Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Internships are sponsored throughout the year at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
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News
September Meeting
September 8, 2025 7:30pm
Greg Elder
The transformation of the Union's Army of the Potomac from the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 to its fight at Chancellorsville in April 1863 was nothing less than profound in the history of the Civil War. More so, the transformation of its intelligence capabilities resonates as one the most remarkable in military history and includes the formation of the first ever modern all-source intelligence organization. The presentation will address this revolution and how it enabled the Union to win the war.
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Greg Elder is the chief historian at the Defense Intelligence Agency and a graduate lecturer in intelligence at the Johns Hopkins University. During his 25-year career with the Intelligence Community, Elder served roles as a President’s Daily Briefing briefer, deputy defense intelligence officer, senior intelligence officer, analyst, and interrogator. He also completed rotations as a course director and instructor in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and an instructor of tradecraft at the Academy for Defense Intelligence; in his role as course director, he was recognized in both 2023 and 2024 with the National Intelligence Professionals Award for Teaching. As the chief historian, Elder initiated and oversees a nine-battlefield staff ride program focusing on leadership and intelligence and developed a 20-part lecture series on intelligence in the Civil War.
Elder is a routine guest on podcasts such as Addressing Gettysburg and Ed Helms’ SNAFU, which won the 2023 Signal Award for best history podcast series. He is the recipient of two gold and one silver Telly Awards for excellence in broadcasting and has consulted on projects such as Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Elder holds Master of Arts degrees from Northeastern University and the United States Naval War College and completed graduate studies at National Intelligence University, Norwich University, and the University of Maryland. He holds more than thirty professional certifications.
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Our speaker lineup for 2025 is NOW available HERE
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Dinner Meeting Extras!!
At each monthly dinner meeting we offer multiple door prizes, including gift certificates to Brock's Riverside Grill and Riverby Books. We also have dozens of used Civil War and military history books available for a "pay what you will" rate. All book proceeds are donated to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust.
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Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT)
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT) is a nonprofit organization preserving land associated with the Civil War campaigns of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. They have preserved nearly 1,700 acres of hallowed local battlegrounds since incorporating in 1996. RVCWRT has raised and donated over $40,000 to support CVBT projects. Our round table is proud to be the 2017 recipient of the CVBT Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award, whose purpose is "to shine a light on those who have made notable contributions to the preservation of Civil War resources in Virginia." Learn more about this active and important preservation organization at www.cvbt.org.
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Brock's Riverside Grill
Brock’s Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia Street, on the Rappahannock River in historic Old Town Fredericksburg, has been our favorite meeting venue for many years. Brock’s is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch year round. Menu is American “steak and seafood” with a southwestern flair. More information is available at Brocksgrill.com. Call 540-370-1820 for reservations.
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A Note from Riverby Books
Riverby Books has been buying and selling quality used books in downtown Fredericksburg since 1996. Our 3-level store houses more than 25,000 volumes for readers, scholars, and collectors alike, with an additional 25,000 volumes of rare and unusual titles found only in our online inventory. We carry titles for all interests and all levels of expertise, with a large selection of American History. We buy books (and whole collections) every day, pay fair prices, price them cheap, and delight in watching our customers take them home. No topic is too obscure. Beach reads, kids books, cook books, antique books and more. Open 7 days a week at 805 Caroline St.
LOOKING FOR A BATTLEFIELD TOUR?
Hallowed Ground Tours is run by RVCWRT member Scott Walker, a trained historian who has lived in Fredericksburg for over 50 years. He offers tours not only of area battlefields but also of architecture and history of various designated historic districts within the city. His tours, which also emphasize the changes to and preservation of the local landscape, are tailored to your interests and needs.
Website: HallowedGroundTours.com
E-mail: Tourmaster@HallowedGroundTours.com
Telephone: 540-809-3918
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Battlefield Tours of Virginia, operated by RVCWRT member John Kanaster, came about because of the need to get visitors mobile with a battlefield guide and to achieve a comprehensive private battlefield tour experience. The company has addressed this need by creating a team of knowledgeable and experienced battlefield guides, primarily based out of the Central Virginia area. Many of these battlefield guides are published historians with their own book and are available to speak. Battlefield Tours of Virginia offers tours in and around Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley.
Website: battlefieldtoursofvirginia.com
Email: info@battlefieldtoursofvirginia.com
Telephone : 540-310-8162
Geoff White Music
Geoff White is from Blowing Rock North Carolina. He has played the fiddle all his life, and has performed in pubs, bars, restaurants, concert halls, and battlefields all across the east coast. Geoff was a member of the bluegrass group Sugar Run for several years. He currently lives in Roanoke. He earned a degree in History from Radford University in 2002.
