The organization meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month September through May. Meetings are held in the Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre located at 515 Scotland St in Williamsburg, VA, unless otherwise posted. The meetings begin at 6:30 PM. Membership is open to the general public.
MONTHLY
MEETING NOTICE
Tuesday,
April 28, 2026,
at 6:30 PM
Ryan Quint
" Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire
of a Forgotten Battle, Dec. 20, 1861"
Join us on Tuesday, April 28th for the Williamsburg Civil War Roundtable commencing at 6:30 PM at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre, 515 Scotland Street in Williamsburg.
The program will also be presented online via a Zoom link for our
members and friends near and far. The details for the Zoom link will be
provided in a follow-up announcement several days prior to the meeting
date.
Join us on Tuesday, April 28th, for Ryan Quint’s presentation of “Dranesville:
A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, Dec.
20, 1861”. After the guns of Manassas fell silent, the opposing armies
grappled for position wondering what would come next. Popular history
has us believe that daily briefings reported something along the lines
of “All quiet along the Potomac.” Reality was altogether different. In
fact, the fall and early winter of 1861 was a hotbed of activity that
culminated in the December combat at Dranesville. The Union
victory—sorely needed after the string of defeats at Bull Run, Wilson’s
Creek, and Ball’s Bluff—was small when measured against what was to
come; it also helped shape the bloody years to follow.
Ryan Quint, a native of Maine, earned his degree in history from the
University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. He has worked in
the field of public history, including at the George Washington
Foundation, Colonial Williamsburg, and the National Park Service. Ryan
has been involved with Emerging Civil War (emergingcivilwar.com)
since 2013, and his first book, Determined to Stand and Fight: The
Battle of Monocacy, was published by Savas Beatie in 2017 as part of the
Emerging Civil War Series.
Last Month
On Tuesday, March 17th, Michael Block's presented “The
Mine Run Campaign"
On November 26, 1863, MG George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac crossed
the Rapidan River in an effort to turn the Army of Northern Virginia’s
right. Meade’s objective was to force Robert E. Lee’s army out of their
fortified positions along the river and potentially open the road to
Richmond.
Lee would not accommodate Meade’s plan. The resulting Mine Run Campaign,
is the last of three brief campaigns in the fall of 1863 that followed
Gettysburg. Neither side was willing to risk all and press their enemy.
Mine Run became just another campaign of lost opportunity.
Michael Block presented an overview of the Mine Run Campaign,
highlighting Meade’s strategic objectives and Lee’s successful reaction.
We will discuss key events which eventually thwarted Meade’s plan – The
misadventures in crossing of the Rapidan; the battle of Payne’s Farm and
Lee turning his line ninety degrees; and finally with MG Gouverneur K.
Warren’s taking it upon himself not to attack. Using primary source
material, the Mine Run Campaign will progress through the eyes and pens
of the participants.
Williamsburg Battlefield April 25th Park Day volunteers needed details
Meeting the Challenge- Bill Miller discusses WCWRT video
2026 Blue and Grey Education Society Tours
details
Culpeper Battlefields State Park: This is a new State Park, which includes the Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station Battlefields. Our friend Drew Gruber is the Park Ranger who oversees the operations of the new park. details