CINCINNATI
 CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
Serving Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Since 1956

CCWRT Member Lois Lambert's new book on the 33rd OVI is available. (See details in News & Events.)

Mark Neely at Thomas More College, August 22. (See details in News & Events.)

Great Website for Planning Civil War Travel: Civil War Traveler

CCWRT Member Roger Billings to give Lincoln lecture at NURFC, December 3rd. (See details in News & Events.)

Speaker: John F. Marszalek, Starkville MS

Topic: Lincoln's Hope for Victory: Henry W. Halleck, The General Who Refused to Command

To kick off the 2008-2009 season, we introduce author and historian John Marszalek, who will be making his first appearance at the Cincinnati CWRT. John is a graduate of Canisius College and the University of Notre Dame. From 1973-2002 he taught American history at Mississippi State University, where he earned the title of Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Throughout his distinguished career, Marszalek has specialized in Civil War studies. He has written over 250 articles and book reviews, and has authored or edited twelve books. His works include Sherman: A Soldier’s Passion for Order (1993), which became a Lincoln Prize finalist; Court Martial (1972) [reprinted as Assault at West Point (1994)], which was made into a movie for the Showtime channel; The Diary of Miss Emma Holmes, 1861-1866 (1994); Sherman’s Other War: The General and the Civil War Press (1999); and Commander of All Lincoln’s Armies: A Life of Henry W. Halleck (2004). John has appeared many times in television programs presented by networks such as ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, C-SPAN, A&E, and The History Channel. He has served as co-executive director of the Historians of the Civil War Western Theater, and he has been a member of several organizations including the Board of Advisors of the Lincoln Forum, the Lincoln Prize Committee, the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and the advisory board of the USS Monitor Center & Mariner’s Museum (in Newport News, VA). (Photo from Library of Congress.)

Mr. Marszalek’s presentation will focus on Union Major-General Henry W. Halleck, one of America's most successful, wealthiest, and most significant individuals of the ante-bellum period. Halleck continued his successes in the early years of the Civil War, so that, when President Abraham Lincoln appointed him commander of all the Federal armies, the nation was confident of military success. It turned out not to be. The successful businessman of the pre-Civil War years became the hesitant commanding general of the Civil War. Later when Grant took his place, Halleck became the first chief of staff in American history – and a very good one at that. His successes and failures and his relationship with Lincoln tell us a great deal about the military history of the Civil War.