Civil War Roundtable: That d__n old google eyed snapping turtle – George Gordon Meade Col. Gary Colberg

Meeting Overview – Since Gettysburg has been covered so well by so many, be ready to learn about General Meade before and after that historic battle in am audience participative presentation.  This unique, interactive presentation on General George Meade was originally presented to the prestigious Civil War Round Table of DC. In this presentation we review Meade as a young man at West Point to the end of the Civil War.  What is there to the rumors that he abused his own soldiers when he lost his temper such as the “Peach Tree” incident? How was this general in combat? What about the famous “Cropsey incident” where a correspondent printed fake news in the newspaper (see Libeler of the Press photo)? What was it that he did that identified him to Lincoln as a “fighting general”? I also go into Meade and the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg and his controversial and not as well-known decisions there. Two or three volunteers will be sought to have fun and participate as it is much more interesting. Civil War props such as Union and AOP flags, keppie cap, Brigadier General’s frock coat, saber, and shackles will also be on display.

Speaker: Gary was inspired to become a Civil War reenactor after researching his Great-Grandfather who served for three years in the 20th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. While serving in the Army National Guard in a unit with lineage and honors back to the 1st Minnesota, he joined the 1st Minnesota Regiment and started his Civil War reenacting hobby. After being mobilized and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times he retired as an Army Reserve Colonel with 37 years of service. After his military retirement he continued to serve, working in the Pentagon and DC area as a Senior government supervisor, working with two and three star generals, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. While working in DC he started reenacting again at the 150 th Gettysburg reenactment. He has participated in Living History and battle reenactments at Gettysburg, Antietam, Cedar Creek, Bristoe Station, Appomatttox and over 50 other battlefields. With the Civil War Impressionist Association (CWIA) he developed an impression of Major General George Meade that become in high demand in the Eastern Theater. One reason the CWIA has been so successful might be because they go beyond the normal Living History presentations, doing historically correct vignettes to help spectators feel like they are witnessing an actual event on a battlefield. The CWIA won the prestigious Visitors Choice Honorable Mention Award in 2022 at the Jamestown, VA Military Through the Ages reenactment. In support of DoD, Gary custom tailored a tour of the Gettysburg battle for non-commissioned officers. In addition, he led a tour of “the Crater” at the Petersburg National Battlefield. Gary is now retired, lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he reenacts as a Private with the First Minnesota, and does Living History presentations as both Generals Meade and Hancock.

Meetings are held at the Stearns County History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 11th at 3:30pm (doors open at 3).
Note change in starting time:
3:00pm – doors open and opportunity to socialize and interact with fellow members
3:15pm – welcome and “new features”
3:30pm – speaker presentation
4:45pm – adjourn
For more information – contact Andy Ditlevson – aditlevson@gmail.com, 320-241-8477