Without a doubt, our first meeting of the 2007-08 campaign was a HUGE success! We had over 100 guests and enlisted 98 members. It was the highest attendance we've had in quite some time and I'd like to thank each of you for your enthusiasm and support.

Our guest speaker, Tom Perry, gave a lively talk on JEB Stuart. He got us all laughing by recounting his misfortunes of the day, which were topped off by my seating him, undoubtedly Stuart's biggest fan, next to Father Heier, Custer's biggest fan. Talk about unintended consequences!

Tom's discussion of Jeb was punctuated with humor and plenty of I-didn't-know-THAT facts including the story of Jeb's grandfather, Judge Alexander Stuart, and his connection to St. Louis via Lewis and Clark. And while it's fascinating to imagine "What if the judge had stayed in Missouri?" I reckon it is our fortune that he did not. For if the Stuarts had not gone back to Virginia, Jeb would not have been born there and, without his local hero, Tom may've become a bourbon salesman. Or not.

Please remember to join us October 24th for Bobby Krick's "Stonewall Jackson and the Seven Days Battles" and bring a friend!