The upcoming meeting of the Lawrence County Historical Society is set to take place on Thursday, February 22, at 6:30 PM at the Southern Tennessee Higher Education Center. The distinguished guest speaker for the evening will be Dr. Tim Johnson, a history professor hailing from Lipscomb University. Dr. Johnson, recognized as one of Lipscomb’s inaugural University Research Professors, boasts a notable presence on platforms such as the History Channel, C-SPAN’s Book TV, and public television.
During the event, Dr. Johnson will delve into a captivating presentation on how the Mexican-American War played a pivotal role in shaping future Civil War luminaries like Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. He highlights that over 200 prospective Civil War generals honed their skills as junior officers during the Mexican campaign of 1846-47. These formative experiences, as emphasized by Johnson, undoubtedly influenced their strategic acumen when they later led troops in the Civil War.
In reflecting on the significance of these early military roles, Johnson remarked, “More than 200 future Civil War generals served as lower-grade officers in Mexico in 1846-47. Their personal experiences as young officers would have certainly informed decision-making 15 years later when they commanded troops in the Civil War.” The Lawrence County Historical Society extends a warm invitation to its members to attend this enlightening session, while also welcoming guests to partake in the enriching discussion.