Monday, May 6, 2024
William Dyess
CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE
The North Central Texas Civil War Roundtable is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, at Spring Creek Barbeque, 317 E. Hwy 377, in Granbury. The program will be presented by Thomas Holder, chairman of the North Texas Hospice/Veteran Partnership.
Holder has done extensive research into civil war history, and is a coauthor of the book, “Lone Star General,” a biography of Confederate Brigadier Gen. Hiram Granbury, for whom the town of Granbury is named. Mr. Holder will speak on General Granbury’s early life in Texas, his service in a pre-war Texas Ranger company, and other aspects of the general’s life.
At the last meeting, Dec. 12, Shelby Harriel-Hidlebaugh, a faculty member at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi, and her husband Mark, presented an interesting, informative, and sometimes humorous program on women soldiers of the Civil War. Ms. Harriel is the author of “Behind the Rifle,” one of the very few books in the field, and a recognized expert on the subject.
JANUARY IN THE CIVIL WAR
On Jan. 9, 1861, militia of South Carolina (which had seceded from the United States in Dec. 1860) fired upon a ship attempting to deliver supplies to the United States garrison at Ft. Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Although no lives were lost, the ship was forced to withdraw without fulfilling its mission. The first shots had been fired in what would become the American Civil War — a war in which an estimated 75,000 Americans would lose their lives.
Did you know? — In the spring of 1863, Union Gen. E.H. Stoughton was tasked with ending the threat on Union control of Northern Virginia by the Confederate unit known as “Mosby’s Rangers,” led by Captain John Mosby. Unfortunately for General Stoughton, on March 8, 1863, Mosby and his men stealthily entered the town of Fairfax County Courthouse and captured the General as he slept. Also captured was a herd of mules. When advised of the incident, Union President Abraham Lincoln is said to have responded, “Well, I can always create another general, but I sure do hate to lose those mules.”
The North Central Texas Civil War Round Table meets on the second Monday of each month, at 6:30 P.M., at Spring Creek Bar-B-Que, 317 Hwy 377 E in Granbury, and guests are always welcome. For more information, please refer to our website: www.ncentexcwrt.com, or call either David Wells, at 817-579-5769, or Bill Dyess, at 817-326-8216.
Civil War Round Tables exist in cities and communities worldwide. All are independent, and share a common objective in promoting and expanding interest in the study of the American Civil War.
