Experience the Appomattox Campaign through the eyes of history as Dr. Curt Fields\, the nation&rsquo\;s foremost Ulysses S. G rant living historian\, delivers an interactive presentation blending vivi d storytelling and historical insight.
\nAt the end of March 1865\, the Confederacy was still alive and it&rsquo\;s remaining military force\, the Army of Northern Virginia\, under the leadership of the legendary Rob ert E. Lee was still a dangerous force to be faced with more than 60\,000 troops dug in around Richmond and Petersburg Virginia.
\nIn nine Apr il days\, the forces of U.S. Grant were able to break through the rebel de fenses and relentlessly pursue Lee&rsquo\;s Army until it surrendered at A ppomattox. While Lee escaped in his march west with about 55\,000 troops\, Grant pursued with 75\,000 picked troops who constantly harassed and atta cked Lee&rsquo\;s weary troops until there were only 26\,000 left to surre nder at Appomattox.
\nHow this was achieved and the personal story o f U.S. Grant and his leadership will be the subject of Dr. Field&rsquo\;s presentation at Porter Library on the Porter Room at 7pm on May 12.
\n< p>The event is being co-sponsored by Porter Library and the Cleveland Civi l War Roundtable. It is part of a weeklong visit by Dr. Fields as either G eneral Grant or President Grant in the Cleveland area as he visits schools \, libraries and other history related organizations bringing perhaps the most undervalued and under appreciated figure in American history to life. \nWe think that Dr. Fields presents a unique opportunity to interes t people\, and especially young people\, in the history of our Civil War.< /p>\n
Dr. Curt Fields's Bio:
\nDr. Curt Fields is the premier Livi ng Historian and interpreter of General and President U.S. Grant. Dr. Fiel ds has portrayed General and President Grant in 22 states as he travels th e nation presenting his portrayal of Grant. Dr. Fields is the same height and body style as General Grant and\, therefore\, presents a convincing\, true-to-life image of the man as he really looked. He researches and reads extensively about General Grant in order to deliver an accurate persona o f the General. His presentations are in first person\, quoting from Genera l Grant&rsquo\;s Memoirs\; articles and letters the General wrote\, statem ents he made in interviews or wrote himself\, and first-person accounts of people who knew the General or were with him and witnessed him during eve nts.
\nDr. Fields will be visiting the Cleveland area for the third time in five years for the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable in May of 2025. His prior visits resulted in record breaking attendance at all of his venu es. The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable hopes to coordinate his visit with other organizations including schools\, if possible\, to share the story o f this important figure in U.S history.
\nDr. Fields holds a Bachelo r and Master&rsquo\;s degrees in Education from the University of Memphis. He later earned a Master&rsquo\;s degree in Secondary Education and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Curriculum from Michigan State Universi ty. He has been a long-time adjunct Sociology Professor at the University of Memphis and in Education for Belhaven University\, Memphis campus.
\ nHe is now an educational consultant and Living Historian. As a Living Historian\, Dr. Fields portrayed General Grant at the 150th Sesquicentenni al observations of: Fort Donelson and Shiloh\, TN\, Vicksburg\, MS\, and a t the 150th anniversary of Lee&rsquo\;s surrender to Grant at Appomattox C ourt House\, VA\, in 2015. He also portrayed the General at Appomattox in 2012\, 2013 and 2014. He portrays General Grant in the Visitor Center film that is shown at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. Dr. Field s has appeared with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in Vicksburg NMP. H e was featured as General Grant\, and as a Grant authority\, in a Discover y Channel three-part documentary on US history. Dr. Fields portrays Genera l Grant\, giving his life story\, on the Civil War Trust website in the 1 in4 series of biographies and significant places and events the distinguis hed Civil War Trust has established. This may be seen at Civilwar.org and select 1in4 at the top of the page.
\nIn addition to an impressive l ist of accomplishments including his award-winning presentations as Grant\ , he also served as a Memphis\, TN\, Police Officer for four years\; was a n MPD Hostage negotiator and received the Life-Saving medal from the City of Memphis for actions in the line of duty
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