Monthly Archives: May 2024

Meeting of May 21, 2024

Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, May 21. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is

Nick Marinaro on “The Battle of Mobile Bay”

The battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, was arguably the most consequential naval battle of the Civil War, which pitted Confederate naval forces commanded by Admiral Franklin Buchanan against the Union naval forces commanded by his arch-nemesis Admiral David Farragut. The chaotic battle resulted in a Union victory that effectively neutralized any further Confederate naval activities in the Southern theater. Following this battle, the Union commanded total control of the seas and inland waterways, which negated the Confederate navy’s ability to move troops on the water and to import needed supplies and resources.

Nick Marinaro was born and raised in Fresno, California, and has had an interest in the Civil War since elementary school. He graduated from Clovis High School and Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. His 38 year professional career was with the Stanford University/City of Palo Alto Fire Departments, retiring as Fire Chief. Nick has been a member of the Lions Club for 23 years and is the President of the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs and Treasurer for the Lions Veterans Charities. He is a Board Member of the Palo Alto/Stanford Historical Association (PAST) and the Treasurer of the Peninsula Civil War Roundtable.

Meeting of June 18, 2024

Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, June 18. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is

Mark Costin on “Price’s Raid: 1864 Confederate Campaign in Missouri”

By 1864 Missouri had been in Union control for two years. Believing that Missourians wanted liberation from Union forces, the Confederates made a desperate attempt to divert Union forces from other war theatres and retake Missouri. The campaign, often referred to as a raid but much larger in actuality, was led by former Missouri Governor General Stirling Price and consisted of 11 major and minor engagements including the battles of Pilot Knob, Westport, and Mine Creek. The campaign was ultimately a disaster for the Confederacy. This talk will outline the strategic situation in Missouri in 1864 as well describe the personalities and battles of the campaign.

Mark Costin is a retired engineer living in Sunnyvale, CA, who previously worked on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A long time history buff, this is Mark’s second presentation to the the Peninsula CWRT. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.Eng from McMaster University and B.Eng from McGill University.