Jim Hachtel, President of the Roundtable, explains parts of the Battle of Shiloh.
Photo by Gwen Titley

At its February 16 meeting, the General William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable celebrated the 191st birthday of the Union general with a movie night at the Ohio Glass Museum in Lancaster. The Roundtable opened the meeting to the Fairfield County community and provided free popcorn and refreshments for all in attendance.

Jim Hachtel, president of the Roundtable, oversaw the meeting. He encouraged members to purchase tickets for the Sherman House Museum Civil War Symposium, which be held April 15-17. Following the announcements, the lights were dimmed to show a five-minute cartoon that depicted an entertaining and comical view of General Sherman’s famous March to the Sea. Both the small children and adult Civil War buffs chuckled as a brainy cartoon character attempted to explain the historical event to his less knowledgeable friend by placing them directly into the scene. After the cartoon, Hachtel introduced "Shiloh: The Civil War, Civil No More", a made-for-TV movie that details the famous Battle of Shiloh. The battle, which took place on April 6 and 7, 1892, was Sherman's first of note as a general, and marked his first encounter with General Ulysses S. Grant. The battle was also a major turning point for the North, leading to the creation of the catch phrase,“Nobody in the South smiled after Shiloh.”

Guests enjoy General Sherman's 191st birthday cake.
Photo by Caitlin Ash

In the past, the Roundtable has had speakers and reenactors for discussions and debates, but Hachtel explained that this is the first time that the Roundtable has done a movie night to celebrate Sherman’s birthday. Hachtel says he admires Sherman for his ability to foresee that the war was going to be a long battle, even though most of his peers thought it would be a short war. Hachtel also thinks it is important for people to know how well-read and enthusiastic Sherman was as an individual, though he wasn't exactly well-liked.

The Roundtable will meet again on March 16 to hear speaker Monty Chase, a descendent of the Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln.