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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November Meeting
November 9, 2026 7:30pm
Scott C. Patchan
Scott C. Patchan was born and raised in Ohio and graduated from James Madison University. He has been researching, writing, and speaking on the Civil War for more than thirty years. He focuses on the 1864 Shenandoah Valley and 1862 Second Manassas campaigns. He has authored several books including George Washington in the French and Indian War (2024); Worthy of a Higher Rank: The 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign Journal of Col. Joseph Thoburn (2021); The Last Battle of Winchester (2013); Second Manassas: Longstreet’s Attack and the Struggle of Chinn Ridge (2011); Shenandoah Summer: The 1864 Valley Campaign (2009); and The Forgotten Fury: The Battle of Piedmont, Virginia (1996). He has also written six “General’s Tours” for Blue and Gray Magazine and is currently researching and writing for several ongoing book projects.
Much has been written about the epic campaign between Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early and U.S. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s fall campaign in the Shenandoah. However, Early waged a brilliant campaign in western Virginia from June 18, when he saved Lynchburg from capture, through Sept, 18, the day before his string of disastrous defeats, which began at Third Winchester and culminated at Cedar Creek on Oct. 19. Lost in the midst of that epic and bloody campaign is Early’s summer campaign that contributed mightily to the Confederacy’s survival in 1864. By sending Early with 10,000 men to western Virginia in June, Gen. Robert E. Lee ultimately forced Grant to detach 30,000 fighting men, and his most aggressive commander, Sheridan, from the operations along the Richmond and Petersburg front. By focusing on military tactics and battle history, Scott C. Patchan uncovers the facts and actions of these little-understood battles and offers a first time perspective on Early’s contributions to the Confederate war effort and the Union battle plans and overall strategy.
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.
