Civil War discussion group for the San Francisco Peninsula
Why Should You Be Interested in Civil War History?
The Civil War, what led up to it, and what happened afterwards are central to American history, and how the America we know today came to be.
At each monthly meeting of the Peninsula Civil War Round Table, the San Francisco Peninsula’s round table group, we explore and discuss a wide variety of topics related to Civil War history.
We cordially invite you to join us at lunchtime the third Tuesday of each month, at Harry’s Hofbrau restaurant, 1909 El Camino Real in Redwood City, CA. See the MEETING INFO tab above for a map and directions. Harry’s opens at 11 a.m. for lunch cafeteria style. Meetings in the side room to the left of the entrance begin promptly at 12 noon.
Upcoming meetings:
June 17, 2025 — Mark Costin on “The Battle of Buena Vista: Training Ground for the Civil War”
July 15, 2025 — Jim Rhetta on “England and Recognition of the Confederacy”
Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, June 17. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is
Mark Costin on “The Battle of Buena Vista: Training Ground for the Civil War”
This talk describes the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista where the American forces of Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican army of Santa Anna. The battle saw significant contributions by many future Civil War stalwarts. Particular attention will be paid to the important actions by Jefferson Davis and Braxton Bragg in securing the victory. The talk will conclude with an open discussion of the comparison between the two wars.
Mark Costin is an engineer living in Sunnyvale, CA, working on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A long time history buff, Mark now has more time to devote to his hobby. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.Eng from McMaster University and B.Eng from McGill University.
Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, July 15. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is
Jim Rhetta on “England and Recognition of the Confederacy”
A common belief with Civil War historians is that England was frequently politically leaning towards Diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy. That belief is backed up by the view that lack of cotton nearly drove England to recognize the south to secure cotton for economic stability and employment for cotton industry workers. The key missing requirement for Diplomatic recognition was a stunning Confederate battlefield victory to persuade England that the Confederacy was a militarily viable nation.
Closer evaluations of this issue are commonly lacking in US publishing, with the familiar beliefs repeated for generations of readers. This presentation will look at the British decision-makers, influencers, foreign policy, and political process to reveal the truth about England’s intentions to recognize the Confederacy.
Jim Rhetta retired from Lockheed Corp and also retired from the USAF Reserve as a Colonel in the Intelligence Community. In both careers he monitored, analyzed and reported on global conflicts, threat assessments, and force postures for the DoD Community. He had to present hundreds of current intelligence briefings, threat assessments, and order’s of battle to a variety of DoD personnel and units. He continues to study both current events and historical subjects for their impacts on us today.
Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, August 19. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is
Wayne Padgett on “Grierson’s Raid”
The talk will be on Grierson’s raid through Mississippi from Tennessee to Baton Rouge. Wayne will go into the details of the actual raid, then contrast it with the John Ford 1959 film on the same subject entitled The Horse Soldiers, starring John Wayne. Wayne will describe Ford’s filming characteristics; i.e., he liked to be on location instead of a studio sound stage.
Wayne Padgett is a native San Franciscan graduating from Lincoln H.S.
After naval service as a quartermaster on a destroyer escort, he graduated from Sacramento State College with a degree in law enforcement. After which, he was a special agent with NCIS, then U.S. Treasury Internal Security Division, and finally U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General retiring in 1990. Concurrent with this, he entered the U.S. Coast Guard reserve retiring as a Lieut. Commander.
His interest in the Civil War has been lifelong, having two great grandfathers and a great-great grandfather who served in the war, all in one South Carolina regiment—specifically the 2nd S.C. Artillery.
Wayne joined the San Francisco CWRT when a friend said that they needed a few more bodies in order to secure a private meeting room at the Irish Cultural Center in S.F. He attended, joined, and eventually served as president for several terms. Upon the demise of the S.F. CWRT, he joined the Peninsula CWRT.
Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, September 16. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is
Alice Mansel on “Benito Juarez and Lincoln”
How did a poor orphaned Oaxacan indian, Benito Juarez, become the Mexican President? Why did New York financiers give him cash during the US Civil War to push European powers out of Mexico? The story starts with Juarez working as a houseboy in the home of a bookbinder who was a lay Franciscan brother, how he became a lawyer, and ends with Lincoln signing a document about Alta California’s Franciscan missions seized illegally by Americans.
Alice Mansell is a business owner and lawyer who majored in physical sciences and history in college.
Join us at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, November 18. Harry’s opens at 11 am for cafeteria style lunch; our meeting will start promptly at 12 noon. See the MEETING INFO menu item for directions. This month’s topic is
Mark Lindberg on “America’s Entry into World War I”
The upcoming program on America’s entry into World War I will explore the critical events and dynamics surrounding the United States’ involvement in the global conflict. It will begin by examining the events leading up to the war, setting the stage for the complex international tensions that drew the U.S. into the fray. The presentation will then delve into the specific circumstances surrounding America’s entry, highlighting the pivotal moment in 1917 during President Woodrow Wilson’s second term when the U.S. officially joined the conflict. Attendees will learn about the initial state of the U.S. military, its limited capacity at the outset, and the massive expansion that followed to meet the demands of the war. The program will also cover the decisive impact of the U.S. arrival in early 1918, which shifted the momentum toward the Allies, culminating in victory within six months, accompanied by striking battlefield photos from Mark’s 2015 WWI Tour. Finally, the presentation will reflect on the lessons learned from the war and its profound effects on the post-war world, offering insights into how this conflict reshaped global history.
