November 14, 2017

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 7:00pm at the College of Southern Maryland’s Center for Business and Industry, Chaney Enterprises Conference Center, Room BI-113, at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata, MD.

Guest Speaker:  David Dixon

Few remember Edward Everett’s oration that preceded Lincoln’s masterpiece, but hardly anyone is aware of Kentucky native Charles Anderson’s oration, which concluded the day’s events. The speech was never published and the lost manuscript only recently uncovered at a ranch in Wyoming.  Join us as David Dixon introduces us to this unknown treasure.

In his book, Mr Dixon argues that the three featured speeches need to be viewed as a rhetorical
ensemble to better understand the political context of the Gettysburg dedication.

The back story to this is the saga of Charles Anderson himself, a slaveholder who sacrificed nearly everything to help Lincoln save the Union. An escapee from a Confederate prison in Texas, he became Lincoln’s emissary to Great Britain; then nearly died commanding a Union regiment at Stones River. He helped defeat notorious Copperhead Clement Vallandigham and eventually became governor of Ohio. These are just some of his amazing adventures during the war.

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table invites all to attend this lecture about one of the lesser known events that occurred on one of the most important and significant days in American history! Attendance is free for all, but membership is recommended.  For information, contact the Round Table’s president, Ben Sunderland at bsunderland@socwrt.org or 443-975-9142.