May 9, 2019 at 6:30 pm

Curt Fields

General U.S. Grant and his wife will describe the relief of Chattanooga through the voice and person of Dr. E. C. (Curt) Fields, Jr. and his wife. Curt Fields is an avid and lifelong student of the American Civil War. A living historian and re-enactor that brings Ulysses S. Grant to colleges and universities, even West Point, and Round Tables in Knoxville, Indiana, and others.

A short list of his credits from around the country include:

  • In January 2019, Dr. Fields portrayed General Grant for the kick-off events for the ‘Semester of Grant’ at West Point (by invitation of the United States Military Academy).
  • In November 2017 Dr. Fields portrayed President Grant for the opening and dedication of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library.
  • In April 2015 at Appomattox National Historic Park Dr. Fields portrayed General Grant for the 150th anniversary of Lee’s surrender to General Grant (Sesquicentennial observation) and he also portrays General Grant in the film shown in the visitor center at Appomattox NHP, “With Malice Toward None.” He was selected to portray Grant at the 150th anniversary of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, in 2015. He was featured as Grant in the Discovery Channel three-partdocumentary series “How Booze Built America.” Fields is the same height and body style as the general and represents a true-to-life image of the man as he would have looked. His research is extensive and validates his accurate portrayal. His presentations are made in the first person, quoting from memoirs, articles and letters the general wrote, statements he made in interviews and first-person accounts of people who knew the general or were with him and witnessed him during events.
  • In April 2012 at Shiloh National Military Park Dr. Fields portrayed General Grant for the 150th anniversary of the battle of Shiloh (Sesquicentennial observation).
  • In February 2012 at Fort Donelson National Battlefield Dr, Fields portrayed General Grant for the 150th anniversary of the battle of Fort Donelson (Sesquicentennial observation) and he portrays General Grant in the film shown in the Dover Hotel (The surrender house) at Fort Donelson NB.
  • Other portrayals include Vicksburg National Military Park where Dr. Fields portrayed General Grant for the 150th anniversary of the surrender of Vicksburg (Sesquicentennial observation).
  • Appalachian State University was host to Dr. Curt Fields for “An Evening with General Ulysses S. Grant: The Man Behind the Uniform,” as the National Park Service representative portraying the commanding general of the Union Army in films, posters and re-enactments.
  • “It’s eerie. Dr. Curt Fields becomes Gen. Ulysses S. Grant . . . and history comes alive,” said James Goff, professor and chair of the Department ofHistory.

    Fields has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree ineducation from the University of Memphis inTennessee. He earned a second master’s insecondary education and a Ph.D. in educational administration and curriculum from Michigan State University. He spent eight years at the junior and senior high school levels teaching before serving 25 years as a high school administrator. He teaches as an adjunct sociology professor at the University of Memphis and Belhaven University, Memphis. He is now an educational consultant and a living historian.

    Fields is a frequent contributor to the monthly newsletter “The Civil War Courier,” and is a member of the Tennessee Historical Society, the West Tennessee Historical Society, the Shelby County Historical Society, the Nathan Bedford Forrest Historical Society, the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, the Appomattox 1865 Foundation, the 290 Foundation – dedicated to the Civil War Navies, the Civil War Trust and the Ulysses S. Grant Association.