
The Civil Warriors Round Table will hold its
next meeting of 2021 at 7PM PST on
Wednesday, March 10, via Zoom. We will be
hosting an online presentation by author Ted
Behncke who will talk about “Custer and the
Evolution of Cavalry.”
In order to set the context of his presentation Mr.
Behncke will first discuss pre-Civil War cavalry
doctrine. In the initial stages of the War, the effect
of Confederate cavalry and early employment
strategies for the Federal cavalry will be reviewed.
Late in 1862 George Custer appeared on the scene
and helped start a change in the North’s cavalry
combat arm. The Battle of Aldie in the first phase
of the 1863 Pennsylvania campaign began to
reflect changing and successful Union tactics.
Custer’s impact and the evolving Union cavalry
operations became increasingly effective in battles
such as the East Field, Winchester (combined
arms effect), Cedar Creek, Waynesboro and
finally on to Appomatox. Mr. Behncke will
conclude his presentation with summary,
conclusions and spirited discussion.
Ted Behncke is a Wisconsin native growing up in
Fennimore, graduating from High School there in
1978. He entered the U.S. Army and earned a
Regular Army commission in 1985 through
ROTC at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 2007 after 30 years
service. He served in varied operational, training,
and executive positions, both in the U.S. and
abroad. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for
service in 2007.
Ted comes from a family with a long history of
military service. His seventh generation Great
Grandfather, Colonel Samuel Ashley served in the
Revolutionary War commanding a New
Hampshire regiment at the Battle of Ticonderoga
and Bennington, Vermont. His third generation
Great Grandfather, Sergeant John Leighton,
fought with the Army of the West down the
Mississippi at Vicksburg and other engagements
with the 33 rd Wisconsin Infantry before dying as a
result of wounds received at the Battle of Spanish
Fort Alabama. He has had a life-long interest in
history and military subjects. Ted has a BS in
International Studies from University of
Wisconsin-Platteville, a MS in Administration
from Central Michigan University, and a graduate
diploma in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense
Intelligence College (now the National Defense
University). Ted and his wife Rose reside in
Jefferson, Wisconsin, have raised 3 sons, and have
five grandchildren.
We will be meeting via the Zoom meeting
app. We will send out the meeting on-line
connection information shortly before our
meeting day (3/10/21). Please plan on
beginning your hookup a few minutes before
the 7PM PST meeting time. If you are a first
time visitor to the Civil Warriors, please
contact us at cwrtsfv@gmail.com for
information regarding the hookup.
Guests, new members and returning members are
always welcome to join us for this and future
meetings! If you can’t make this meeting,
please consider one of our exciting upcoming
meetings noted in our Future Presentations
section.