Clarksville, TN – The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024 at Fort Defiance Park, our new home, 120 Duncan Street, off New Providence Boulevard. Turn onto Walker Street off New Providence Boulevard. and then onto Duncan Street. There are site markers on New Providence Boulevard above and below the park.
The meeting begins at 7:00pm and is always open to the public.
Our Speaker and Topic – ”Confederate General Patrick Cleburne: Irishman In Gray”
Born in County Cork, Ireland, veteran of the British Army, American immigrant to Cincinnati and then Helena, Arkansas, Patrick Ronayne Cleburne would command a company of Arkansas troops early in the war, rise to regimental command, then brigade and finally division and include a temporary corps command late in the Atlanta Campaign.
He was arguably the finest division commander in the Confederate Army, certainly in the Army of Tennessee, and was known for his tactical innovations, teaching tactics to subordinate officers, his powerful assaults at Perryville, Stones River, and Chickamauga, and stout defenses at places like Ringgold, Gap and Pickett’s Mill.
He was idolized by his troops – men from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas and respected by his foes who dreaded the sight of the distinctive blue and white battle flag of his command on the battlefield.
This month’s program will examine this fascinating Civil War commander, the topic of several modern biographies and still much respect from Civil War historians today.
Our speaker is the one and only Thomas Cartwright. A modern Tennessee Civil War legend tour guide, speaker, former Carter House director and current historian and tour guide for the Lotz House Civil War Museum in Franklin, Tennessee, Thomas has become well known for weaving wonderful stories of soldiers and people of the Civil War.
He has appeared on the television series “Civil War Journal,” and has lectured across the country. He has led countless tour groups in Franklin and elsewhere and remains a very in demand speaker and tour guide.
Thomas has also visited General Cleburne’s birthplace in County Cork.
