Legendary Civil War historian, Edwin Bearss, will speak to the Nashville Civil War Roundtable on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 7 PM at the Z. Alexander Looby Theater in Nashville, Tennessee. The Looby Theater is part of the Z. Alexander Looby Library complex located at 2301 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. The complex is located where 10th Avenue North joins with Rosa Parks in Metro Center across from the Watkins College of Art.

Mr. Bearss is the Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service and is the most requested Civil War speaker and tour guide in the nation. Over the years Bearss has spoken to thousands of history groups and had led thousands of tours of battlefields in the U.S.A. as well as those for World War 2 in Europe and the Pacific Theater. Mr. Bearss is a combat wounded Marine from the war in the Pacific. Due to his active schedule, Mr. Bearss is difficult to book for an appearance. As he nears his 89th birthday, Mr. Bearss shows no signs of slowing down. The Nashville CWRT, and the co-sponsor, Battle of Nashville Preservation Society, are very lucky to have him coming to town.

Mr. Bearss has appeared as a historian in the famous Civil War series by Ken Burns as well as the TV show Civil War Journal. He has also appeared on C-Span and other television events for the Civil War. Mr. Bearss is featured in the introductory film at the U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. Mr. Bearss has also authored hundreds of articles on the Civil War for state historical journals and has written several articles for Blue & Gray magazine. He is also the author of a number of books including the definitive study (in three volumes) on the Vicksburg Campaign. His latest book, on the Petersburg Campaign, is due to be released this summer.

This event is open to the public and we encourage them to attend. The cost is $10 per person and the proceeds are going to be split with the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society and the Nashville Civil War Roundtable. These funds will help preserve land in Nashville for the December 1864 battle and to help build a monument to Tennessee soldiers at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. Seating is limited and as this may be the only time Mr. Bearss can speak to people in Nashville, the event will probably sell out.

Greg Biggs
Nashville CWRT