​​​​​​​​​Event: November Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley

 

When: November 13, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.

 

Where: Knights of Columbus #478, 312 Franklin Street Marietta, OH

 

Presentation: Buckeyes and Mountaineers at Gettysburg, presented by Wayne Motts​

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The state of Ohio contributed significantly to the Union war effort during the American Civil War. At Gettysburg, some 4,400 Ohioans fought the Union army during the three-day battle, while some Confederate soldiers in Lee's army had connections to the Buckeye state. Join historian, author, licensed guide, and president Emeritus and Historian of the Gettysburg Foundation Wayne E. Motts as he explores some unique stories of Ohio during the battle. 

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The Gettysburg Foundation is the non-profit partner of the National Park Service in operating the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. The Foundation leads preservation and educational missions that include land and artifact preservation, educational events and programs, and owns and operates the George Spangler Farm and Field Hospital, the Children of Gettysburg 1863 and the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station. 

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Mr. Motts is the youngest person to ever achieve the status of Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide and is renowned among students of the Civil War for his enthusiastic interpretation of battlefield sites and events. You will not want to miss this rare opportunity to experience Mr. Motts' energy, enthusiasm and stunning command of Gettysburg and Civil War history.  

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Event: January Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley

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When: January 15, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: Blennerhasset Museum, 137 Juliana St, Parkersburg, WV 26101

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Presentation: David Hunter's Retreat from Lynchburg, presented by Jon-Erik Gilot

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"The Hardest Campaign Ever Inaugurated": Hunter's Retreat from Lynchburg. This presentation examines Maj. Gen. David Hunter's raid up the Shenandoah Valley in the context of a busy summer of 1864 and considers the circumstances of his subsequent retreat through West Virginia, effectively taking an entire Union army out of the Civil War for a period of nearly a month. In comparing how Hunter, his superiors, and his men viewed these events, we will explore the fallout and impact of this retreat on both the broader war, and on David Hunter's own legacy.

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Jon-Erik Gilot has worked in the field of public history for nearly 20 years. A contributing historian at Emerging Civil War since 2018, his research has been published in books, journals, and magazines. His first book for the Emerging Civil War Series, John Brown's Raid, was published by Savas Beatie Publishing in 2023. Jon-Erik earned a history degree from Bethany College and a Master of Library & Information Science from Kent State University. Today, he serves as curator at the Captain Thomas Espy Grand Army of The Republic Post in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and works as a business archivist and records manager in Wheeling, West Virginia. 

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​Event: March Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley

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When: March 13, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: First Congregational Church, 318 Front St, Marietta, OH 45750

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Guest Speaker: Curt Fields

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Dr. Fields is the National Park Service representative for General U.S. Grant. He has portrayed the commanding general of the Union Army in films, posters, and re-enactments. Dr. Fields has a bachelor and a master's degree in Education from the University of Memphis, Tennessee. He later earned a second master's degree in Secondary Education and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Curriculum from Michigan State University, among his other academic achievements. 

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Dr. Fields, the same height and body style as General Grant, represents a true-to-life image of the manas he would have looked. He researches extensively in order to share an accurate portrayal. His presentations are in first person, quoting from General Grant's memoirs, articles, and letters, statements he made in interviews, and first-person accounts of people who knew the General or were with him and witnessed him during events.

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Event: May Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley

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When: May 21, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: Blennerhasset Museum, 137 Juliana St, Parkersburg, WV 26101

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Presentation: Wilder's Lightning Brigade, presented by Scott Dietzman

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With a potent combination of rapid-firing Spencer rifles, aggressive and determined leadership, and unlimited confidence in themselves, the soldiers of Colonel John T. Wilder's mounted Lightning Brigade-- so christened during the summer of 1863 -- solidified a reputation in the savage battle of Chickamauga as one of the Union Army's hardest fighting and most effective combat organizations.

