessee is defined in popular memory by its
major national battlefield parks, such as Shiloh, Chattanooga, Fort
Donelson and Stones River. In the 21st century, more so than in the
past, historians have been asking different questions of the state’s
Civil War experiences. What about the long federal army occupation? What
was the impact of enslaved peoples becoming contraband laborers? Where
were Unionist supporters across the entire state, not just East
Tennessee? What are linkages between occupation, emancipation, and free
black community building? Why have we ignored—outside the battles of
Fort Donelson and Memphis—the dominance of the federal navy in the war?
How significant was control of the inland river system that divided east
and middle Tennessee in the strategy and fighting of the Civil War in
Tennessee?
Johnsonville: Union Supply Operations on the Tennessee River and the
Battle of Johnsonville, November 4-5, 1864, by Dr. Jerry Wooten, takes
important steps toward answering these significant questions. Of the
more than three dozen designated nationally significant battles in
Tennessee, Johnsonville’s significance was recognized by only a handful
of specialists. But now with Wooten’s comprehensive treatment of
Johnsonville as a military base, battleground, and launching ground for
emancipation, its transformative story will gain new audiences
Jerry Wooten is originally from Clarksville, Tennessee. He received his
Bachelor’s degree in American History from Austin Peay State University
and his Master’s Degree from Murray State University in Historic
Preservation. In 2015, Jerry completed his Ph.D. in Public History at
Middle Tennessee State University with a concentration in Resource
Management. Jerry's dissertation is entitled: Johnsonville: The
Evolution, Defense, and Demise of the Union’s Tennessee River Supply
Depot, 1790-1890.
In December 2016, Jerry moved to his current position as park manager of
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park located on the grounds of the
historic 1853 Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. Since his
tenure, Jerry has helped transform the park from original operations
established in 1996 to another award-winning park winning consecutive
Awards of Excellence for Innovation (2018), Sustainability (2019), and
Interpretation (2021).
In November 2019, Jerry released his first book through Savas-Beatie
Publishers entitled: Johnsonville: Union Supply Operations on the
Tennessee River and the Battle of Johnsonville, November 4-5, 1864.
View
presentation
185th anniversary reenactment of action at Wilson's Wharf in Fort Pocahontas details
Mike Block, a member of the WCWRT interviewed about his new book. read
Butch Barringer, a member of WCWRT, publishes new biography on Colonel Thomas Taylor Mumford, "Unhonored Service"
Williamsburg Battlefield Association events May 20 & May 28 details
The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College would like to offer the members of your Civil War Round table a 15% discount to attend the CWI summer conference June 10-15. details
Egger Tract in Williamsburg saved view
CWRT Congress News & Events view
American Civil War Museum newsletter view
NAU Center For Civil War History newsletter view
April 14, 2022 - General Grant and General Lee
present "Appomattox - The Last 48 Hours"
view
Visit the American Battlefield Trust site to view animated Peninsula Campaign map
Visit the Williamsburg Battlefield Association (view
newsletter)
(http://www.williamsburgbattlefieldassociation.org/)
(https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsburgBattlefieldAssociation)