Current Newsletter and Archives
Williamsburg Civil War
Roundtable
Meeting Place:
WILLIAMSBURG
Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre
Volume LIV Number 8 April 23, 2024
MONTHLY MEETING NOTICE
April 23, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Join us on Tuesday, April 23rd, for the meeting
of the Williamsburg Civil War Roundtable, commencing
at 6:30 PM in the Williamsburg Regional Library
Theatre. The library is located at 515 Scotland
Street in Williamsburg.
The program will also be presented online via a Zoom
link for our members and friends near and far. The
details for the Zoom link will be provided by a
follow-up announcement several days prior to the
meeting date.
On Tuesday, April 23, Rob Orrison will present
“Twice Baptized: Misconceptions and Unique Stories
From the Manassas Battlefields.
The plains of Manassas saw two major battles of the
American Civil War. As soon as the smoke cleared,
many misconceptions and myths began to take form
about both battles. Hollywood only added to these
myths. This talk will highlight some unique points
of view on both battles and address some of the
misconceptions of the battles (DON’T bring your
picnic baskets!).
Rob received his Bachelor’s Degree in Historic
Preservation at Longwood College and received his
Master’s Degree in Public History from George Mason
University. Currently Rob serves as the Division
Manager for the Prince William County Office of
Historic Preservation. Outside of work Rob serves on
the Board of Directors of Virginia Civil War Trails;
Virginia Association of Museums and the Frontier
Culture Museum. His published works include: A Want
of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign; The Last
Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign
1863; In A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and
Concord and the Beginning of the American
Revolution, April 19, 1775; To Hazard All: Guide to
the 1862 Maryland Campaign and most recently All
That Can be Expected: The Battle of Camden, August
16, 1780. He currently lives in Dumfries, Virginia
with his wife Jamie and sons Carter and Grayson.
Last Month
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Jeff Toalson presented
and discuss his newest book “Ma, We Got Nuthin Here
But Mud and Muskeeters
Mud and Muskeeters uses first person stories from 65
Confederate and Union participants in events on the
peninsula from June of 1861 to June of 1862. This is
the war in our own backyard. These stories are taken
from the diaries, letters and journals of farmers,
nurses, sailors, soldiers, river-boatmen, signalmen,
surgeons, naval constructors and cavalrymen.
Jeff is a Resident of Williamsburg. A 35 year
career in the automotive industry selling wheel
weights and author of 5 books on the great American
conflict. Jeff has spoken with the WCWRT several
times in the past telling 'first person stories'
from the war. His best sellling titles are No Soap,
No Pay, Diarrhea, Dysentery and Desertion and his
collection of the 300+ letters of Richard and Mary
Watkins in Send Me a Pair of Old Boots & Kiss My
Little Girls. Jeff is presently serving as the
Commander of the James City Cavalry SCV Camp and is
proud to claim both Union and Confederate ancestors
from the war.
Offcers of WCWRT
President: Bill Miller
Vice-President: Lee Underwood
Secretary
Treasurer:
The Executive Committee consists of the elected officers, the immediate past president and other members appointed by the incoming president. Those members include Debbie Bedosti, Tom Lamb, and Terri Teopke.
Upcoming Meetings and Speakers
- May 28, 2024: Patrick Schroeder: “Forgotten Friday: The April 7, 1865 Actions in Cumberland County, VA”
Special Events
- April 20, 2024 - NAU Center special conference "Second Manassas, Campaign, Battle, and Aftermath" details
- April 20, 2024 - Petersburg Project "Hidden in Plain Sight" caravan driving tour details
- April 21, 2024 - Thomas Jefferson Performed by Clay Jenkinson details
- May 4, 2024 - Army Historical Foundation, and CVBT, Presents the 2024 Spring Battle Ride details
- June 7-12, 2024 - Gettysburg summer civil war conference details
Other Notes:
Support our Book Raffle: This
is an important secondary source of revenue to
support our programming. It’s a wonderful way to
supplement your Civil War library with great books
at bargain basement prices.
Help our effort increase our membership:
The best method of recruitment is by word of mouth.
Help our effort to grow your Roundtable by inviting
your friends and neighbors to accompany you to our
meeting.
Visit the Williamsburg Battlefield
Association
(http://www.williamsburgbattlefieldassociation.org/)
(https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsburgBattlefieldAssociation)
WEBSITE: Be sure to frequently
visit the site for newsletter info, announcements,
future and past speakers, and an up to date calendar
of events in the Civil War world. It’s
available anytime you need the info.
https://www.wcwrt.org/news/2024 Newsletter
archive.pdf.
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote discussion and study of the Civil War and to further stimulate interest in all aspects and phases of the Civil War period.