Mark Lindberg grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota where he obtained his Private Pilot’s license on his 18th Birthday while working summers driving a Redi Mix truck for his father’s local contracting company. After obtaining additional aviation ratings, Mark worked as a Flight Instructor while attending the University of North Dakota and graduating in Mechanical Engineering.
Upon graduation in Mechanical Engineering, Mark spent 5 months of training in La Crosse, Wisconsin in commercial air conditioning equipment sales and was then transferred to the Bay Area. During the first several years in the Bay Area, Mark attended the evening MBA program at Santa Clara University graduating in 1976 in Finance.
Although regularly visiting friends and relatives in North Dakota, the weather convinced Mark to remain in California. In May of 1977, Mark flew to England on an airline, rented a Cessna-150(G-BBJW), and celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Lindbergh’s 1927 flight to Paris with a flight from Biggen Hill, UK to Le Bourget airport in Paris.
His career included both commercia HVAC, Real Estate acquisitions and investing along with part time flight instruction. In 2015, Mark received the FAA “Wright Brothers Master Pilot” Award for 50 years of flying without an accident or violation. Mark is a 30-year member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Mountain View, a 15-year member of the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County, and a 5-year volunteer at the Wings of History Museum in San Martin, CA. He enjoys golf, horseback riding, historical travel, and photography while writing and speaking on a variety of subjects. Website: marklindberg.com.
Dana Lombardy is back for part 2 of his presentation on the other World War Two 80th anniversary battle in Western Europe. This time Dana explores the Battle of the Bulge, America’s largest land battle in Europe. Dana created an illustrated history and worked with fellow Hall of Fame game designer Steve Jackson to update Steve’s classic game One-Page Bulge. How close did the Germans come to winning their last major offensive in Europe?
Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com Dana appeared on television nearly twenty times, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist and designer on many books, games and magazines, was Publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996-2000, published nine issues of World War One Illustrated, and was consulting historian for the Armistice Centennial exhibit in the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building lobby (now on display on the second floor).
Dana Lombardy on “Bloody Omaha: The Big Red One at D-Day”
2024 saw the 80th anniversary of the decisive World War Two battle in Western Europe: the massive Allied invasion at Normandy, France, called D-Day. Dana worked with acclaimed military artist Keith Rocco to publish a comic and hardcover book based upon the two huge wall murals Rocco created for the First Division Museum. Dana will present the backstory of the murals, the books, and will show his latest solitaire and 2-player board game to be released this summer: Bloody Omaha: The Big Red One at D-Day.
Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com Dana appeared on television nearly twenty times, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist and designer on many books, games and magazines, was Publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996-2000, published nine issues of World War One Illustrated, and was consulting historian for the Armistice Centennial exhibit in the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building lobby (now on display on the second floor).
Mark Costin on “Battle of Buena Vista – Training Ground for the Civil War”
This talk describes the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista where the American forces of Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican army of Santa Anna. The battle saw significant contributions by many future Civil War stalwarts. Particular attention will be paid to the important contributions by Jefferson Davis and Braxton Bragg in securing the victory. The talk will conclude with an open discussion of the comparison between the two wars.
Mark Costin is an Engineer living in Sunnyvale, CA, working on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A longtime history buff, this is Mark’s first presentation to the PCWRT on the subject of the Mexican-American War. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a M.Eng. from McMaster University and a B.Eng. from McGill University.
Kathryn Olivarius on “The Role of Disease and Infection in the U.S. Civil War”
During the United States Civil War, diseases like dysentery and sepsis—not bullets—killed and estimated two-thirds of the 750,000 war dead. And at least 200,000 Union soldiers—mostly unmarried men in their teens and twenties—contracted venereal disease. Some died from it. But many others survived the war and brought it home, making this war for freedom a super-spreader event for syphilis and shame.
Kathryn Olivarius, Associate Professor of History, at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Photographer: LiPo Ching
Kathryn Olivarius is Associate Professor of U.S. History at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the antebellum South, the Caribbean, slavery and disease. Her BA degree in History from Yale University and her Masters and Ph.D. in U.S. History are from the University of Oxford.
Mark Costin on “The Overlooked Conflict, the Trans-Mississippi Operations, Part II: The Battle of Pea Ridge”
The Battle of Pea Ridge, March 6-8, 1862, was the decisive battle for Union control of the state of Missouri. This talk introduces the conditions in the Missouri/Arkansas area in late 1861 and early 1862 and then gives a detail description of the battle and the leading figures on both sides. The battle is often overlooked but offers many unusual features: Indians, Texas Rangers, a Union general named Jefferson Davis and phenomenally bad luck by the Confederates.
Mark Costin is an engineer living in Sunnyvale, CA working on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A long time history buff, this is Mark’s second presentation the SBCWRT on the subject of the war in the Trans-Mississippi. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.Eng from McMaster University and B.Eng from McGill University.
