Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Internships are sponsored throughout the year at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
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June Meeting
June 8, 2026 7:30pm
Aaron Siever
Aaron Siever grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Since he was a child, he has been interested in the American Civil War. After graduating from high school in 2003, Aaron went into a law enforcement career that spanned 15 years. In 2004, Aaron started documenting the various Civil War sites he had visited and called this Aaron's Civil War Travels. As he traveled around, Aaron started making short videos of his travels in 2016. Aaron created his YouTube channel that same year (Aaron's Civil War Travels) and by 2024 Aaron has done over 100 videos at Civil War related sites from Virginia to California. In 2020, Aaron graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in history and criminal justice. Aaron also received a certificate in the American Civil War and Reconstruction from Columbia University online (Columbia X). In 2021, Aaron joined the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation where he was responsible for maintaining the Valley's Civil War battlefields, overseeing projects and conducting tours and talks as a Park Ranger.
By the spring of 1862, things were not going well for the Confederacy. George McClellan's Union Army of the Potomac was on the peninsula in Virginia, a mere 75 miles away from Richmond. The Confederacy needed diversion and some success. General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was the answer. In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Jackson's campaign to mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy was exactly what the Confederacy needed. In 48 days, Jackson's men, given the sobriquet of "Jackson's Foot Cavalry," would march nearly 650 miles, fight countless skirmishes, and defeat three Federal armies in 5 major battles. The last two of which were fought on June 8 and June 9 at Cross Keys and Port Republic, respectively. The dual victories were not without fault, and an incident on June 8, the same day as the Battle of Cross Keys, could have changed the course of events. However, the Confederate army was indeed successful, and the Shenandoah Valley was secure for the time being. The presentation will cover a brief overview of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, the action occurring on June 6th in Harrisonburg, the setup and Battle of Cross Keys, the narrow escape of “Stonewall” Jackson in the Town of Port Republic, the same day as the Cross Keys Battle, and finally the setup and Battle of Port Republic.
Our speaker lineup for 2026 is NOW available HERE
Dinner Meeting Extras!!
At each monthly dinner meeting we offer multiple door prizes, including gift certificates to Brock's Riverside Grill and Riverby Books. We also have dozens of used Civil War and military history books available for a "pay what you will" rate. All book proceeds are donated to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust.
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT)
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) is a nonprofit organization preserving land associated with the Civil War campaigns of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. They have preserved nearly 1,700 acres of hallowed local battlegrounds since incorporating in 1996. RVCWRT has raised and donated over $40,000 to support CVBT projects. Our round table is proud to be the 2017 recipient of the CVBT Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award, whose purpose is "to shine a light on those who have made notable contributions to the preservation of Civil War resources in Virginia." Learn more about this active and important preservation organization at www.cvbt.org.
Brock's Riverside Grill
Brock’s Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia Street, on the Rappahannock River in historic Old Town Fredericksburg, has been our favorite meeting venue for many years. Brock’s is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch year round. Menu is American “steak and seafood” with a southwestern flair. More information is available at Brocksgrill.com. Call 540-370-1820 for reservations.
A Note from Riverby Books
Riverby Books has been buying and selling quality used books in downtown Fredericksburg since 1996. Our 3-level store houses more than 25,000 volumes for readers, scholars, and collectors alike, with an additional 25,000 volumes of rare and unusual titles found only in our online inventory. We carry titles for all interests and all levels of expertise, with a large selection of American History. We buy books (and whole collections) every day, pay fair prices, price them cheap, and delight in watching our customers take them home. No topic is too obscure. Beach reads, kids books, cook books, antique books and more. Open 7 days a week at 805 Caroline St.
https://www.riverbybooks.com/
Geoff White Music
Geoff White is from Blowing Rock North Carolina. He has played the fiddle all his life, and has performed in pubs, bars, restaurants, concert halls, and battlefields all across the east coast. Geoff was a member of the bluegrass group Sugar Run for several years. He currently lives in Roanoke. He earned a degree in History from Radford University in 2002.
