Raleigh Civil War Round Table |
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"The same rain falls on both friend and foe."
The Mission of the Raleigh Civil War Round Table is to study the history of the American Civil War, to stimulate interest and promote education in a broad range of topics related to that war, and to aid in the preservation and enhancement of its battlefields, cemeteries, relics, and other historic sites and landmarks.
The Raleigh Civil War Round Table’s Nov. 10th, 2025, meeting features Dr. Curt Fields, Ph.D., speaking via Zoom. His living history presentation will be a first person impersonation of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, concerning Grant's Final Civil War Strategy Session Aboard the River Queen with Lincoln, Sherman, and Porter, and His Follow-up Meeting With Sherman in Raleigh, NC to Change the Terms of Johnston's Surrender. NOTE: our meeting venue is the Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community at 1500 Sawmill Road in north Raleigh. Springmoor residents attend for free. See the associated map and directions below.
New! Access from within this website to the video-recorded episodes of Fridays with U.S. Grant, by living historian Dr. Curt Fields, Ph.D., and sponsored by the Civil War Round Table Congress, is now up-to-date. Links to an additional 6 episodes recorded by Dr. Fields have been added, bringing the total to 81! The entire suite of compelling, always interesting, episodes can be accessed by clicking on the link Fridays with U.S. Grant, located in the Navigation panel to the left. It is truly amazing how Dr. Fields is able to disappear into the role of U.S. Grant!
New! Available now for your listening enjoyment are thirteen additional Civil War podcasts from Civil War lecturer Freddie Kiger, numbered 078 to 090 (Sept. 2024 to Sept. 2025). These can be accessed from the Navigation Column to the Left by clicking on the link Freddie Kiger's CW Podcast.
A reminder that the podcast Addressing Gettysburg provides "great experiences, quality programs, and a welcoming community for those who love Gettysburg."
Andrew Ballard, Raleigh Civil War Round Table's The Knapsack newsletter editor emeritus, has created and curates a new YouTube channel showcasing an archive of videos of interest to the Raleigh CWRT's members and friends. To access it, click on the link Raleigh CWRT YouTube Channel in the Navigation panel on the left.
Upcoming meeting of the Raleigh CWRT
Our Nov. meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10th, 2025, in the auditorium of Raleigh's Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community.
The program, which begins at 7:00 p.m. EST, features Dr. Curt Fields, Ph.D. and Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant impersonator, speaking via Zoom on Grant’s Final Civil War Strategy Session with Lincoln, Sherman, and Porter, and Grant's follow-up meeting with Maj. Gen. Sherman in Raleigh, NC, to change the terms of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's surrender.
This meeting to discuss strategy for ending the Civil War took place on March 27th to 28th, 1865, between Union President Abraham Lincoln, General-in-Chief of the Armies Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, and Rear Adm. David D. Porter aboard Grant’s private dispatch boat, the steamboat River Queen, docked near Grant's headquarters at City Point, VA.
This occurred just a week before the Union breakthrough at Petersburg and the evacuation of Richmond, just two weeks before Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Grant at Appomattox Court House, VA, and just about a month before Johnston’s surrender to Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham, NC.
After Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s Union armies repeatedly outmaneuvered the Confederate forces under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in a series of intense battles during March-April, 1865, Sherman and Johnston met at the Bennett Place near Durham, NC, on April 17th and 18th to establish surrender terms for the Confederates.
At this time, Sherman was aware of Grant's specific terms for Lee's surrender, and had assured General Grant before meeting with Johnston that he would follow the same generous, military-only terms. However, Sherman was persuaded by Johnston to include some terms of a political nature, resulting in an initial agreement that was much broader and had to be rejected by the government in Washington.
Upon orders from Sec. of War Edwin M. Stanton, Grant arrived secretly and unexpectedly in Raleigh, NC, on April 24th. The meeting between Grant and Sherman took place at the Governor's Palace, where Sherman had set up his headquarters. This was located where the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts now stands in downtown Raleigh.
At the meeting, Grant informed Sherman that his initial terms for Johnston's surrender had been rejected by Washington. The terms were considered too generous, especially following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination just days prior. Under Grant's guidance, Sherman was instructed to offer terms similar to those Grant had given Lee at Appomattox—dealing only with military surrender.
After the meeting in Raleigh, Sherman and Johnston met again at Bennett Place in Durham, NC, on April 26th to finalize the new, military-only surrender terms. Grant remained in Raleigh and reviewed the final papers that night. This surrender was the largest of the Civil War, ending hostilities for nearly 90,000 Confederate troops stationed in NC, SC, GA, and FL.
Biography of Dr. Curt Fields, Ph.D.
