Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable

News

August Meeting: George Payne and the Sand Creek Massacre

On Thursday, August 21, at 7:00 p.m., the Southern Indiana Civil War Round Table welcomes George Payne for a compelling program on the March 1862 Battle of Glorieta Pass in the New Mexico Territory. Often called the “Gettysburg of the West,” this pivotal clash elevated the reputation—and inflated the ego—of Colonel John M. Chivington, commander of the U.S. Colorado Volunteers. That rise to prominence set the stage for one of the darkest episodes of the American frontier: the Sand Creek Massacre of November 29, 1864. Backed by territorial governor John Evans, Chivington ordered 700 soldiers to attack a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment, an atrocity that ignited Indian wars lasting a decade beyond the Civil War.

The Southern Indiana Civil War Round Table is dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the U.S. Civil War and the lives it touched. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police, 801 Court St., Evansville, Indiana. All lectures are free and open to the public.

September Meeting: Lew Wallace and the Montgomery Guards

Join us on September 18th as the Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable welcomes Thomas R. Meeks Jr., Associate Director of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, for an insightful presentation, “Lew Wallace and the Montgomery Guards: Preparing Indiana for War”

Thomas Meeks will explore the crucial decade of the 1850s, highlighting Lew Wallace’s transformation from a frustrated lawyer into a dedicated military leader. Wallace foresaw the coming storm of the Civil War and took decisive action by founding the Montgomery Guards, turning a casual local militia into one of Indiana’s most disciplined Zouave-style units. Learn how their skillful participation in state-wide parades and drilling competitions propelled Wallace into his role as Indiana’s Adjutant General at the outset of war.

We will also reflect upon the wartime service and enduring legacy of the men who proudly served under Wallace’s command. Don’t miss this fascinating exploration of local history and leadership at our September gathering!

Date: September 18, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Evansville Fraternal Order of Police, 801 Court St, Evansville, Indiana 47708

All lectures are free and open to the public. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. We look forward to seeing you there!

Eddie Price Joins Us

The next meeting of the Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable is Thursday, July 17th, at 7:00 p.m. at FOP Lodge #73 located at 801 Court Street, in Evansville, Indiana.

Our Program will be provided by teacher, historian, and accomplished writer, Eddie Price. Eddie presented a program a few years ago to our roundtable on the US Ironclad Monitor, and the Union brown water navy. Since then, he has been busy! In addition to his previously published historical fiction books: Widder’s Landing: Life and Love on the Kentucky Frontier; and One Drop – A Slave!; both of which have received awards and have been very well received, he has written several award winning Children’s books. His latest publication is Rebels Abroad, a historical fiction book about Irish Indentured Servants in America.

We have invited Eddie to bring copies of his novels and children’s books and make them available for sale and to be signed. Looking for a gift for the Grandkids? Don’t forget your checkbook.

June 2025 Meeting Announced

Join us for the June 2025 Civil War Roundtable Meeting on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m., hosted at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police (801 Court St, Evansville, Indiana 47708). We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucas Wilder, an accomplished historian and seasoned National Park Service interpretive ranger, who will deliver a captivating first-person portrayal of Confederate cavalry legend JEB Stuart.

Raised in the Appalachian Mountains, Dr. Wilder developed a profound interest in the region’s Civil War history, earning degrees from Lincoln Memorial University, East Tennessee State University, and Mississippi State University. His groundbreaking dissertation examined mountain warfare and analyzed the pivotal role the Appalachian environment played in military campaigns in East Tennessee.

Dr. Wilder is widely known for his dynamic YouTube channel, History Gone Wilder, which boasts nearly 700 videos, 1 million hours of watch time, and over 8 million views. Through detailed battle animations, book reviews, interviews, and scholarly deep dives, Wilder makes complex historical events accessible and engaging to the public.

