From Denise Harrell secretary of the Hampton Roads Civil War Round Table (HRCWRT).
On Thursday August 13th the next meeting of the HRCWRT will feature prominent Civil War historian, author, and National Park Service veteran Phil Greenwalt, he will speak on the topic of his recent book published in the Emerging Civil War Series “A Confederate Southwest Empire: The New Mexico Campaign of 1862.” This was a compelling, daring, and not widely-known Civil War campaign. The monthly dinner meeting will be held a week earlier than usual (generally the third Thursday of the month) at the Virginia Beach National Golf Club located at 2500 Tournament Drive in Virginia Beach.
In early March 1862, a Confederate force entered the Territory of New Mexico with a goal of creating an expanded Confederacy westward. The Battle of Glorieta Pass ensued March 26-28, 1862. Phil’s talk will explore and examine what happened in the American Southwest at that time, and how the ripples of this campaign reverberated further afield. Phil is the author or co-author of seven books on the Civil War and Revolutionary War. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from Wheeling Jesuit University, his Master’s degree in American History from George Mason University, and a Master’s degree in International Affairs & Global Leadership from Arizona State University. He is a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War, and co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War. He started with the National Park Service over 20 years ago as a historical interpreter at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He further supported special details for the Appomattox and Fort McHenry bicentennials, and is currently Program Manager for Interpretation and Education at Catoctin Mountain Park, a national park outside Frederick, Md.
The program begins at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30 and the presentation at 7:00. The dinner buffet is optional and will include Beef Tips with gravy, Pork Tenderloin, red roasted potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert, iced tea and water. The cost is $20, plus tax and 21% gratuity. Please notify the HRCRT secretary Denise Harrell by email (cdharrell@cox.net ) as soon as possible, but NO LATER THAN NOON MONDAY August 10th, if you would like to have dinner. Virginia Beach National requires a firm headcount and a three-day advance notification. Also, if you have a history book you would like to donate to our book sale or raffle please bring it to the meeting. We welcome new members and guests. Please invite your history-loving friends and neighbors to come join you at our meeting.
The Round Table’s new membership year began July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027. Annual Membership Dues are $50 (Individual) and $70 (Family) and can be paid at the monthly meeting with the attached form or mailed with the attached form to Treasurer Dale Robertson at: 23020 Rolfe Ave., Windsor, VA 23487. Please note: dues are not considered paid without the attached form being filled out. The form appears below.
The Chancellorsville/Spotsylvania Battlefield Trip on November 6th and 7th is full and a wait list has been started. Please contact Glen Robertson at grobertson@wolriv.com or Judy Payton at paytonsathe@msn.com if you wish to be added to the wait list.
Application form
Future HRCWRT Programs
September 17– Retreat from Victory: The Battle of Malvern Hill and the End of the Seven Days, July 1, 1862” by Frank O’Reilly, Author and Historian.
October 15, 2026– “An Evening With James W.D. Bland: A Free Black Virginian’s Civil War Era Life of Consequence,” by Living Historian Al Jones, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
November 19, 2026: “Robert E. Lee at Antietam,” by Kevin Pawlak, Historian, Author, Contributing Member of Emerging Civil War and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield
December– Membership Only Christmas Dinner: “Seven Times When the Confederates Could Have Won the Battle of Gettysburg,” by Rob Abbot, Maj. USMC (Ret), Certified Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park