Current Topics & Events

In 1860, the Union capital, Washington, D.C., was a sleepy city of approximately 62,000 residents. The city sat almost completely unprotected, with Fort Washington, the lone fortification, being 12 miles south. Virginia, a Confederate state, lay on one side of the city, and Maryland, a slave-owning state, was on the other, leaving Washington dangerously vulnerable. Realizing the potential danger the city faced, the Union army constructed additional fortifications for the city. By 1865, the Defenses of Washington included 68 forts, supported by 93 detached batteries for field guns, 20 miles of rifle pits, and covered ways, wooden blockhouses at three key points, 32 miles of military roads, several stockaded bridgeheads, and four picket stations. Along the circumference of the 37-mile circle of fortifications were emplacements for a total of 1501 field and siege guns of which 807 guns and 98 mortars were in place. The defenseless city of 1860 had become one of the most heavily fortified cities of the world.
     This presentation will focus on the fortifications surrounding Washington but will also include a brief history of the pre-war defenses and a discussion of Jubal Early’s raid on Fort Stevens. It was inspired by the Civil War Letters of my great-great grandfather Adj. William Beynon Phillips who was assigned to the Defenses of Washington and spent more than a year as an artilleryman at Fort Lincoln guarding the turnpike and railroad to Baltimore.
     Our speaker, Greg Taylor, is a second generation native “Angeleno.” His great-great grandfather, William Beynon Phillips was a Civil War veteran. His grandfather, Victor Massie was a U.S. Navy veteran of both World Wars, and his father, William Wellington Taylor was a combat infantry veteran of WWII who spent 175 days of continuous combat in France and Germany. His brother is a Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Greg did not serve in the military. He attended San Fernando Valley State College (now Cal State University-Northridge) and graduated in 1971 with a B.A. Degree in Political Science. Currently he is a substitute teacher with LAUSD. Prior to being a sub he was a full time Special Education teacher working with emotionally disturbed adolescents.
     He became intensely interested in the Civil War after discovering the magnificent letters written by his great-great grandfather describing his experiences as a Union soldier. Prior to finding these letters his interest in the ACW was casual. He had read the Catton Trilogy, Sandburg’s Lincoln and one or two other general works on the Civil War. It was only when he began to read the letters of his great-great grandfather that he became a “Civil War Buff.” He is not an historian or academic. He thinks his knowledge of the Civil War is probably less than the average CWRT member, but since he began to research the letters and create a website for their presentation he has learned much. He strives to learn more and relish the idea that he has a new and lifelong passion… the American Civil War.

Tuesdays	Speakers	Topics
03/20/2012	TBA	TBA
04/17/2012	TBA	TBA
05/15/2012	TBA	TBA
06/19/2012	TBA	TBA

LOCAL CIVIL WAR EVENTS FOR 2012