, ranger at Petersburg National battlefield, where we first met as park rangers many, many years ago. He is worked in manassas, vicksburg, and gettysburg. He will tackle the elephant in the room about gettysburg versus vicksburg, which one of these two battles he considers being a native mississippian and having worked at both parks, which he considers to be the biggest turning point. Gettysburg or vicksburg . I will let matt get up here and explain. Matt atkinson. [applause] matt thats what it is. I understand you all had a row last night about something. Right there, right . The most important battle, a top the top 10 battles in the american civil war, and gettysburg was left off. Can you believe that . I want to tell you a quick story. I was invited down to a richmond roundtable. We were at the willow oaks country club. We had virginia ham. That is the only time they go out there. Anyway, i was having a great time. I was in richmond and the man who did the top 10 last night lives th
Vicksburg, which battle he considers being a native mississippian and having worked at both parks, which he considers to be the biggest turning point. Gettysburg or vicksburg . I will let matt get up here and explain. Matt atkinson. [applause] matt that is what it is. I understand you all had a role last night about something. Right there, right . The most important battle, a top 10 battles in the american civil war, gettysburg was left off. Can you believe that . I want to tell you a quick story. I was invited down to a roundtable in richmond. We were at the willow oaks country club. We had virginia ham. The only time they go out there. Anyway i was having a great , time, i was in richmond and the man who did the top 10 last night lives there and he did not show. So here is what you call poetic justice. [laughter] a slight i have not forgotten right there. [laughter] the top 10 battles in the american civil war. Im sure he knows more about the civil war than i do, im sure he did not l
Fixbering campaign. He discusses how the leadership contributed to a victory. This event was part of historical parks small battles big results symposium. Weve got a great speech for our second session this morning. Dr. Timothy r. Smith is a veteran of the park service and currently teaches history at the university of tennessee at martin. In addition to numerous articles and essays hes the author and editor and coeditor of 18 books including Champion Hill, the decisive battle of vicksburg. His book comes out this fall and actually is now out, and you can buy a copy of it out at our bookstore at battlefield center. So im pleased to introduce dr. Timothy smith. [ applause ] thank you. Appreciate that. Appreciate the opportunity to be here. Ive always heard about it and its my first time to be here. Ive always heard about it and how nice it was and im a believer now. I believe you. Youve got a great place here and appreciate the invitation to be here. Were going to talk about the western
Books and letters. You can buy a copy in our bookstore. I am pleased to introduce dr. Timothy smith. [applause] thank you. Appreciate that. Appreciate the opportunity to be here. This is my first time to be here. I am a believer now. Ou have got a great place here we are going to talk about the western theater here. Vicksburg, Champion Hill. How many of you have been to vicksburg . I figured that. A good number of you. Champion hill is one of those great battlefields, if you have been watching the news, listening to the American Battlefield trust, they are doing a lot of work there. The state of mississippi has just turned over several Hundred Acres to the national park. Ervice a lot going on at Champion Hill. We are going to talk about that battle in particular. The larger Vicksburg Campaign just a little bit. I do not have powerpoint either. I am a little oldfashioned. We do have a map, which we will talk about a little bit. I tend to go overboard when i do powerpoint and completely
Captioning performed by vitac seeds that bear ill fruit. Because on january 11th, against the advice of his staff, he sends a message to his core commanders and basically says you advised me to retreat. Please publicly say so. Put it in writing. We had a conference about it. You told me about it. Put it in writing and let us stand together against the news coming from the press. But he also says something else. He says if i find that i have lost the good faith and confidence of my generals, i will retire without a murmur. And please talk to your division and brigade commanders as well and get their opinions as well. If you are a ceo and you put yourself in front of your subordinates for a referendum on your fitness for leadership, even if you win, that vote of confidence you can never command the same respect, okay . This is a capital error on the part of brag. The replies are very quickly coming. Polk is on leave. Hes got a couple of lawyers and they take a look at this and say is bra