Black Jack Logan—The Politician and Major General
How did John Logan get nicknamed, “Black Jack,” and how did he earn the derogatory title, “Dirty Works Logan?” Was he really from Egypt? What caused him to become a Republican, after being a Democrat, raised by a slave-owning father? Why did he call his 31st Illinois Regiment, the “Dirty-first?” What were his rewards for his part in the sieges of Vicksburg and Atlanta? How did he help Lincoln get reelected? After the Civil War, why were his speeches called “bloody shirt” oratory? Why is a man, who was so popular that he: could have been President; was honored with statues in five states; had a fort in Colorado named after him; was just the seventh person to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda; has a museum and college named after him; and his is one of only three surnames in the Illinois state song, best known, today, for his role in founding Memorial Day? To learn the answers to these questions, and more, come to our June meeting, to hear Dean Smith’s new talk, on another Union hero, whose fame in the 19th century has not carried over into the 20th and 21st centuries

Mr. Dean Smith
Dean Smith is a third generation Los Angeles native. He earned his B.A, (1968), and M.A. (1970), degrees in Political Science, from the University of California, at Riverside. He had a 34-year career in public service, with Los Angeles County, and has been retired since 2004. Dean is a member of the Civil War Trust; Commander of the Gen. W. S. Rosecrans Camp No. 2, of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; a member of the Board of Directors, for the Drum Barracks Museum; and, Past- President of the Los Angeles Civil War Round Table. He has given presentations to all five Southern California Round Tables, as well as to a number of other organizations, on a variety of Civil War topics.