Round Table

Ft. Pillow: Massacre or Myth?
Presented by Ed Kennedy

Little Round Table

John Pope, pt 2 goes east and meets R.E. Lee
Led by Jeff Ewing

Upcoming Round Tables

  • Million Dollar Man presented by Chris McIlwain
  • Ft. Pillow Massacre presented by Ed Kennedy
  • Markers and Meanings presented by Claire Woerner
  • To Be Announced
  • Grant’s Relief of Chattanooga presented by Curt Fields
  • 9th Alabama presented by John Carter
  • Decisions at Stones River presented by Matt Spruill
  • Battle of Mobile presented by Paul Brueske
  • Civil War Athens presented by Rebecca Davis
  • Field Trip Preview presented by John Scales
  • Topic TBA presented by Peggy Towns

Who We Are

The Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table (TVCWRT), was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1993 to provide a forum for non-partisan study, education, and discussions concerning the American Civil War, and to support the preservation of Civil War battlefields, and related activities. We are a certified as a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization, and membership dues are used for preservation and educational efforts throughout the Tennessee Valley region.

We meet the second Thursday of every month starting at 6:30 PM, except for December. Our meetings are held at

Huntsville Elks Lodge725 Franklin St. SEHuntsville, AL 35801-4309

The program will always feature a nationally or regionally known speaker, and we are well known for covering a wide variety of Civil War topics.Annual membership dues are $30 per household, which includes up to two members per household. Free memberships are offered to full-time students (elementary through undergraduate).The Little Round Table (LRT) Discussion Group is our second monthly forum where a smaller group of interested members and guests enjoy an in-depth discussion of a Civil War topic. The LRT meets at the Elks Lodge at 6:30 PM, the fourth Thursday of every month except November (the last meeting of the year takes place the second Thursday of December, in place of a general meeting).

For questions about the TVCWRT, call (256) 278-5533. We also have a Facebook page.

Our mailing address is:

Tennessee Valley Civil War Round TableP.O. Box 2872Huntsville, Alabama 35804

President’s Welcome

Welcome to the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table. Here you will find a group of intelligent, curious, friendly people from all walks of life with one thing in common—an interest in exploring the crucible that formed our modern country, the American Civil War.

Our nationally recognized speakers are authors, educators, and military experts who present lively programs that help put the personalities, situations, battles, and war in context. But the Round Table isn’t just about battlefield tactics and parsing the thinking of generals. Outstanding recent presentations have included exploring the problem of coordinating logistics in the era before standardized time, the effects of the war’s massive number of dead horses, learning about an Alabama widow’s struggle to survive, and a fascinating talk about the rise of local currencies in the absence of a strong monetary system. Most importantly, we are non-partisan voyagers who do not advocate for either north or south, we hail from all parts of the country and represent a diverse assortment of opinions. Founded in 1993, our members include men and women who are community leaders, educators, history buffs, retired military members, re-enactors, authors, and people who simply love learning.

The Roundtable is also committed to supporting the preservation of Civil War sites and history and does so by selecting one project per year to be the recipient of proceeds from our “Battlefield Bucket,” a free-will collection taken at each meeting. In addition, the board also considers requests and makes small grants to support the preservation of historic sites and teaching of history.

So, join us the second Thursday of each month (except December) at 6:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Huntsville. You are welcome to come early to enjoy an inexpensive buffet supper and pull up a chair to join lively informal conversations about books, battlefields, and Civil War life. Everyone is welcome. We especially encourage students. If our general meeting leaves you hungry for more, check out our monthly discussion group, The Little Round Table. This small group delves into the nit and grit of battles, tactics, and personalities. It, too, meets at the Elks Club, typically monthly on the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

This year, as Alabama celebrates the bicentennial year of statehood, is a great time to rev up your interest in history and learn more about the people and situations that made us who we are today. We look forward to welcoming you at our next meeting.

April L. Harris
President