The March meeting of the Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table will be held at 7:00pm on Thursday, March 20th at the Civic Club on the corner of Pennsylvania and Ashe St. in Southern Pines. Socializing begins at 6:30pm. The distinguished speaker will be author and military historian, Gary Livingston. His presentation is titled “The Best Men the South Could Boast: The Fall of Fort McAllister.”

This is the story of the Confederate garrison of Fort McAllister of under 200 men who held the key to Savannah. Located south of Savannah on the banks of the Ogeechee River, this scenic park showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. Though the earthworks were attacked unsuccessfully seven times by Union soldiers, it did not fall until it was taken by General Sherman in 1864 during his March to the Sea. Sherman had to take the fort to reach the Union fleet and re-supply before taking Savannah. The small garrison refused to surrender. Sherman sent a division to take the fort.

Gary is a former radio stations owner who has combined a lifelong interest in history into a writing career from his home in North Carolina. He also wrote Civil War non-fiction books: “Fields of Gray: The Battle of Griswoldville” and “Cradled in Glory: Georgia Military Institute.” Also, his latest books are non-fiction accounts on the Iraqi War.

Meetings are open to the public. For more details contact Matt Farina at 910-246-0452 or mafarina@aol.com.  The Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table is a 501(c)(3), incorporated, non-profit, educational organization. The purpose of the organization is to promote, educate, and further stimulate interest in, and discussion of, all aspects of the Civil War period.