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A Civil War enthusiast since childhood, Scott's enthusiasm was bolstered upon discovery that his great-great grandfather served in the 18th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and has since focused his research on the Army of the Cumberland. Scott retired after 20 years of service as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force where he was a satellite engineer/program manager for multiple space systems and served a tour of duty in Iraq. He then served for a decade as the Subject Matter Expert on Space-based Intelligence Systems, and currently serves as Satellite Engineer and Program Management Advisor at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, VA.

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Scott and his wife, Susan, reside in Centreville, VA, where he spends time conducting research at the National Archives in Washington D.C. In his spare time, he provides Civil War presentations to multiple Civil War Round Tables, schools, and history day events. He also leads tours of the Chickamauga Battlefield and Chattanooga area.

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Event: August Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley 

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When: August 20, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: Blennerhasset Museum, 137 Juliana St, Parkersburg, WV 26101

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Presentation: West Virginia in the Civil War, presented by William Kerrigan

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Professor William Kerrigan will discuss his new book, which explores the unique history of West Virginia, the only state born out of the Civil War. Western Virginians faced a dual crisis of allegiance and identity, torn between their historical ties to the secessionist state of Virginia and their loyalty to the Union. The population included a significant number of enslaved people, for whom the conflict's outcome would have major consequences. Many Civil War narratives focus on major battle, but William Kerrigan shifts attention to the civilians of Western Virginia -- both free and enslaved -- who endured military occupation, raids, and guerrilla warfare.

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Civilians faced loyalty oaths, arrests, property destruction, and invasions by soldiers and partisans from both sides. Enslaved individuals played an active role, providing intelligence and assistance to Union forces and risking their lives for their freedom. The book highlights how the experiences of Western Virginia's noncombatants, political leaders, and enslaved people contributed to the region's turbulent transformation during and after the Civil War.

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William Kerrigan is Professor Emeritus at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. In addition to West Virginia's War (Ohio University Press, 2025) he is also the author of Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013) and a number of articles and local histories. He has been leading groups of students on Civil War tours of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia over the last fifteen years.

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Event: September Meeting of The Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley

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When: September 17, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: Knights of Columbus #478, 312 Franklin Street Marietta, OH

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Presentation: The Yellow Fever Plot to Kill Lincoln, presented by Matthew Lively

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The American Civil War is filled with incidents that illustrate some unique or interesting medical condition. In the Battle of Gettysburg, such events occurred to individuals whose names are well known, such as John Reynolds, Lewis Armistead, and of course Dan Sickles. But others may be more obscure, like Collett Leventhorpe, Lucius Fairchild, and Elon Farnsworth. Utilizing both forensic medicine and medical history, this talk will examine some of those events through the performance of a historical autopsy.

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Dr. Mathew W. Lively is a West Virginia native and practicing physician in Morgantown, WV. He is the author of numerous scientific articles in medical literature, several of which focus on medical history topics. A life-long student of Civil War history, his first book -- Calamity at Chancellorsville: The Wounding and Death of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson -- was published by Savis Beatie in May 2013.

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Event: November Meeting of the Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley 

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When: November 13, 2026 Time TBD

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Where: Knights of Columbus #478, 312 Franklin Street Marietta, OH

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Presentation: The Year that made America, presented by Tom McMillan

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Tom McMillian takes a deep dive in the political debate that led to the Declaration of Independence. Focusing on the first eight months of 1776, the book features many little-known "fun facts" about the Declaration process, including how residents of colonial America learned the news in an era long before real-time coverage. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and many lesser-known but important Founding Fathers come to life in this fascinating and fast-paced narrative into the nation's origin. 

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Tom McMillan spent a lifetime in sports media and marketing, but now he focuses on his true love: writing about American history. Topics of his six books have ranged from the Civil War to September 11th to the Revolutionary era and Declaration of Independence. Tom has served on the boards of Pittsburg's Heinz History Center, the Antietam Institute, and the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial. He is a volunteer ambassador at Antietam National Battlefield and co-hosts the popular "Antietam and Beyond" podcast. Tom and his wife, Colleen (also an Antietam volunteer), split their time between Pittsburg and Gettysburg.