Fairfax Station Forums

Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 PM
Ron Beavers, a local Civil War railroad and logistics enthusiast, will discuss Civil War Logistics and how this was the key to victory for the Union Army. It has been stated that amateurs study battles but professionals study logistics. The North had manpower, manufacturing, and financial advantages over the South. The Confederacy failed to support its armies because of mismanagement, the lack of control, and long term planning. The Union, on the other hand, skillfully mastered the art of logistics, thereby increasing its war capabilities. Actual case studies with period photos illustrate essential logistical concepts learned or ignored during the war.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 7:30 PM
John C. Carter, author, historian, and educator will be discussing the letters of his great-great-grandfather, Pvt. William C. McClellan, who served in the 9th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. The 9th Alabama participated in many battles in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania and the unit traveled through Northern Virginia many times. Pvt. McClellan was a soldier and a prisoner of war who died shortly after the war. His letters reveal his true feelings about life in the Army of Northern Virginia. He held very strong opinions about the generals and his fellow soldiers. The letters speak freely of events during that time and the war itself. Mr. Carter has assembled the letters into a book and adds historical context. The book will be available for purchase and author signing.