Commentary – The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable

The Most Important State, North or South, during the Civil War Era (Other than Ohio) – Illinois

Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era? Illinois

By David F. Parchem
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2026 Roundtable meeting was: “Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era?” Four members made presentations on the topic; the article below was one of those four presentations.

“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.”

General George S. Patton

The three most important men for winning the Civil War came from Illinois.

The Most Important State, North or South, during the Civil War Era (Other than Ohio) – New York

Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era? New York

By Don Iannone
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

New York and the Union War System: Men, Money, Movement, and Mind

Before I begin, I want to thank Judge William Vodrey for organizing this debate and the members of the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable for hosting it. It’s a privilege to be part of a forum that takes history seriously and argues about it in good faith.

The Most Important State, North or South, during the Civil War Era (Other than Ohio) – Virginia

Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era? Virginia

By Jack Prause
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

Good evening, fellow Civil War history enthusiasts. I stand to argue that no state was more pivotal in the American Civil War than Virginia. From its battlefields to its generals, from the halls of Richmond to the farms of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia was the beating heart of the conflict. It was the main battleground, the home of legendary leaders, the arsenal and breadbasket of the Confederacy, and ultimately the place where the war effectively began and ended.

The Most Important State, North or South, during the Civil War Era (Other than Ohio) – South Carolina

Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era? South Carolina

By Ryan Bailey
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

South Carolina and the Making of the American Civil War: Ideological Leadership, Political Escalation, and the Collapse of Compromise

The Great Debate of 2026: Opening Remarks

Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era?

By William F.B. Vodrey – debate moderator
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2026 Roundtable meeting was: “Other than Ohio, what was the most important state, North or South, during the Civil War era?” Four members made presentations on the topic; the article below was the opening remarks made by the moderator of the debate.

We’re here tonight for the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate, named after my longtime predecessor as moderator, Dick Crews. Dick once told me that the debate got its start as a Roundtable tradition because of the difficulty of finding speakers who were willing to travel to Cleveland in January. In moderating again tonight for, God help us all, my 22nd year, I stand on the shoulders of giants, including Dick.

The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Patrick Cleburne

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Patrick Cleburne

By Paul Siedel
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2025 Roundtable meeting was: “Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage?” Five members made presentations on the topic; the article below was one of those five presentations.

It was while working as a reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal that I sat down with General Patrick R. Cleburne, a division commander in the Confederate Army of Tennessee, in January of 1864. Over glasses of superb Irish whiskey, we discussed his proposal to tap the untapped resource of over one million Africans held in bondage and to offer them their freedom, if they would only take up arms and serve in the Confederate Army.

The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Robert E. Lee

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Robert E. Lee

By Jake Collens
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

General Lee, as you know, I am from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. I want to thank you for sitting down with me today to discuss some of your thoughts and feelings about the “late unpleasantness.” I know you have been reticent to go public in the past, and I appreciate this opportunity. I want this to be an agreeable conversation, so I have brought along buttermilk to help make things pleasant.

The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Thomas Francis Meagher

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Thomas Francis Meagher

By Terry McHale
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

The date is May 20, 1863. The location is Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher’s quarters on the Rappahannock River outside Fredericksburg, Virginia. Several of us have gathered to mark the general’s last day in command of his famed Irish Brigade – a brigade that has proven its mettle at every battle fought by the Army of the Potomac since Bull Run. Aside from myself, there are a small number of somber “well-wishers” including Colonel Patrick Kelly, who will be promoted to lead the shell of this once proud brigade, and Father William Corby, who is on leave from his teaching position at the University of Notre Dame to serve as the brigade’s chaplain.

The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Ulysses S. Grant

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Ulysses S. Grant

By Emily Dickinson
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

Out of respect for General Grant’s reputation, I asked him to join me for a steaming hot cup of London Fog rather than the Woodford Reserve or glass of wine I might normally offer a guest. After the pleasantries were dispensed, I told him I was most interested in hearing his thoughts on how the Mexican-American War influenced his decisions during the Civil War. How did it help shape a second lieutenant (and later acting captain) into the illustrious General of the Army of the United States? The general most graciously answered my musings by splitting his experiences into two sections: first, how his experiences shaped what would become “Grant the General” and second, how they gave him insight into the men he would fight beside and against.

The Civil War Person I Would Most Like to Converse with – Daniel Sickles

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage? Daniel Sickles

By John Syroney
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

General Sickles: Why did you advance your 3rd Corps forward on July 2, 1863?

Before I interpret General Daniel Sickles’ decision to advance, one must remember that when General Sickles was asked why he does not have a monument at Gettysburg, he stated, “The whole damn battlefield is my monument.”