Military historian, author to speak at Monroe County museum, River Raisin battlefield

Military historian and award-winning author Gregory J. W. Urwin, Ph.D., will present two Civil War programs this month in Monroe. The public is welcome. Admission is free.

At 7 p.m. March 10, Urwin will present the lecture “The Rise of George Armstrong Custer, 1861-1865” at the Monroe County Museum System, 126 S. Monroe St.

“This lecture will be the first in our ‘Custers and Their Legacy’ program series, which will take place over the next two years. Featuring several accredited historians of diverse specialties, we will explore the lives of the Custers and their continued impact on local and national history,” JJ Przewozniak, museum deputy director, said.

Urwin will speak for 45 to 60 minutes and will answer questions.

At 6 p.m. March 11, the 1989 Academy Award-winning feature-length Civil War epic “Glory” will be shown at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 333 N. Dixie Highway.

After the film, Urwin will talk about his experience as a historical consultant, troop trainer and extra for the film. He also will answer questions.

“Glory” is rated R. Seating is limited. For reservations, call 734-240-7780 or email history@monroemi.org.Urwin is a professor of history at Temple University in Philadelphia and a former president of the Society for Military History. A specialist in U.S. and British military history, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. He taught at Our Lady of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, from 1982 to 1984, and at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, from 1984 until 1999. Then he moved to Temple, where he has trained nearly two dozen doctoral students in military history.

Urwin has written nine books, including: “Custer Victorious: The Civil War Battles of General George Armstrong Custer” (1989), “Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island” (1997), “Black Flag over Dixie: Racial Atrocities and Reprisals in the Civil War” (2004) and “Victory in Defeat: The Wake Island Defenders in Captivity” (2010). Urwin also has published hundreds of articles, essays, book reviews, encyclopedia entries and more.

A limited number of copies of Urwin’s books will be available for sale at the March 10 program.

Attendees at both events are asked to refrain from wearing costumes or period attire of any type.  For more information, see Monroe County Museum System on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Military historian, author to speak at museum, battlefield