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Despite the period being a chivalrous time, women became more suspect and prone to search as the war progressed, as noted in the journals written by prominent Southener Mary Chestnut.  "Women who come before the public are in a bad box now.  False hair is taken off and searched for papers.  Pistols are sought for... bustles are 'suspect.'  All manner of things, they say, come over the border under the huge hoops now worn.  So they are ruthlessly torn off.  Not legs, but arms are looked for under hoops."

The oldest general in the Union Army was John Ellis Wool, who retired in August of 1863, at the age of seventy-nine.  His Confederate counterpart was David Emanuel Twiggs, who was in his seventies when he died in July of 1862.

Adam R. Johnson led a small group of Confederate cavalry across the Ohio River from Kentucky into Newburgh, Indiana on July 18, 1862, and made the first capture of a Northern town by Confederate forces.  Johnson constructed fake cannons out of blackened logs, stove pipes, and wagon parts, and convinced Union officers that they were ready to shoot.  Union forces surrendered weapons and other provisions.  Johnson's men left just a few hours later - with no blood shed.

In the aftermath of the July 18, 1863, Battle of Fort Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina, Confederates dumped the bodies of 272 black soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and their white commander Colonel Robert Gould Shaw unceremoniously into a single mass grave to show contempt and with hopes of dissuading white officers from commanding black troops.  But Shaw's parents replied that there could be "no holier place" for their son's final resting spot than surrounded by his "brave devoted soldiers."
!! We Have a New Meeting Location !!
Orchard View Church of God
2777 Leffingwell Ave. NE   Grand Rapids, Michigan
​Located at the southwest corner of 3 Mile Road NE and Leffingwell Avenue NE
The Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table welcomes the return of Ben Cwayna with his new presentation: “A Defense of Lt. General A.P. Hill and Maj. General Richard H. Anderson on July 2, 1863.”  

AP Hill and Richard Anderson have long been chastised for their inability to deploy all of their brigades against the Union Center on July 2nd 1863. But was there a reason? In this presentation, Ben Cwayna explores a potential significant reason the entire division failed to launch.

Ben Cwayna is a practicing attorney in Grand Ledge and long-time Civil War buff. He is the author of the upcoming regimental history of the 12th South Carolina Infantry published by Savas Beatie, LLC and has been a guest on the Addressing Gettysburg Podcast with Matt Callery. A father to his 11 year old son, Grant, Ben is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University Law School and enjoys spending time reenacting the Civil War, speaking on Civil War related topics and spending time with his family.

Wednesday
March 20, 2024
           ​
Ben Cwayna

A Defense of 
Lt. General A.P. Hill and 
Maj. General R.H. Anderson
on July 2, 1863
  ​
We Meet At:
Orchard View Church of God
2777 Leffingwell Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Located at the southwest corner of 
3 Mile Road NE and Leffingwell Avenue NE

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Program begins at 7:00 pm


Membership fees for the 2023-2024 season are $30.00.
Unfortunately, expenses are such that we could not survive without an increase in our membership fees.
Checks can be made out to GRCWRT.
Get your membership/renewal form on our website
membership page or at one of out meetings.
Dues are based on the meeting year, September - June.

We are always looking for new speakers.  If you would like to give a presentation to the GRCWRT, or can recommend someone, please contact our program director.
Civil War Notes
Our Next Meeting
Special Announcements:
Major General
Richard Heron Anderson
Lieutenant General
Ambrose Powell Hill Jr.