According to the 1860 Census, the population
of the United States was 31,429,891. By the
summer of 1865, over 2.8 million fought in
the Civil War (over 2 million for the US and
around 750,000 for the CSA.) Therefore,
there is a strong chance that many of us
whose families pre-dated the mid-19th century
US population may have Civil War soldier
ancestors.
Join the Baltimore Civil War Roundtable
(BCWRT) on Tuesday February 25, as we
present lawyer, reenactor and Civil War
descendant Calvin Osbourne discussing the
national publicity he received when he
discovered that his ancestor was part of the
first Black regiment to fight in the Civil
War and how to find your own CW ancestor.
As noted, the meeting will be on Tuesday,
February 25, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the
library of Hiss United Methodist Church,
8700 Harford Road, Parkville Md., 21234.
(From the beltway (I-695) the church will be
on your right. Pull into the upper parking
lot-the lot just before the church building-
and walk to the semi-circle at the front.
Enter the first door on the right, go up the
stairs to the second floor and turn left
then right into the library (rm #208).
Calvin Osborne is
a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born on
Greenwood Street, better known as Black Wall
Street. In 1991,
Calvin joined
Company B of the 54th Massachusetts Civil
War Reenactors (the 54th). The 54th was
specifically formed by the National Park
Service for the filming of the award-winning
Tri-Star motion picture “Glory.” The 54th
has been instrumental in the filming of
civil war movies, documentaries, and
historical films, including “Gettysburg,”
“Gods and Generals,” “Somersby,”
“Andersonville,” “Lincoln,” and others. As
a reenactor with the 54th,
Calvin has
participated in hundreds of civil war
reenactments and living history events
across the nation.
Calvin, along
with the 54th marched in Barack Obama’s
inaugural parades, lectured at churches,
private businesses, government agencies,
colleges, high schools, and even primary
schools about the civil war and the
involvement of United States Colored Troops.
The 54th receives hundreds of requests for
appearances each year and is most in demand
during Black History Month.
Calvin Osborne is
a past President of the 54th. He is a direct
descendant of William Lacy, a former slave
who became a civil war soldier with the 1st
Kansas Colored Infantry (79th USCT). William
Lacy married Lucinda Thomas Postoak Lacy, a
woman who was also a former slave in the
Creek Nation in the Oklahoma territory. He
has been the subject of a short CNN video
and a special CBS segment related to the
military history of his ancestors, as
well as working with Ancestry
conducting voiceovers.
Osborne earned
a B.S. in Management from William Jewell
College and a Juris Doctorate from
University of Missouri-Kansas City. Calvin
is currently working toward a Masters in
Real Estate from Harvard University. He is
an attorney currently practicing law in
Washington DC where he lives with his wife
and two daughters. (additional 54th
information available at
www.54thmass.org).
Remember, join the BCWRT as we present
Calvin Osborne talking about Civil War
ancestry at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February
25, 2025, at Hiss United Methodist Church.
It you can’t attend in person, register for
the Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YhIZVHCFTuqLn8pknKcO4g.
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Notes
from the President
iN 1944, long after the end of the civil war, composer frank
Loesser wrote and performed a duet with his wife, lynn Garland,
called Baby,
It’s cold outside.
I’m certain soldiers had the same sentiment while fighting in
the few Civil war February battles (Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson,
Dover, etc.)
Despite the cold weather, we urge you to wrap up and come out to
support the activities of your local roundtable. You can buy
books via our book raffle, engage with our speakers (this month,
reenactor and Civil War descendant Calvin Osbourne will discuss
the national publicity he received when he discovered that his
ancestor was part of the first Black regiment to fight in the
Civil War and how to find your own CW ancestor.)
remember, we want to reach 50 members by the end of 2025. Then
we will be in a better position to return to excursions, the
banquet, etc.
I’ll end this the same was I end many months: please Renew your
membership. Tell friends and have them join Membership is $25 or
$35 for families. Mail your checks to:
Ray Atkins, Treasurer, BCWRT
1204 Fordham Ct.,
Belair, MD 21014
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