Jim Rhetta on “Paying for the Civil War”

and

Abby Eller on “The New Orleans Mint”

No description has been offered for either of these presentations.

Abby Eller on “King Cotton”

Abby will describe how cotton came to be crowned king, and the Civil War came to alter the world economy.

Abby Eller is president of the PCWRT. She has no ancestors who fought in the Civil War, as far as she knows. Growing up in Memphis Tenn, Abby was intrigued by how the Civil War still meant so much to Southerners, a hundred years later. Civil War history includes much more than military history. Abby is fascinated by how the war transformed the course of American history. Throughout America, the war set in motion changes that are with us to this day. So please come join us to find out more!

Magnus Akerblom on “Robert E. Lee”

Magnus Akerblom has remarked: “Most people only look at four years of Robert E Lee’s life. I will present more information than focusing on the Civil War years.”

Magnus is interested in the Civil War as one of the most fascinating parts of US history, shaping our country up to the present day.

Starting anew, now’s a good time to consider adding some new activities to our meetings. For example, having a Question of the Month for discussion, a book raffle, Civil War quiz games, a quick summary of what happened in Civil War history the day of the meeting. You are cordially invited to join us and share your suggestions.

Social and Organizational Meeting, 11:30 am, July 20

We are resuming in-person meetings at Harry’s Hofbrau following a long pandemic shut down.

The Roundtable needs us all to provide ideas and participation to gear up again.
Some of the volunteer opportunities are:

Bringing in outside speakers,
Making presentations,
Publicity of our meetings,
Setting up the audio-visual equipment for presentations, and Treasurer.

We are all looking forward to seeing you!

Meeting postponed until further notice.

Tom Roza on “American Revolution vs. The Civil War: Similarities and Differences”

The two most momentous events in the history of the United States of America occurred less than a century apart; the Revolutionary War occurred in 1775-1783 and the Civil War in 1861-1865. An extensive research into the root causes for each of these two conflicts has revealed that there were numerous social, economic, and political similarities—as well as some differences that led to each conflict.

In the 18th Century, because of the vast geographical distance from both England and Europe in general, and the mixing of different ethnic cultures, with each passing day, people living in the Thirteen Colonies were drifting further apart politically, socially, and economically from their European origins. As the 19th Century progressed, the North had become more urban, industrialized, and its citizens were more migrant that produced a philosophy that America was a “Union of States”. Conversely, the South was more rural, agrarian, and its population was more sedentary; generation after generation grew up and lived in the same towns and counties; that produced a philosophy that America was a “Collection of Independent States.”

From a social perspective, for the period leading up to the Revolutionary War, while most of the people living in the thirteen colonies were of English ancestry, cohabitating with other European ethnic groups as well as being in close proximity to Native American Indians produced a vastly different set of values from those living in England and other European countries. Increasingly, the American colonists saw themselves as more independent and were creating a more homogenous society. For the period leading up to the Civil War, American citizens living in the North had retained that homogenous society perspective that resulted in a more inclusive citizenry. American citizens living in the South sociologically had evolved into a more exclusive society that supported slavery and viewed non-Caucasians and those from non-Protestant religions as foreigners.

Tom Roza will discuss the above and more on this interesting subject, which continues to have ramifications for life in these United States to the present day.

Tom Roza has been a student of history for over 60 years. As an officer and the Secretary of the South Bay Civil War Roundtable, Tom has made numerous presentations on the topic of the Civil War to both his Roundtable organization and other historical organizations in the Bay Area. Tom is also a published author of the book entitled, “Windows to the Past: A Virginian’s Experience in the Civil War” that has been accepted by the Library of Congress into its Catalog, and Tom is currently working on a sequel.

Ken Habeeb on “A Sobering Look at the Union’s Ironclad Warship, and the Battle of Hampton Roads”

After some tentative and daunting test missions, the 172-foot USS Monitor, called the “Yankee Cheese Box on a raft,” or labeled more soberly by some, the “iron coffin,” set sail for Hampton Roads, Virginia, to stop the Confederates’ own ironclad vessel from wreaking havoc on the Union’s fleet of wooden war ships in harbor. Its nemesis was a 263-foot “floating barn roof,” a Northern-built vessel salvaged by the Confederates and re-christened the CSS Virginia.

Although the battle was something of a stand-off, it was viewed by the South as a victory when the somewhat superior Monitor could not finish the job it started. The USS Monitor was a technical feat of engineering, and yet deeply flawed. In what way? And what qualities does the USS Monitor share some fifty years later with the innovative and idiosyncratic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright?

Kenneth Habeeb has written for and edited a number of magazines. He is a fervent U.S. history scholar. He is also program director of the Peninsula Civil War Round Table, and an officer of the California Map Society.

Howard Jones on “The Italian Prisoners of War – From Surrender to Paradise” and Big Book Raffle

This is the story of 5,000 Italian Prisoners of War who were imprisoned at the Naval Supply Depot in Clearfield, Utah during WWII. This contingent of Italian soldiers was just a small portion of those who surrendered during the war. In fact, over 500,000 surrendered in North Africa and Europe during the war. Most would be imprisoned in England or other countries in the British Empire, but over 50,000 came to the United States. Their story is both interesting and—at times—humorous. The events that occurred in Clearfield would affect our speaker’s wife, Cathy, and her family. In fact, her father was a Naval officer at the base and had to deal with the prisoners who rioted on one particular day. Howard Jones is long time member of the Round Table and amateur historian.

Also This Month — Big Book Raffle!

PCWRT is holding  a big book raffle at the January meeting. There will be a big assortment of Civil War titles, plus other military history books as well. Tickets will be $5 each.

Tom McMahon on “The Battle of Monocacy”

Also known as Monocacy Junction, the Battle of Monocacy was fought on July 9, 1864, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Frederick, Maryland, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. This was just one year after Gettysburg, and 13 months before R.E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. It is a key rag tale battle that becomes the defense of Washington, and a great contributor to the continuance of the Union.

Tom McMahon, now in his 90s, is a third generation native San Franciscan whose great grandparents came as Irish immigrants in 1858 directly to the City, more than likely via the Isthmus of Panama, and then by boat up the West Coast. Tom is a member of the South Bay Civil War Round Table.

Abby and David Eller on “Cotton”

The production and consumption of cotton textile products was a major part of the global economy in the 19th century. By the outbreak of the Civil War, Southerners had become quite confident in Cotton as King. But Cotton had some surprises in store for its loyal subjects. Learn more about the fascinating history of cotton, and how if influenced the course of the Civil War.

Although they make no pretense of being professional historians, Abby Eller and her husband David are enthusiastic history buffs. They are fascinated by how the Civil War transformed the course of American history. Abby and David have lived in Menlo Park for over forty years. They are active members of both the Peninsula Civil War Round Table and the South Bay CWRT. They also volunteer at San Mateo County History Museum’s second-hand bookstore in Redwood City, where Abby curates the military history book section.

Dana Lombardy on “Secret Turning Points of the American Civil War”

Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com Dana is best known for his multiple award-winning Streets of Stalingrad board wargame (three separate editions since first released in 1979), and for his nearly twenty television appearances, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist and designer on many books, games and magazines, was Publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996-2000 and published nine issues of World War One Illustrated.