In his compelling presentation, Dr. Wilder brings JEB Stuart vividly to life, sharing thrilling tales of cavalry charges, poignant moments of loss, and insights into Stuart’s enduring friendships with iconic Confederate figures such as Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Don’t miss this chance to journey back in time and experience history brought brilliantly to life.

March 2025 Meeting Announced

Join the Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable (SICWRT) on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. for an engaging presentation by historian and author Kevin McCray. The meeting will take place at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police (801 Court Street, Evansville, IN).

McCray’s lifelong passion for the Civil War began in the early 1960s during the conflict’s centennial, sparked by a gift from his father—The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. A dedicated researcher and writer, he has authored multiple works, including A Shouting of Orders, a history of the 99th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and his latest book, Without Bugle or Drum.

In this presentation, McCray will explore the forgotten battles of Milton’s Vaught’s Hill and Liberty’s Snow Hill, fought in Middle Tennessee in March and April 1863 during the longest period of inactivity in the war. These engagements, involving Confederate cavalry commander John Hunt Morgan, played a crucial yet often overlooked role in the Union’s efforts to hold ground after the Battle of Stones River. Through firsthand accounts, McCray brings these battles to life and examines their impact on the larger conflict in the region.

This event is free and open to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a distinguished Civil War historian and deepen your understanding of this pivotal time in American history!

September 2024 Guest Announced

Our guest at the meeting on September 19th will be Dr. Lucas Wilder. Dr. Wilder was born in Lee County Virginia at the base of the Cumberland Mountain, about 10 miles from the historic Cumberland Gap. His proximity to this historic location and his family’s military history fueled his love of history. Lucas began his academic journey at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, where he received his associates degree. Then, Lincoln Memorial University awarded him a full academic scholarship to attend their institution and he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in history. He received his master’s degree from East Tennessee State University and then proceeded to Mississippi State University for his PhD, where he graduated in May 2022. His nodes of excellence at Mississippi State focused on American Military History and Environmental History. Both of those concentration took center stage in his research of Appalachia and its significance during the American Civil War. With his education in history, he runs a successful YouTube Channel entitled History Gone Wilder, which can be accessed by going to Historygonewilder.com.

February 2024 Meeting

Join us at the February meeting of the Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable (SICWRT) for an engaging evening of history and discovery. Our gathering takes place on the third Thursday of the month, February 15th, at 7:00 p.m., hosted at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police, located at 801 Court St, Evansville, Indiana 47708. This event is free and open to all who share an interest in the Civil War and its enduring impact.

This month, we are honored to feature Charles Rebesco, a passionate Civil War historian and licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, presenting “Last Men Standing—the 20th Indiana Infantry.” The 20th Indiana Infantry, often overlooked in the annals of the Army of the Potomac, played a crucial role in many key Eastern Theater campaigns, with the notable exception of Antietam. Despite the participation of 2,000 Indiana soldiers at Gettysburg, the men of the 20th Indiana remain among the least recognized. Their story is overshadowed, lost amidst the chaos of the 3rd Corps’ tribulations and the famed sites of battle like the Wheatfield and Devil’s Den. Yet, their valiant stand on July 2nd challenges our understanding of the 3rd Corps and marks them as truly “the last men standing.”

Charles Rebesco, a retired pulmonologist with over 40 years of residence in Northwest Indiana, brings a general interest in Civil War history to life with his insights and stories. Since 2018, he has served as a guide at Gettysburg, enriching visitors’ understanding of the battlefield and its heroes.

Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the forgotten tales of the 20th Indiana Infantry, exploring their unique contribution and valor at Gettysburg. Engage with fellow history enthusiasts and uncover the layers of our past that continue to shape our understanding of the Civil War.

January 2024 Meeting: Folk Duo Ro & Sco

The Southern Indiana Civil War Round Table (SICWRT) is thrilled to announce a special program featuring the celebrated folk music duo, Ronda Haley and Scott Conner, known collectively as Ro & Sco. This event is scheduled for the third Thursday, January 18, at 7:00 p.m., at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police, 801 Court St, Evansville, Indiana.

