Author: John Syroney – The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable

Shenandoah Valley Field Trip – September 2026

By John Syroney
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2026, All Rights Reserved

The Roundtable’s annual field trip in 2026 was to the Shenandoah Valley to explore the 1862 Valley Campaign. A group of 25 participants took in the majestic sights and the historic sites in the Shenandoah Valley under the masterful guidance of Gary Ecelbarger, who brought the events of the 1862 Valley Campaign to life with his expertly detailed and vividly described explanations of Stonewall Jackson’s brilliant Valley Campaign.

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

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.

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.”

A Civil War Odyssey in Brecksville, Ohio: The Search for William Stacy

By John Syroney
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2024, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in The Charger in February 2024.

It has often been said that stories are the fabric of humanity as they have the capacity to transport us to different places. I cannot think of a more unique story than the one of William Stacy. Having been a resident of Brecksville, Ohio for 25 years, I know the long and rich history that Brecksville has with the Civil War. I would often walk through the Brecksville Cemetery and see the graves of numerous Civil War soldiers. Memorial Day in Brecksville has a long history of honoring those old soldiers and remembering the sacrifices of those who gave the “last full measure” to their country.