Williamsburg Civil War Roundtable

Williamsburg Civil War

Roundtable

50th Anniversary Number 2                                  October 27, 2026

MONTHLY ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER
October 27, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Rev. Robert J. Miller
"From Rome to Appomattox -  A History of (Catholic) Civil War Chaplains" "  

Join us on Tuesday, October 27th, for the meeting of the Williamsburg Civil War Roundtable, commencing at 6:30 PM in the Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre. The library is located at 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, October 27 for Rev. Robert Miller’s presentation of “From Rome to Appomattox – A History of (Catholic) Civil War Chaplains”

Military chaplaincy has existed for over 1,600 years, with its earliest connections being seen some 3,000 years ago. In this talk, we will outline the history of religious people being actively involved with the world’s military. We will start with the Assyrians and Israelites, speak of the rise of Christianity, the Middle Ages systematizing of the role, and end with the Civil War beginnings of our modern American military chaplaincy.

We will then focus on a subset of Catholic chaplains in the Civil War – their challenges, numbers, impact, and stories of the more colorful and interesting “characters” among them. The 126 Catholic priests who were Civil War chaplains were NOT your “usual” priests and bishops. They were a unique group of pioneers – tough, adventuresome, courageous, outspoken, deeply committed and very spiritual. Being a Catholic in mid-19th century America was not an easy task, due to the lack of priests as Catholic immigrants flooded the country, a strong anti-Catholic culture, and a Vatican that didn’t “get” American democracy.  
This Power-Point presentation will put flesh on the often-forgotten topic of religion in the Civil War, and a group of Catholic clergymen who changed the country, becoming “legends” because of their wartime service – Cooney, Corby, Sheeran, Ireland, Whelan and more. One chaplain wrote that “courage is the currency with which men’s loyalty is purchased.” Indeed, not only during the American Civil War, but throughout history, the power of religious people to influence, encourage, support, challenge and bring God into the hell of war was, and remains, a topic well worth exploring.  

Robert J. Miller is a Catholic priest of 49 years, retired from 35 years of inner-city Chicago ministry. He has Masters degrees in Religious Education and Divinity, has authored 5 books on spirituality and faith, and was an adjunct professor of Church History at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. A former President of the Chicago Civil War Round Table, he frequently speaks on topics of spirituality and history, especially on Civil War religion. His 2007 book, Both Prayed to the Same God – Religion and faith in the Civil War, was the first book-length overview of the topic. His newest book – Faith of the Fathers – A Comprehensive Study of Catholic Civil War Chaplains – on the 126 Catholic Civil War chaplains, was published in April 2025. A summary of his work in this area, and a documentary film, can be found at www.faithofthefathers.net .

Last Month

On Tuesday, September 22nd, Dr. Alexander B. Rossino presented “Lee’s Army in Maryland: A New perspective on the Campaign of September 1862". 

Students of the Civil War tend to think the story of Robert E. Lee’s 1862 Maryland Campaign is complete, and that any new study of the subject must by necessity rely on interpretations long-since accepted and understood. But what if this is not the case? What if the histories previously written about the first major Confederate operation north of the Potomac River missed key sources, proceeded from mistaken readings of the evidence, or were influenced by Lost Cause ideology? Dr. Alexander B. Rossino will demonstrate that distortions like these continue to shape modern understanding of the campaign, and he will offer a new interpretation of the events. Award-winning author and historian.

Alexander B. Rossino holds degrees in History from Canisius College (B.A.) in Buffalo, New York, and Syracuse University (M.A. & Ph.D.) in Syracuse, New York. A resident of historic Charles Town, West Virginia, Dr. Alex Rossino is an independent historian and author. He earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in History at Syracuse University before working for nine years as a historian at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.  Dr. Rossino also returned to writing history, producing Their Maryland: The Army of Northern Virginia from the Potomac Crossing to Sharpsburg in September 1862 (November 2021) and co-authoring with Gene Thorp The Tale Untwisted: General George B. McClellan, The Maryland Campaign, and the Discovery of Lee’s Lost Orders, which came out in January 2023. His most recent history, Calamity at Frederick: Robert E. Lee, Special Orders No. 191, and Confederate Misfortune on the Road to Antietam (October 2023), completed his in-depth study of the Lost Orders saga from the Confederate perspective.

Officers of WCWRT
President: Bill Miller               Vice-President: Lee Underwood
Secretary                               Treasurer: 

The Executive Committee consists of the elected officers, the immediate past president and other members appointed by the incoming president. Those members include Debbie Bedosti, Tom Lamb, and Terri Teopke.

2025-2026 Membership dues are due. Please click on the application form link for the form.

Upcoming Meetings and Speakers  

• 11/24/2026:  Hampton Newsome:  “The Civil War in North Carolina, January – May 1864”
• 12/15/2026:  Brian Steele Wills:  “A Battle from the Start – The Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest"
• 1/26/2027:  Chris Mackowski:  “The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson”
• 2/23/2027:  Erick Bush:  “The CSS Alabama”
• 3/23/2027:  Cheryl Mcauley:  “Thaddeus Lowe and the Union Balloon Corps”
• 4/27/2027:  Michael Moore:  “Hampton’s Cattle Raid”
• 5/25/2027: Dr Jennifer Murray:  “Meade and the Pursuit from Gettysburg”

Upcoming Outside Events

• Petersburg National Battlefield 2026 Luminary Program & Volunteer Opportunities (11/14 -11/15) details

Other Notes:  

Meeting the Challenge: Bill Miller discusses WCWRT video 

Support our Book Raffle:  This is an important secondary source of revenue to support our programming. It’s a wonderful way to supplement your Civil War library with great books at bargain basement prices.

Help our effort increase our membership:  The best method of recruitment is by word of mouth. Help our effort to grow your Roundtable by inviting your friends and neighbors to accompany you to our meeting.

Visit the Williamsburg Battlefield Association
(http://www.williamsburgbattlefieldassociation.org/) (https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsburgBattlefieldAssociation)
 
WEBSITE: Be sure to frequently visit the site for newsletter info, announcements, future and past speakers, and an up to date calendar of events in the Civil War world.  It’s available anytime you need the info. https://www.wcwrt.org/news/2024 Newsletter archive.pdf.

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote discussion and study of the Civil War and to further stimulate interest in all aspects and phases of the Civil War period.