The Murfreesboro Civil War Round Table will host world-renowned historian Ed Bearss at the Rutherford County Courthouse at 7:00 o'clock this coming Tuesday evening (7/17/12). Bearss will focus on the July 13, 1862 raid by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry that brought the war to the doorsteps of Murfreesboro’s citizens. This free event is open to anyone interested in learning more about the rich history of our town.

Bearss served as Chief Historian of the National Park Service from 1981 to 1994. Upon his retirement in 1995 he was given the unique title of National Park Service Historian Emeritus. Despite having completed more than 50 years of official public service, Mr. Bearss didn’t stop there. He continues to spend the better part of each year leading battlefield tours and giving public programs continuing to share his knowledge and passion for history and preservation to thousands.

Ed Bearss Background

Bearss service to our nation began shortly after his graduation from high school. After spending a year hitchhiking across the country visiting Civil War battlefields, Bearss joined the United States Marine Corps on April 28, 1942. He was with the 3d Marine Raider Battalion in the invasion of Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. In 1943 he served with the 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division in New Britain where he was severely wounded by machine gun fire at “Suicide Creek.”

The wound ended Mr. Bearss’ military career. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he turned to his education, earning a B.S. degree in Foreign Service Studies from Georgetown University. In 1955 he earned an M.A. in History from Indiana University. His thesis was on Confederate General Patrick Cleburne. That same year, Mr. Bearss accepted the position of Historian at Vicksburg National Military Park launching a decades-long career of sharing our history with the public.

Career In National Parks Service  

While at Vicksburg, Mr. Bearss located the Widow Blakely, a cannon used on the Vicksburg River defense and which had long been displayed at West Point as Whistling Dick. Other research led him and two friends to the long lost resting place of the Union ironclad gunboat Cairo. He located the two forgotten forts at Grand Gulf, Mississippi and contributed significantly to the establishment of Grand Gulf as a state military monument. In addition to writing books and magazine articles, Bearss prepared dozens of research reports for parks spanning the breadth and scope of our nation’s history. His first love remained leading battlefield tours. Even when his duties no longer required it, Bearss continued his guiding groups in his spare time and soon had a reputation as one of the best in the business.

Civil War Round Table

Formed in July 2003, the Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table (MTCWRT) is dedicated to sharing and preserving the Civil War heritage of Murfreesboro and middle Tennessee. The group meets every third Tuesday of the month. The highlight of each meeting is speakers ranging from local historians to nationally recognized figures like Ed Bearss. In keeping with the group’s goal to foster awareness of Civil War history, all meetings are free and open to the public.