'Thunder in the Valley'

'Thunder in the Valley'

Civil War Expert to Discuss the Shenandoah Valley Campaign on Sept. 29 at Ohio Wesleyan

DELAWARE, Ohio - In August 1864, Union morale about the Civil War was so low that Republican Party leaders, including Abraham Lincoln, believed he would lose the November presidential election. Only dramatic turnaround victories on the battlefields could change that outcome.

In his lecture, "Thunder in the Valley: Grant, Sheridan, and Hayes Triumph in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864," Civil War expert Brooks Simpson will explain the Union victories there in September and October. Their contribution to Lincoln's re-election set the Union on the path to overall victory and the restoration of the United States of America.

Simpson, Ph.D., will speak at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the Benes Rooms of Ohio Wesleyan University's Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware. Admission is free to his presentation, OWU's 2025 Richard W. Smith Lecture in Civil War History.

The ASU Foundation Professor of History from Arizona State University, Simpson, studies American political and military history as well as the American presidency, specializing in the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

He is the author of 15 books, including "Ulysses S. Grant: Triumph over Adversity, 1822-1865," a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; "Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865," a History Book Club Main Selection; and "The Civil War in the East: Struggle, Stalemate, and Victory."

Simpson is also a popular source for news media and has been interviewed by C-SPAN, History, and PBS, including two episodes of PBS's "The American Experience: Ulysses S. Grant."

Ohio Wesleyan's Smith Lecture in Civil War History is named in honor of Richard W. Smith, Ph.D., a retired history professor who taught at OWU between 1950 and 1986. Smith passed away on July 1, 2025, at age 101. He will be remembered during a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Benes Rooms.

For those unable to attend the Sept. 29 lecture in person, Simpson's presentation will be recorded and posted on YouTube. The annual lecture is presented by the OWU Department of History. Learn more about the department, Smith, and the lecture series at owu.edu/history.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.