Lake Winni museum hosting presentation on Civil War general who never lost a battle

LACONIA — Lake Winnipesaukee Museum is hosting a presentation, "The Civil War and General Thomas", featuring Dave Decker on October 1st at 7 p.m.

Decker will deliver a presentation on the life and career of General George Thomas, with special emphasis on his unbroken string of victories throughout the Civil War.

Thomas is well known as the best commander on defense in the war. He twice saved the union army from destruction at Stone's River and at Chickamauga. After this second battle, the newspapers dubbed him "the Rock of Chickamauga," and President Lincoln called his effort the most heroic act in the history of the world.

Thomas was equally effective on offense, as was shown in the Tullahoma Campaign and then in the Atlanta Campaign. His crowning achievement occurred at the battle of Nashville, where he completely destroyed John Bell Hood's army, originally 57,000 men but reduced to 3,000 men at Tupelo, Mississippi, having been chased there by Thomas for 250 miles over three weeks. The result of this battle was the end of the war in the west in December, 1864, four months before Lee surrendered to Grant and five months before Johnston surrendered to Sherman. Now one third of the confederate states were at peace.

At the conclusion of the war and five years later at his death, at least ten of his closest colleagues, fellow generals, proclaimed Thomas to be the best general of the war, or of the 19th century, or since George Washington. Thomas was the only man who never lost a battle during the entire civil war.

Dave Decker was born in 1937 in Chicago, Illinois. He lived in Methuen, Massachusetts and Salem, New Hampshire, before moving to Laconia and Gilford, in 1963 and has continued to live there ever since. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire and majored in government and then graduated from Boston College law school.

He practiced law in New Hampshire for 28 years, retired, and then worked as a paralegal for the next 20 years—much easier on the heart and stomach.

Dave is married to his wife, Susan, has three adult children, six grandchildren, and twelve step-grandchildren. His only other resident in the house is the dog.

His interest in the Civil War began in high school and has continued uninterrupted ever since then. A member of the Civil War Round Table of New Hampshire since 1997, he has delivered presentations on the following topics: the Lincoln-Douglass debates of 1858, the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, women soldiers in the Civil War, and General George Henry Thomas.

He has presented to civil war round tables and historical societies in Alexandria, Auburn, Epping, Farmington, Gilmanton, Hooksett, Keene, Laconia, Meredith, Milton, and Somersworth, N.H.; and seven more venues in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Dave's strong interest in General Thomas has been caused by the fact that Thomas is virtually unknown and wrongfully so, and in Dave's small way, he's trying to make amends. He's sure to tell you that General Thomas is a great hero of the Civil War.

This event is free for Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society members, for non members there is a $5 fee with all proceeds going to benefit the Historical Society's ongoing renovations. The museum located on Route 3 in Weirs Beach, next to Funspot. Please RSVP to 366-5950.