San Francisco Civil War Round Table Meeting
                      Thursday 15th January 2015
                   at the United Irish Cultural Center
                   2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco
                                ===========
     
Two dozen staunch members ushered in
the 2015 season by reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance.

Bob Lawhon (right) introduced the local Corral
of the
Westerners organization and encouraged
Round Table members to attend their meetings
on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

  









              
 








Guest speaker
Bob Conner (below, left, with his wife Barbara) gave an
informed presentation on
General Gordon Granger, "the Saviour of
Chickamauga."
















Civil War buffs familiar with the battle of Chickamauga likely are familiar with
the name
Gordon Granger. Commanding the Reserve Corps, on his own
initiative and without orders, he moved his force to Snodgrass Hill to reinforce
Maj. Gen. George “Pap” Thomas and his Fourteenth Corps. This helped
solidify the position and buy time for the army to extricate itself from a possible
debacle. Thomas gained great fame as “The Rock of Chickamauga” while
Granger’s contributions faded from popular knowledge for the most part.
Conner brilliantly used a solid array of primary sources to paint a good portrait
of this complex man, whose military acumen was overshadowed often by his
personal shortcomings. He often got on the nerves of General Grant and other
senior leaders, and at times tended to pay more attention to personal whims
such as firing his artillery while he should have been tending to command details

Following the question and answer session, Program Chair
Bob Hubbs
announced that the February speaker would be
Ruthanne Lum McCunn,
speaking about the "Chinese Yankee."
New member Roy Askeland (below left) and
his guest
Ron Frederick (below right).