A living historian, Curt has a national reputation as a Ulysses S. Grant impersonator and is recognized for his deep knowledge of Ulysses S. Grant as general and president. Dr. Fields is the same height and body style as General Grant and, therefore, presents a convincing true-to-life image of the man as he really looked. He researches and reads extensively about General Grant in order to deliver an accurate persona of the General. His presentations are in first person, quoting from General Grant’s Memoirs; articles and letters the General wrote, statements he made in interviews or wrote himself, and first-person accounts of people who knew the General or were with him and witnessed him during events.
Dr. Fields:
- Holds a Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Education from the University of Memphis;
- Later earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Curriculum from Michigan State University;
- As a career educator, taught at the high-school level for eight years and then served for 25 years as a high school administrator;
- Has been a long-time adjunct Sociology Professor at the University of Memphis and in Education for Belhaven University, Memphis campus;
- Is now an Educational consultant and Living Historian;
- As a Living Historian, portrayed General Grant at the 150th Sesquicentennial observations of: Fort Donelson and Shiloh, TN, Vicksburg, MS, and at the 150th anniversary of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House, VA, in 2015;
- Also portrayed the General at Appomattox in 2012, 2013 and 2014;
- Portrays General Grant in the Visitor Center film that is shown at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park;
- Has appeared with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in Vicksburg National Military Park;
- Was featured as General Grant, and as a Grant authority, in the Discovery Channel three-part documentary series How Booze built America;
- Portrays General Grant, giving his life story, on the American Battlefield Trust website in their In4 series of biographies and significant places and events. This may be viewed at www.Battlefields.org's Ulysses S. Grant: The Civil War In4 Minutes;
- Was honored to have been elected to life Membership in the American Civil War Round Table—Queensland, Australia, and is an occasional contributor to their newsletter, The Bugle;
- Is also a frequent contributor to The Civil War News;
- Has appeared as General Grant on the National Geographic Television series Diggers;
- Is featured as General Grant in the Visitors Center films shown at Appomattox National Historic Park;
- Was featured on four national magazine covers;
- Was the only Living Historian to be featured on two national magazine covers at the same time and for the same event: the Appomattox 150th anniversary in 2015 (The Banner and The Camp Chase Gazette);
- Was selected as the official Grant for the U. S. Grant Boyhood Home Association in Georgetown, Ohio;
- Portrayed President Grant for the opening and dedication of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University on Nov. 30th, 2017;
- Portrayed General Grant at West Point (at the USMA request) in January of 2019, to kick off their ‘semester of Grant’ celebration prior to erecting a statue of him on the plain, April 25th, 2019;
- Has the limit for a personal page on Facebook of 5000 friends;
- As of June 25th, 2019, his Facebook posts had received more than half a million (520,000) ‘likes’!
- Portrayed President Grant for the incoming Freshman class orientation at Mississippi State University, August 2019;
- Served as a Memphis, TN, Police Officer for four years;
- Was an Memphis Police Dept. Hostage negotiator and received the Life-Saving medal from the City of Memphis for actions in the line of duty;
- Portrays General Grant discussing the importance of Fort Pemberton and Greenwood, MS in the exhibit War Comes to the Mississippi Delta;
- Portrays General Grant discussing the battle of Fort Donelson in the Dover Hotel Film shown in the Dover Hotel in Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
Please e-Telegraph General Grant for orders or information at: curtfields@hotmail.com.
Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community
The Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community is located at 1500 Sawmill Rd., Raleigh, NC. This is the NE quadrant of the intersection of Sawmill Road and Creedmoor Road, aka NC Hwy 50. Their phone number is (919) 848-7080.
As shown circled in red on the map, monthly meetings take place in the Administrative/Activity Center Building at North Village, adjacent to the main parking lot. Enter the right side of building into the lobby and check in with the receptionist. Then take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor, where the auditorium is located.
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The Podcast Addressing Gettysburg
The podcast Addressing Gettysburg was founded, and is hosted, by Matt Callery. Its name is a clever wordplay on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Its motto is "Great experiences, quality programs, and a welcoming community for those who love Gettysburg." Matt is supported by his team consisting of Veronica Brestensky (Co-Host), and regular contributors and Licensed Battlefield Guides Bob Steenstra and Tim Smith.
Following are two endorsements of Addressing Gettysburg:
"Matt Callery and his Addressing Gettysburg podcast sets out with the idea that history is not boring and succeeds admirably. The podcasts explore fascinating aspects of the Gettysburg and the American Civil War and Matt asks penetrating, interesting questions that draw the best from his guests. If you have any interest in Gettysburg or how people endured and responded to extreme circumstances and conditions, you will find this podcast well worth your time investment."
— Scott Hartwig - Author, To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of 1862
"Anyone interested in learning more about the events of July 1863, and their place in history and memory, can find something to enjoy in Addressing Gettysburg. Through engaging interviews with historians, guides, experts, and other informed guests, each episode provides thorough, educational, entertaining, and informative historical content. From military tactics, to civilian and human interest stories, to the battle's lasting legacy locally and across the nation, when it comes to Gettysburg, this podcast covers it all.
