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On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Kent Civil War Society will hold its regular monthly meeting, beginning at 7:30 PM. The program part of the meeting will feature Aaron Siever presenting 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign Overview.

By the spring of 1862 things were not going well for the Confederacy. Forts Henry and Donelson had been captured, George McClellan's Union Army of the Potomac was on the peninsula in Virginia, a mere 75 miles away from Richmond, Federal forces had established a bridgehead in North Carolina and the principal rebel army in Virginia had abandoned Manassas Junction leaving behind more food than the army would ever see again. Things looked grim. The Confederacy needed a diversion and some success.

General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was the answer. In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Jackson's campaign to mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy was exactly what the Confederacy needed. Jackson would embark on an epic campaign tying up valuable Federal resources and men. His campaign would also wreak a bit of havoc on the Federal government itself. In 48 days Jackson's men, given the sobriquet of "Jackson's Foot Cavalry," would march nearly 650 miles, fight countless skirmishes and defeat three Federal armies in 5 major battles. The success of this campaign emboldened the Confederates and stunned the Union forces. The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862 was exactly the shot in the arm that the Confederacy needed.

Aaron Siever grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Since he was a child he has been interested in the American Civil War.

After graduating from high school in 2003, Aaron went into a law enforcement career that spanned 15 years. During his time in law enforcement, Aaron worked lots of criminal cases but also gave presentations to the community about potential crimes such as frauds and scams. As a general instructor, Aaron was able to teach others not only about law enforcement but community service as well.

In 2004, Aaron started documenting the various Civil War sites he had visited and called this Aaron's Civil War Travels. As he traveled around, Aaron started making short videos of his travels in 2016. Aaron created his YouTube channel that same year (Aaron's Civil War Travels) and by 2024 Aaron has done over 100 videos at Civil War related sites from Virginia to California.

In 2020, Aaron graduated from Liberty University with bachelor's degrees in History and Criminal Justice. Aaron also received a certificate in the American Civil War and Reconstruction from Columbia University online (Columbia X).

In 2021, Aaron joined the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation where he was responsible for maintaining the Valley's Civil War battlefields, overseeing projects and conducting tours and talks as a Park Ranger.

In 2024, Aaron left the foundation and started Aaron's Civil War Travels LLC.

The public is welcome. The optional pre-meeting dinner will be at Eddy's Deli & Restaurant in Stow, beginning at 5:30 PM.

The meeting will be held in the Roy Smith Shelter at Fred Fuller Park
map & directions

Click on the Bivouac newsletter icon or the telegraph press release icon below for more details as they become available.


***** See the News & Events page for other items of interest. *****

***** Society News & Information *****

A near capacity audience, including several guests, came to our January 2026 meeting to hear Dr. Fred Marquinez present Medical Advances During the Civil War. Fred gave a thorough review of the state of medical practice up to and including the war years, the conditions Civil War surgeons worked under and the kinds of cases they had to deal with. He concluded with a brief look at the practices and facilities that today's military works with. Fred supplemented his presentation with a hands on look at a Civil War surgeon's kit and related items. All in all it was an enjoyable and educational evening.

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Presentations have been scheduled through May, 2026. There are openings for the remainder of 2026 and members are encouraged to give a presentation. It's a good way to focus on a Civil War topic of personal interest and contribute to the society.

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If you have suggestions for worthy Civil War preservation or education related causes we should consider donating to, please let Mark Perkins know or email us at info@kentcivilwar.org .

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For last minute information on the Kent Civil War Society meetings, call the society's meeting information hotline at (330) 474-9362 for a recorded message