Uproarious Time Had by All

By Stephen Davis · Originally published August 2017 · p. 2

Uproarious Time Had by All By Stephen Davis Special for Civil War News Civil War Round Tables across the country are bemoaning diminished attendance at meetings and falling membership numbers. Enough already. The recent meeting held by the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta was robust, successful and fun—enough to put the kibosh on all that naysaying. On the evening of June 13 at the Capital City Club downtown, the room was full, with the group’s customary 100+ members and guests. After the usual socializing and tasty dinner, President Gordon Jones convened the meeting. Regular features included the trivia quiz, keyed by Charlie Crawford to the topic of the night’s speaker. In the “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” segment, President-Elect Grant Moseley sleuthed a previously unknown postwar photo of the Texas, the famed Civil War locomotive now at the Atlanta History Center. Then came the highlight: guest speaker Chris Mackowski. Chris, of Fredericksburg, Va., is Managing Editor of the Emerging Civil War Series of paperback histories published by Savas Beatie. He’s also a prolific author, having written or co-written a dozen books on Civil War campaigns and battles, including A Season of Slaughter: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 8-21, 1864. …which was his topic for us that night. Dispensing with lectern, Dr. Mackowski—also journalism professor at St. Bonaventure University—worked the crowd in a vivacious, perambulating style. He walked around the room, speaking without notes or slides, explaining the titanic battle fought in May 1864. One table he fixed as the Mule Shoe Salient, pointing out how Federal fire converged on the Confederate defenders. (Andrea Shepherd sat at the site of Ewell’s artillery.) He told the story of Uncle John Sedgwick’s death—he actually said twice that they “couldn’t hit an elephant at this range.” When the Yankees overran his line, poor Dick Ewell fell apart. “How can you control your men, General,” Lee scolded, “when you cannot control yourself?” Such vignettes punctuated Chris’ retelling of the bloody fight. He closed with an exhortation to visit the historic battlefield. “You will be glad you will have gone there to remember,” he concluded, just as the din of applause erupted. “Great performance!” someone shouted. So let those nabobs natter their negativity. The Atlanta Civil War Round Table is alive and well, thank you. Others, take note. (Gould Hagler)