Renowned for their dynamic performances, Ro & Sco bring a blend of traditional, Americana, and Civil War-era music, alongside their interpretations of holiday, modern, and classical pieces. Ronda, who began her musical journey in 2006, and Scott, who has been playing since 2000, have found a unique synergy in their duet, which began in 2016. Their collaboration has become a standout feature in the dulcimer community.

The evening promises a captivating mix of familiar and lesser-known Civil War songs, each enriched with a deep historical context. Attendees will be transported through time, experiencing the emotions and stories that these songs carry – a testament to the power of music in capturing the essence of an era.

This event is part of the SICWRT’s ongoing commitment to preserving and presenting the intricate tapestry of the U.S. Civil War history. The SICWRT is a beacon for those interested in exploring the multifaceted narratives of one of the most defining periods in American history.

The program is free and open to the public, inviting enthusiasts and newcomers alike to delve into an evening of musical storytelling that transcends the ages.

September 2023 Meeting Announced

Our September 2023 meeting will feature Evan Rothera offering a presentation titled, “‘Our sister republic of Mexico must be relieved from foreign domination’: The U.S. Civil War, the French Intervention, and the Monroe Doctrine.”

In April 1861, the U.S. Civil War began when rebels fired on Fort Sumter. Several months later, Mexican President Benito Juárez suspended debt payments because the War of the Reform (1857-1861) had drained the country’s treasury. Juárez’s decision led Great Britain, Spain, and France, Mexico’s European creditors, to send armies to Mexico to seize customs houses. Emperor Napoleon III of France then decided to occupy Mexico City and overthrow Juárez’s government in order to recreate a French New World empire. Scholars often view the U.S. Civil War and the French Intervention in Mexico as separate events. However, this talk illustrates that the two conflicts were interwoven and part of a larger war pitting republicanism against the forces of reaction. Furthermore, by discussing the cooperation that developed between the U.S. and Mexico during this period, this talk demonstrates that the U.S.-Mexico relationship involved more than conflict and xenophobia. People in both countries imagined themselves as sister republics engaged in a common struggle and acted on these beliefs by raising money and arms and crossing borders to fight for freedom.

Evan C. Rothera

Evan C. Rothera is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of History at The Pennsylvania State University in 2017. He published Civil Wars and Reconstructions in the Americas: The United States, Mexico, and Argentina, 1860 – 1880 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2022) and co-edited, with Brian Matthew Jordan, The War Went On: Reconsidering the Lives of Civil War Veterans (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2020). He has published articles in Nebraska History, The Journal of Mississippi History, and the Journal of Supreme Court History, several book chapters, and many book reviews and encyclopedia entries. He has received fellowships and grants from the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, the Louisiana Historical Association, the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South, the Texas State Historical Association, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Institute for Political History.

July 2023 Meeting

Our July meeting will feature Myers Brown, executive director of Belmont Mansion. He previously served as an archivist with the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) and the curator of extension services at the Tennessee State Museum. Mr. Brown has held numerous positions, including serving as Chairman of The Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and on the advisory board of the Tennessee Great War Commission and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. He authored the books Tennessee’s Union Cavalrymen (2008) and Tennessee’s Confederates (2011) and was elected a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians in 2008.

His presentation is titled “Joe Wheeler, Chief of Cavalry, Army of Tennessee.” It will focus on the life, exploits, and military operations of General Joseph Wheeler. Despite his youth, Wheeler commanded the entire Cavalry Corps of the Confederacy’s second largest army and at times his division commanders included such famous generals as John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest. While his Civil War actions are impressive, his post-Civil War career is also noteworthy. By the time of his death in 1906, he had served nearly eighteen years in the US Congress, commanded cavalry (including Roosevelt’s Rough Riders) in the Spanish-American War, operated a 30,000 acre cotton farm in North Alabama and served as a lawyer for the railroads. He is one of only two former Confederate generals to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.