Welcome to the website of the American Civil War Round Table (UK)
We’re a growing group of mostly British-based members, who get together and share information about all aspects of one of the greatest conflicts of the 19th century. You will also find here articles taken from our thrice yearly magazine ‘Crossfire’, that is free to members. If after browsing our site you would like to join us we’d be very happy to enrol you, whatever colour you prefer!
Our Round Table comprises people from all walks of life who are interested in any or all aspects of the war, but who also care enough to contribute to the growing number of initiatives to preserve this heritage for future generations. We meet frequently, mostly in London, to hear a wide variety of presentations on the war. Our speakers have included such published historians as Ed Bearss, Amanda Foreman and Gary Gallagher.
Why all this interest in American events of the past with so much history of our own? Surprisingly, we are the first in the line of Civil War Round Tables set up in the 1950s - almost exlusively in the United States. We have maintained a natural affinity with events of the Civil War. With many of its participants hailing from these islands it is perhaps not surprising that British viewpoints have been brought to bear on this all-American affair.
Forthcoming events
Field Trip - Battle of the Somme
The ACWRT (UK) are arranging a field trip to the Battle of the Somme which took place from 7th to 10th October 2016. The battle started on 1st July 1916 and continued until 17th November 2016 with 60,000 casualties of whom almost 20,000 died.
The tour will start by looking at the disastrous 'first day' of the battle and the blooding of the Kitchenerr's Pals batallions before examining new tactics and inventions such as the tank. The guide will be Ian Standen.
For more information, please contact Peter Lockwood on oldcount@aol.com or call him on 01747 828 719.
Please contact Peter as soon as you can as the limited amount of places are almost full.
Meeting Dates 2016
2016 Meeting Dates| Date | Event |
|---|
| Saturday September 17th at the CSC | Longstreet (John Lee) |
| Friday October 7th to Monday 10th October | FIELD TRIP to The Somme.
Guide – Iain Standen |
Saturday November 5th at the CSC
| The ACWRTUK (AGM) followed by Robert Cook |
| Saturday December 3rd at the Union Jack Club | Our Christmas Dinner - details via Jim Carroll
|
17/9/2016 -
September meeting - James Longstreet - John Lee
James Longstreet has long split the Civil War community. A gallant supporter of the General Lee - his "Old War Horse" - or the vacillator that cost the Confederacy victory after victory? At our September meeting, John Lee will seek to unravel Longstreet and provide us with some answers.
Preservation news
Adopt-a-Cannon
Our current $500 preservation pledge is for ongoing maintenance for the cannons at Charleston
See full article
Crossfire magazine
CSS Alabama Crewman John Williams
The ACWRTUK has a long tradition of providing unique and rewarding research on Britain and the ACW. This article by Maurice Rigby details the life of one of the Alabama crew - John Williams. Maurice is our "go-to"man on the Alabama.
See full article
Two Battles Compared – Antietam and Froeschwiller by David Kirkpatrick
On the 6th of August in 1870, a French Imperial army was deployed in a pre-selected ‘magnifique’ defensive position around the villages of Froeschwiller and Worth in Alsace, and it was attacked there by a much larger German army of two Prussian and two Bavarian corps. In this battle the French lost twice as many men as the Germans, and were driven from the battlefield in disorder. By contrast, in September 1862 a Confederate army hastily assembled on the west bank of the Antietam creek where it was attacked on the 17th by a much larger Union army. The Confederates resisted successive attacks, inflicted more casualties than they incurred, and remained on the battlefield overnight and through the following day. This paper discusses the reasons for these very different outcomes.
See full article
