NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Scottsdale Civil War Round Table meets Nov. 20
SCOTTSDALE – The next meeting of the Scottsdale Civil War Round Table is November 20 at 6:40 p.m. at the Civic Center Library (Auditorium), 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. in Scottsdale. "Enemy Intent: How Army Intelligence Shaped the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House" will be presented by Greg Mertz. Everyone is welcome. There is no admission charge.
Cavalry was often the eyes and ears of the army but at the end of the first day of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant decided to send virtually all of his cavalry on a raid to Richmond. Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee responded by sending away about half of his cavalry, but also sent away J.E.B. Stuart, who effectively served as his chief intelligence officer. This program will take a look at the battle and how both armies tried to determine the enemy intent through a variety of means -- many of them in unique aspects because of the inability of the armies to rely upon their cavalries -- their most effective branch for gathering information about army positions and movement.
Mr. Mertz’s interest in the Civil War grew out of annual hiking and camping trips through the Boy Scouts of America that were made to the Shiloh, Tennessee battlefield, every spring.
Obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout, Greg went on to his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Beginning his National Park Service career at Gettysburg National Military Park and then Eisenhower National Historic Site, he was then transferred to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, serving as site historian at the “Stonewall” Jackson Shrine and then as site historian and museum curator for the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. He is now Supervisory Historian, selecting training and evaluating the permanent, seasonal, intern and volunteer employees at the park. Greg served as initial President of the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table and is a current board member. He was also a former board member of the Brandy Station Foundation.
Metz is the author of many articles some of which include:
· July-August 1987 Confederate Veteran magazine on the command decisions made by Generals Lee and Jackson during the Chancellorsville Campaign
· two-part feature article and "General's Tour" for April 1995 and June 1995 issues of Blue and Gray Magazine on the Battle of the Wilderness
· Jackson's artillery during the Battle of Fredericksburg for the Blood on the Rappahannock: The Battle of Fredericksburg, a 1996 issue of Civil War Regiments
· Feature article for Summer 2001 Blue and Gray Magazine on Upton’s Attack at Spotsylvania Court House
· Feature article for Summer 2004 Blue and Gray Magazine on the Laurel Hill fighting at Spotsylvania Court House
