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The Tri-Cities Civil War Round Table will host a presentation on the American Civil War and Reconstruction by James Morgan.

The presentation is titled “Six Miles From Charleston, Five Minutes to Hell: The Battle of Secessionville.”

The program will be presented Monday, April 1,  at 7 p.m. in Room 219 of the Eastman Employee Center, 400 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport.

Late in the momentous presidential election year of 1860, “Secessionville” surely would have been the perfect nickname for Charleston, S.C. However, the Low Country of the Palmetto State already had a town by that name, an inconsequential village with just a handful of dwellings and other buildings located across the Ashley River on James Island and only some six miles from downtown Charleston. But as the Civil War unfolded for awhile it looked like that small town of Secessionville could be the backdoor into Charleston for Union forces aiming to capture the heart of the Southern secession movement.

On June 16, 1862, Federal forces under the command of Brig. Gen. Henry Benham attacked Confederate defenders across the swamps and marshland dotting the islands of the Carolina coastline. Although defying orders from his superiors, Benham pressed his men forward into the teeth of Confederate artillery and musket fire. The outcome is not difficult to predict. While the Battle of Secessionville was a small, poorly-planned fight and a Union debacle, Benham came within seconds of realizing a completely different outcome to the battle, one that had it occurred could have carried with it the possibility of changing the entire course of the war.

James Morgan will describe the battle – its principle actors, origin, action and ramifications. The presentation is free and open to the public. Individuals wishing to dine with Morgan can do so at 5 p.m. Monday at the Chop House, 1704 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport. They can request reservations by contacting Dr. Michael House at michaellanesmith@charter.net.