Commentary – The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable

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.”

The Great Debate of 2025: Opening Remarks

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

By William F.B. Vodrey – debate moderator
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

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 21st year, I stand on the shoulders of giants, including Dick.

The Great Debate of 2025

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

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

The January 2025 meeting of the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable featured the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate. The topic for debate was the question: “Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage?” There are many individuals from the Civil War who would be interesting to have a conversation with, and the 2025 Dick Crews Memorial Debate examined the question of which of these individuals would be the most interesting, at least in the opinion of the debaters. Five debaters, each of whom chose a different person as the most interesting, presented arguments in support of their stance on this question. Below are the texts of those five arguments, along with moderator William Vodrey’s opening remarks.

Debate moderator William Vodrey (far left) and debaters John Syroney, Jake Collens, Emily Dickinson, Terry McHale, and Paul Siedel (left to right)

The Great Debate of 2024

Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg?

The January 2024 meeting of the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable featured the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate. The topic for debate was the question: “Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg?” Meade was criticized, including by President Abraham Lincoln, for not being sufficiently aggressive in pursuing Lee’s defeated Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg. The 2024 Dick Crews Memorial Debate examined this question. Four debaters presented arguments in support of their stance on this question. Two debaters argued in favor of Meade, and two debaters argued against him. Below are the texts of those four arguments, along with moderator William Vodrey’s opening remarks.

The Great Debate of 2024: Opening Remarks

Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg?

By William F.B. Vodrey – debate moderator
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2024, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2024 Roundtable meeting was: “Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg?” 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 Dick Crews, my longtime predecessor as moderator. 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 me, my 20th year, I stand on the shoulders of giants, including Dick.

Evaluating George Gordon Meade’s Leadership in the Aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg – Caution, Hesitancy, and Timidity

Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg? No

By Gary W. Taylor
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2024, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2024 Roundtable meeting was: “Was George Gordon Meade aggressive enough in chasing Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Gettysburg?” Four members made presentations on the topic; the article below was one of those four presentations.

Meade’s cautious pursuit of Lee instantly and energetically following the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863 was one of the greatest errors and misfortunes of the Civil War. Let’s consider some facts following Meade’s successful defense of Cemetery Ridge on July 3rd: