York Civil War Round Table

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, York Civil War Round Table will feature Leon Reed with a program entitled “No Greater Calamity for the Country: North-South Conflict, Secession, and the Onset of  Civil War.”
This program will be held online only through Zoom and steamed live on the York County History Center’s Facebook page.
To register for the Zoom program, please click here.

The year- long crisis that started with the first summer months of the 1860 presidential campaign and ended in the first major combat at Manassas is one of the most consequential 12 months in American history. Over that eventful year, one of the two major political parties shattered. Four regional candidates were nominated for president, and the minority supporting secession in southern states shifted gradually to strong majorities. At the same time, many in the north who were inclined to shrug off the departure of the southern states came round to strong opposition and answered President Lincoln’s call for a volunteer army. In July 1861, a civil war started that was the most catastrophic event in the nation’s history. The effects of the war were long-lasting and are still some of the strongest economic and political influences in 21st century life.
In his book, “No Greater Calamity for the Country: North-South Conflict, Secession, and the Onset of  Civil War,” Mr. Reed uses hundreds of contemporary newspaper articles, diaries, and the contents of a never-before-seen contemporary scrapbook to explain how the country descended into civil war.
Leon Reed is a retired congressional aide and history teacher. He lives in Gettysburg, where he volunteers at the visitor center, explores the park, and writes and edits history books. He has written three photo books on Gettysburg monuments; a children’s book about Jennie Wade; and the book on which his presentation is based, “No Greater Calamity for the Country: North-South Conflict, Secession, and the Onset of Civil War.”

Founded as the White Rose Civil War Round Table, the York CWRT holds monthly meetings the third Wednesday of every month except December at 7:00 p.m.  Each meeting features a guest speaker talking about a Civil War topic of local or national interest. Meetings are FREE and open to the public. Click here for more information on upcoming programs.