— Codie Eash - Author, Historian, Visitor Services Coordinator at Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum
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Third Member-Produced Civil War Documentary Film Now Available
Andrew Ballard, editor emeritus of The Knapsack newsletter, has just produced a companion Blu-ray film to two earlier documentaries that the Raleigh Civil War Round Table previously released.
This latest documentary film, The Civil War in North Carolina: Taking the Offensive, 1864, covers events that took place in our state that year including efforts by Maj. Gen. George Pickett to retake New Bern. The film features the following:
- James E. White III (Batchelor’s Creek / New Bern and USS Underwriter)
- Philip Gerard (Kinston Hangings)
- Alex Christopher Meekins (Battle of Plymouth)
- Andrew Duppstadt (CSS Albemarle and Battle of Albemarle Sound), and
- Chris Fonvielle (Fort Fisher).
It is narrated by S.N. Burkholder of Middletown, CT and filmed on site. It includes re-enactment footage along with historical maps and illustrations and period music.
Blu-ray discs of this film will be offered at our August 14th, 2023, meeting for donations of $10 or more. Copies of The Civil War in North Carolina: Battles for the Coast, 1862 and The Civil War in North Carolina: The Final Campaigns, 1865 are also still available. As we have done with donations for the first two films, net proceeds from the third film will be used for preservation and conservation efforts related to the Civil War in North Carolina. Checks should be made out to Raleigh CWRT.
The first film, The Civil War in North Carolina: The Final Campaigns, 1865, features historians and authors speaking on the major events of 1865, including the following:
- Ed Bearss (Overview/Monroe's Crossroads)
- Chris Fonvielle (Fort Fisher / Fort Anderson / Wilmington)
- David Waller (Wyse Fork)
- Andrew Duppstadt (CSS Neuse)
- Wade Sokolosky (Averasboro)
- Mark Bradley (Bentonville)
- Chris Hartley (Stoneman's Raid)
- Ernest Dollar (Raleigh / Morrisville)
- Bob Farrell (Logan), and
- John Guss (Bennett Place)
The experts were all filmed at the applicable historical sites and re-enactment footage from the sesquicentennial events at Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, and Bentonville is included.
Music by the Liberty Hall Drum & Fife Corps and the 26th North Carolina Field Music/Carolina Fifes and Drums, artwork by Stephen McCall, Martin Pate, and Darrell Combs, and maps by Mark A. Moore and Hal Jesperson are also in the documentary.
The second film, The Civil War in North Carolina: Battles for the Coast, 1862, covers events that took place in our state that year including the Burnside Expedition and Foster's Raid. The film features the following:
- Former National Park Service Ranger Michael Zatarga (Roanoke Island, South Mills)
- Author James E. White III (New Bern)
- N.C. State Park Ranger Paul R. Branch Jr. (Fort Macon)
- Military Curator for the NC Museum of History Charles R. Knight (Tranter's Creek), and
- Founder of the Goldsborough Bridge Association Randy Sauls (Foster's Raid / Kinston, White Hall, and Goldsborough Bridge).
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The American Battlefield Trust is Offering Free Educational Materials on the American Revolution and American Civil War
The American Battlefield Trust "wants to share a sample of the digital resources that might be helpful to you right now. We hope that they can help bring history to life at home, whether you are a parent, educator, lifelong student of history, or anywhere in between."
Click here to be taken to The American Battlefield Trust's Facebook page where you can find links to free on-line educational materials covering both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.
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The American Battlefield Trust Needs Your Help
The American Battlefield Trust asks for your help in saving two acres of irreplaceable Civil War history on small, but vital, tracts of land of three Civil War battlefields: East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg, PA (one-half acre), Parker’s Cross Roads, TN (one-half acre), and Sailor’s Creek, VA (one acre). The goal is to raise $193,000. Donations are matched at a ratio of $4.00-to-$1.00.
For more information, click the following link: Save Central Land at 3 Battlefields Including Gettysburg.
The Trust’s website has a web page devoted to a wonderful interactive tool. Displayed is a map of the U.S. that can be toggled between topographical and satellite views. In either case, an Interstate highway system is superimposed for reference.
For each State in which Civil War battles were fought, one can zoom in on that State and then drill down to show a specific battle. Clicking on the battle location brings up a webpage with details about the battle.
The map can be filtered by State, by Civil War year, and by victor. One can toggle a depiction of any land within the battlefield that is part of the current campaign for preservation. For each battle, the number of acres already saved as well as the number of additional acres available for saving is displayed. The interactive map can be found by clicking the following link: Saved Land.
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