Ron Meeks has been an American Civil War student for approximately 65 years! He has visited more than 50 Civil War Battlefields, read approximately 200 non-fiction books on the subject, researched the history of numerous historical places and people from that era and taken every opportunity to expand his Civil War knowledge and experiences. He became genuinely interested in studying the war when his family moved two doors down the street from the home of the famous abolitionist John Brown.

Part 2 of Ron's presentation will consist primarily (but not exclusively) of the following.

1. Civil War Battles. How many, where, when and why.

2. Description of a 'Typical Civil War Battlefield'. (If there is such a thing as "typical").

3. Civil War Weapons, including artillery, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc.

4. Battle of Gettysburg and Pickett's Charge, including their significance.

5. Tracking Great Grandpa through the war.

6. Possible answers to Two Big Questions often asked about the war.

A. Why did combatants frequently lineup and shoot it out unshielded.

B. Why did the South lose the Battle of Gettysburg (and the war??).