What: Bi-Monthly meeting of the Cherokee County Historical Society.
When: The meeting will be Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6:00PM.
Where: Cherokee County Historical Museum, 101 East Main St., Centre, AL. 35960
Our Guest Speaker: Larry Stephens
Mr. Stephens is the founder of the Battle Flag Press and is a reference librarian at Georgia Highlands College. As a former high school history teacher, he has been an educator, writer and historian for most of his life. Mr. Stephens has self published several books but has also been commercially published. Some of his past books include Redeemed in Blood: a History of the 57th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A., Bound for Glory, a History of the 30th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. and Blind Tiger: The Life of William "Bell Tree: Smith, King of the Alabama Bootleggers. He also ran a small historical museum in Heflin, Alabama from 2005-2010. Mr. Stephens was co-producer of the documentary film, Blind Tiger, which is about the life of Cherokee County bootlegger WIlliam "Belltree" Smith. Mr. Stephens is committed to offering entertaining, yet factually accurate, products on Southern history and culture, whether it be books, films or music.
At our meeting, Mr. Stephens will be discussing his latest book, John P. Gatewood: Confederate Bushwacker. As a very young man bent on revenge after his sister's rape and murder, Gatewood deserted the Confederate Army and returned to his Tennessee home. There he joined a group of Confederate bushwhackers and carried out a bloody rampage of strikes against Union Sympathizers, both military and civilian alike. Gatewood was well known in Cherokee County during the Civil War as he was frequently in this area. Mr. Stephens book tells the story of Gatewood's life from boyhood to the postwar years and his attempt to adapt to civilian life. Was Gatewood a soldier or vicious killer. Mr. Stephens advises us to examine history to decide.
Refreshments will be served
Best of all,
ADMISSION IS FREE TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A SOCIETY MEMBER OR NOT.
