Central Coast Chapter Minutes for April 20, 2013

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for April 20, 2013

Meeting to Order@1:08 pm

Pledges of America and SAR were led by acting President Gary Cooper. Attendance: 9 members and the guest speaker.

Sunshine Report: Jerry Evans is much improved and hopes to be in attendance in May. Lewis Height is 87 years old this date.

Secretary’s Report: reading of the March minutes was waived.

Introduction of our guest speaker: Dr. Robert Detweiler, Provost, VP of Student Affairs and former History professor @ Cal Poly.

Dr. Detweiler’s presentation was on the presidential election of 1864 and his premise being that it was and remains the most important election in our nation’s history. Dr. Detweiler mentioned that prior to the 1864 contest that the war was still in doubt and that this was in spite of Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg earlier that summer. Democratic candidate General George McClelland has a certain level of popularity, the draft was unpopular, many northerners were uncertain about emancipation, Union losses at the Wilderness and Cold Harbor were deemed unacceptable and the army was mired in trench warfare at Petersburg. McClelland was offering a negotiated peace with the continuance of slavery. President Lincoln himself predicted a loss in the election but the dynamic changed with General Sherman’s successful Georgia campaign including the taking of Atlanta. The Union also won a victory at Mobile Bay and General Sheridan suppressed confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley. Dr. Detweiler also mentioned missteps by the Confederacy including unfortunate promotion of John Bell Hood over General Johnston which led to bloody losses in Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee.  Lincoln was re-elected 55% to 45% in the popular vote with a 74% turnout.

So why the most important election. Dr Detweiler pointed out that if McClelland is elected the Union loses the war, the Union and the Confederacy become separate countries,  both much weaker and vulnerable to foreign aggression and border raids. The precedent is a horrible one if a malcontented minority can tear up a country. Dr. Detweiler stated that national stability is our greatest commodity as a nation and it is that that gives rise to economic power. We are who we are because Lincoln won that most contentious election.

Dr. Detweiler’s presentation was most warmly received.

New Business: The presentation of certificates to Dalton Pittman and Chris Scrimiger (Supplemental).

Treasurer’s Report: Present balance is $1894.46.

6-8 of those present expressed interest in attending the DAR meeting scheduled for May 16 @ noon at the Los Robles Mobile Home Estates Club House on Via Robles, Paso Robles. Their speaker will be Don Mazy, late of the USS Hornet.

Benediction by Earl Rader

Closing Pledge

Adjournment