Not all Southern generals fought for the Confederacy. At the beginning of the Civil War, George Thomas was one of those. A West Point graduate from Virginia, he fought with honor, courage and intelligence for the North, and rose to the rank of Major General.

His Virginia family disowned him, but he proved his allegiance to the Union as commander of the Army of the Cumberland at Shiloh, Missionary Ridge and Chicamauga, where he earned the nickname of The Rock.

Historian and writer Brian Steel Wills, a repeat speaker at the Powhatan Civil War Round Table, will discuss this outstanding but often overlooked general at the next dinner meeting of the Round Table, Thursday, May 15, 6:30 p.m. at The County Seat Restaurant, 3867 Old Buckingham Road.

Dinner reservations are $16 for members; $20 for non-members. Guests are welcome, but everyone must make reservations by Tuesday, May 13, either by sending a check or money order (no cash, please) to PCWRT, PO Box 1144, Powhatan, VA 23139 or delivering the reservation to Virginia Pantry, 2652 Anderson Highway in Powhatan.

For additional information about PCWRT, log on to http://www.PowhatanCWRT.com or call 794-5831.