"To err is human." Oops!!

Our October gathering was a test of patience for some as the staff of Two Hearts scrambled to set up tables for our unusually large crowd. Linda accepts all credit for the snafu (should've called in more reservations!) and has duly sat on the pickle barrel for the requisite 12 hours. Mea culpa! I extend my sincere apologies to any guests who were inconvenienced. Apparently, Robert E. L. Krick is a bigger celebrity than I reckoned!

Having lived or worked on battlefields for 35 years, Mr. Krick is uniquely qualified as a leading historian on Richmond and officers of the Confederacy. His presentation to our round table reviewed highlights of the Seven Days Battles with particular emphasis on Stonewall Jackson's seeming ineptitude as the Richmond Campaign reached its climax during the last week of June 1862.

Of course, Stonewall was not alone in his military blunders that week. There were miscues aplenty on both sides and at every level of command. However, Jackson's lethargy seems more pronounced in view of his brilliant performance in the Valley Campaign just 2 months prior and his later renown as one of the Confederacy's greatest heroes.

Mr. Krick wrapped up his lecture by examining hypotheses put forward by those seeking an explanation for Jackson's uncharacteristic lack of zeal. Ideas range from battle fatigue to lack of coordination at the command level to Jackson's religious convictions, to name a few.

As Mr. Krick pointed out, it would be difficult to identify any one particular cause for Stonewall's inaction. Indeed, our members added their own ideas to the list during a lively question and answer session following the presentation.

Mr. Krick's lecture separates Jackson's mythological status from his human nature. And, as we all know, to err is human.