JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN
CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE
BRUNSWICK, MAINE
Welcome to the Joshua L. Chamberlain Roundtable. Founded on January 28, 1986, the roundtable seeks to foster our common interest in the War Between the States and the era in which it was fought. The roundtable meets from September through June on the second Thursday of the month 7:00 p.m., at the Brunswick High School, 71 Dragon Drive in Brunswick. Our monthly meetings provide an opportunity to share news and experiences, to chat about a good read or new research and, of course, to enjoy the scheduled presentation. Our meetings are free and open to the public and we hope that you will join us soon.
Chamberlain portrait courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Civil War Photographs, reproduction number, LC-DIGF-cwpb-05799. Copyright © 2025 Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable
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SCHEDULED PROGRAMS FOR 2025 – 2026
Figure 1. Lincoln’s Address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Courtesy Library of Congress.
September 11, 2025 – John Manning and Andrew Andriopoulos, Civil War Currency.
October 9, 2025 – Brad Gottfried, Lee Invades the North: Comparison of the Antietam and Gettysburg Campaigns.
November 13, 2025 – Jim Silvia, John Browns Raid.
December 11, 2025 – Janice Smith, The General at Home: Joshua Chamberlain at the Crossroads.
January 8, 2026 – The Fifth Annual Civil War Challenge.
February 12, 2026 – Dan Cunningham, My experience as a reenactor with the 3rd Maine Regiment.
March 12, 2026 – Noma Petroff, Grant and the Image: Graphic works of and by Ulysses S. Grant.
April 9, 2026 – Matt Atkinson, Vicksburg Stands Defiant: 1862-1863 The Opening Offensives.
May 14, 2026 – Dan Welch, Martyrs of the Race Course: The Forgotten Decoration Day.
June 11, 2026 – David Malgee, Artifacts of Gettysburg: Stories behind the Relics.
ABOUT US
Figure 2. President Lincoln and his cabinet, with Lieut. Gen. Scott. Courtesy Library of Congress.
The Chamberlain Round Table is administered by a board of trustees consisting of four elected officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer), two officers appointed by the president (program director and information director), and four elected at-large members. The officers and members-at-large are elected annually at the regularly scheduled meeting held in June. The duties of the officers and the board at large and other administrative details are spelled out in our by-laws. A copy of the round table by-laws by be obtained by request to the secretary. The board of trustees meets three times per year (August, November, and April) and otherwise as necessary. The Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table is an incorporated non-profit in the State of Maine under Title 13-B and is a tax-exempt organization under federal Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
The board of trustees for 2025 – 2026 are: President, Mike Bell; Vice-President, Linda Schlegel; Secretary, John Wagner; Treasurer, Harvey Lipman; Program Director, Bill Attick; At-Large Members, Carol Manchester, Bill St. Louis, and Tyler Ayotte. Round table members are encouraged to join the leadership team. Your input and support are important to leading our CWRT into the future!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Figure 3. JLC CWRT President Mike Bell.
As we look to another year of our roundtable programing, I am thankful for the great presentations we have had thus far this year. The wide range of topics have provided those who attend our monthly meetings with insights into some new aspects of the Civil War. We certainly have another round of speakers that will be fascinating in the 2026-2027 season. There are fewer groups like ours each year, but I believe programing makes all the difference. (Thanks Bill Attick)
I hope that members of our group will continue to find ways to serve. We are going to need new board members and continue to ask folks to pay their dues so we can have a bright future. To paraphrase Ben Franklin, it’s your group, if you want to keep it.
Mike Bell, President
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Figure 4. “Greenback.” Courtesy Federal Reserve Board.
Membership with the Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table is open to all interested persons. An active membership is vital to maintain quality programming, to bring in new ideas as to how we move into the future, to provide leadership, and to maintain overall financial viability so that we may continue to provide the level of activity that we now enjoy. Perspective members may complete the membership form [MEMBERSHIP FORM] and submit it with the appropriate dues for one year to the treasurer by mail or in person at any scheduled meeting of the round table. Effective July 1, 2024, dues for new members and renewals for current members are: Individual Member $35, Family Membership $45, Student Membership $15. Annual renewals are due September of year.
THE BOOK CLUB
Figure 5. Josiah Burnham Kinsman, Aide-de-Camp. Courtesy Library of Congress.
For many years the round table has sponsored a book club. Everyone is invited to join and participate in our discussions and debates. The book club meets at 7:00 p.m. at People Plus on Union Street in Brunswick. We know you will enjoy the reads and the lively discussion. Anyone interested in participating in the discussions should contact the book club coordinator by email at JLCCWRTmembership@gmail.com. Book selections and dates are subject to change as determined by the book club.
A very good read: By Steven Garrett
Fergus M. Bordewich. Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction. Alfred A. Knopf. New York, 2024.
Soon after the end of the Civil War and the freeing of the enslaved, a violent reaction began in the south to counter the newly won freedom and rights bestowed upon the freed, in both the ex-confederate states and neutral states. That response was the violence upon black Americans and their white supporters by members of the Ku Klux Klan and other similar groups.
Mr. Bordewich’s book addresses President Grant’s little-known efforts to eliminate the terrorism aimed at the freedoms won. Unfortunately, after initial successes the economy, politics, and the wish of many citizens to just move on from the Civil War doomed this humanitarian effort to eliminate domestic terrorism. Politically, this effort was supported by the so-called radical Republicans, but the liberal Republicans favored economic reform, laissez faire economics and conciliation with the south over rights. The democrats fought all efforts to use federal force against the southern domestic terrorism. This book is a necessary and well researched one that describes one President’s efforts and success to squash terrorism and to save reconstruction and multi-racial democracy.
The author’s book is structured in four parts: (1) The Terror, (2) Grant takes Command, (3) War, and (4) Recessional. These parts follow the timeline of the terrorism, Grant’s response and use of the 7th cavalry, the arrest and punishment of the Klan leadership, and the ultimate failure as the democrats and liberal republicans gained power, and the nation lost the political will to continue the fight.
This is an important book to know why the union won a war but lost the peace. I recommend it to anyone serious about our history.
CONTACT US
Figure 6. Signal telegraph machine and operator. Courtesy Library of Congress.
To contact the Joshua L. Chamberlain Round Table by mail:
Chamberlain CWRT
P.O. Box 1046
Brunswick, Maine 04011-1046
For more information regarding membership:
JLCCWRTmembership@gmail.com
Image Credits
Figure 1. Lincoln’s address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, November 19, 1863. Sherwood Lithograph Co., c1905. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-19926. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 2. President Lincoln and his cabinet, with Lieut. Genl. Scott. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-pga-01778. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 3. Photo provided by Mike Bell.
Figure 4. “1862 United States Notes,” The History of U.S. Currency, U.S. Currency Education Program, Federal Reserve Board, https://www.uscurrency.gov/history.
Figure 5. Major General Josiah Burnham Kinsman, Aide-de-Camp, U.S. Volunteers Infantry Regiment, on the staff of General Benjamin Butler, in uniform seated behind desk with open book. George Kendall Warren, photographer. Liljenquist Family collection. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-96365. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 6. Signal Telegraph Machine and operator – Fredericksburg. Alfred R. Waud, artist. Morgan collection of Civil War drawings. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-21043. (Cropped for presentation.)