The next meeting of the Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2007 (7:00 P.M.) at Bradley Academy. Anyone interested in open discussion of the Civil War topics with a local flavor are welcome to attend.

This month’s meeting will feature Dale Phillips, Superintendent of George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Mr. Phillips will present The Real First Day at Chickamauga.

When one thinks of the Battle of Chickamauga attention is always focused on September 19 and 20, 1863, the two principle days of the action. What has almost been forgotten are the critical events and actions that took place on September 18th that set the stage for everything that took place over the next two days.

Mr. Phillip’s presentation will center on the events of September 18th. We will look in detail at the positions of the two armies and the confusion of the command structures of the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of Tennessee. He will focus on the critical events that took place at the fords and bridges over the Chickamauga Creek.

We will look, in detail, at the actions of the Union brigades under the command of Colonels Robert Minty and John Wilder and their attempt to defend the fords and bridges against advancing Confederate forces. The program will pay special attention to the brigade of mounted infantry under the command of John Wilder. In particular, his attached battery commanded by Captain Eli Lilly.

The Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table meets every third Tuesday of the month at Bradley Academy, located on Academy Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Membership applications are available at each meeting. Membership costs $10 per year for individuals and $15 for families. All meetings are open to the public regardless of membership status. Each meeting will include time for interested parties to share stories and memorabilia from the Civil War era with the membership.

For more information, visit our web site at http://www.mtcwrt.org or contact Jim Lewis at 615-890-1926 (before 8 PM) or by e-mail at mtcwrt@comcast.net.