Noted historian, Dr. Tim Drake of Clemson University, will present "Reconstruction of the South - The Untold Story" at the Washington Civil War Round Table meeting on Monday evening, October 27, 2008.

Claibourne Darden, Round Table President, says that the public is invited and welcomed. The cost of the meeting is $10 per person and includes a very nice dinner. Please make reservations, as soon as possible, by e-mail at claibourne@dardenatlanta. net or by calling (404)210- 5811 and leaving a message.

After the war, most of the South lay as a desolate, burned-out and impoverished section of the country. A significant portion of the South's men were either dead or disabled from wounds or disease that they received in the war. This contrasts harshly with the pre-war South, which was the most prosperous section of the country. In fact, South Carolina was the richest per-capita state in the Union.

Dr. Drake will reveal the true details of the cruel and harsh so-called "Reconstruction" of the South under a corrupt federal government and its military occupation troops, many of which were ex-slaves. You will not read about what actually occurred during this time in school books. The truth about this period has been almost totally written out of history. Dr. Drake will present the startling details of this era and what the Southerners did to combat it and to regain their states from the abusive military rule. You will hear about Gen. Wade Hampton (CSA) and the Red Shirts and what they did to counter the unbelievable military oppression. Their efforts turned them into southern heroes during the dark years that followed the war.

Dr. Drake serves on Clemson's Heritage Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Directors of the Pendleton Historic Foundation and the Belton Area Museum Association and is past Commander of the Palmetto Sharpshooter Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Several of his ancestors actually rode with Gen. Wade Hampton and the Red Shirts. In total, 15 of Dr. Drake's direct ancestors served in the Confederate Army.

Membership in the Washington Civil War Round Table is open to everyone and new members can join at the meeting.