The Civil War Round Table of Southwest Michigan presents another, nationally recognized speaker, Dr. E.C. (Curt) Fields, Jr., at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the lower level of the First Congregational Church in St. Joseph.

This meeting is part two of a series on the story of Ulysses S. Grant; the first having been offered by Dr. Fields last October. The narrative begins with Grant’s resignation from the Army in 1854 and his struggles in civilian life. Grant rejoined the Army at the start of the Civil War and this presentation follows his rise to prominence leading Union troops though his early victories at Fort Donelson and Shiloh in 1862.

Fields has been an avid and lifelong student of the American Civil War. His interest in portraying General Ulysses S. Grant was driven by that study and his deep respect and admiration for General Grant.

Fields is the same height and body style as General Grant and, therefore, presents a convincing, true-to-life image of the man as he really looked.

He researches and reads extensively about Grant in order to deliver an accurate persona of the general. His presentations are in first person, quoting from Grant’s memoirs; articles and letters the general wrote, statements he made in interviews or wrote himself, and first-person accounts of people who knew the general or were with him and witnessed him during events.

Joining Fields for the evening’s presentation is Mike Reetz, who will be portraying Lt. Col. Horace Porter, Grant’s aide-de-camp. The two historians have worked together previously at venues including Appomattox National Park. The dual perspectives offered by Fields and Reetz will seek to provide the audience with a deeper, more meaningful understanding of both historical figures.

The Civil War Roundtable of Southwest Michigan began as an outgrowth from a Civil War lecture series offered by Lest We Forget at Lake Michigan College in 2013. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday during the months of September through May (with the exception of December) in the lower level of the First Congregational Church, 2001 Niles Ave., St. Joseph. Admission is free for students and $5 for non-members.

The purpose of the roundtable is to foster interaction and learning among its members and guests with regards to all aspects of the Civil War. Participants reflect a wide range of expertise on the subject of the Civil War and all are welcome to join.

Presentations for this season include:

• Oct. 10, 2017 – “Grant- Personal Struggles Through Early Victories”

• Nov. 14, 2017 – “The Private History of a Campaign that Failed

• Jan. 9, 2018 – Civil War Trivia

• Feb. 13, 2018 – “Faith of the Fathers – Catholic Civil War Chaplains”

• March 13, 2018 – Potawatomi Soldiers in the Civil War

• April 10, 2018 – “Camp Douglas – Chicago’s Forgotten Civil War Prison”

• May 8, 2018 – Round Table Discussion on the Petersburg Campaign.

More information is available at the CWRTSM website at cwrtsmi.org