UPPER LAKE, Calif. – In July 1863, the Civil War had begun to go very badly for the Confederate States of America when they lost the Battles of Gettysburg and when the city of Vicksburg surrendered.  

But they were not yet finished.

One hundred and 50 years ago this month, they rebounded with an amazing counter attack at the Battle of Chickamauga, in northern Georgia, nearly destroying a major Federal army.

When the dust settled, nearly 35,000 casualties were reported.

This epic two-day battle will be the headline topic at the next Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 6:15 p.m., at the Tallman Hotel in historic Upper Lake.   

Local historian Zane Jensen will review the battle and lead a discussion on various "what ifs" that could have changed the outcome of the battle, and by extension, the future of the country.

Phil Smoley will open the roundtable with a  review of  many of the other events that occurred across the county in September 150 years ago during the Civil War.

Jensen has visited the battlefield numerous times and has done exhaustive research on the battle and its participants. He combines personal photos with archived pictures, animated maps and video to give a full multimedia presentation.

The Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable was formed to honor the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and typically meets on the first Monday of each month (September will be the first Tuesday due to Labor Day) to review the events that month 150 years ago.  

Admission is free, all are welcome.  

For more information, contact Zane Jensen at 707-349-6390 or Phil Smoley at 707 264-4905.