The April meeting of the Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table will be held at 7:00pm on Thursday, April 17th at the Civic Club. Socializing begins at 6:30pm. The distinguished speaker will be educator and military historian, Andrew Diemer. His presentation is titled “Semper Fortis – the Life and Times of Admiral David Dixon Porter.”

Porter began naval service as a midshipman at the age of 10 years. HE served in the Mexican War in the attack on the fort at Vera Cruz. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was part of a plan to hold Fort Pickens. Porter commanded an independent flotilla of mortar boats at the capture of New Orleans and commanded the Mississippi Squadron in Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. Finally, he led Naval forces in the joint attack on Fort Fisher. After the war, Porter was instrumental in reforming the Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Andrew Diemer has a master’s in teaching with a concentration in History from UNC-Pembroke. He is a Social Studies teacher at Southern Lee High School in Sanford. As a historian, he has visited over 100 battlefields and has presented to local history groups, including several Civil War Round Tables in North Carolina. Andrew lives in Southern Pines and is an accomplished equestrian.

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.