The Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg is dedicated to the study of all aspects of the American Civil War. Our membership comprises men and women with a common desire to expand and share their knowledge through social interaction and the interchange of ideas. The only requirement for membership is a genuine interest in the American Civil War and its era.

What You Probably Don't Know About Us

Carolyn Elstner has lived all but 14 years of her life in Fredericksburg, VA. Growing up here she had two homes -- one in town and one in the Wilderness - Ellwood. For 17 years Carolyn was volunteer director of Ellwood for the National Park Service. She oversaw the opening of Ellwood to the public, worked its grounds, trained its interpreters each year, and managed the restoration of the house to its Civil War appearance. Ellwood was her grandparents' farm. The family owned it from 1907 to 1977. Now she is president of the Fredericksburg Ladies' Memorial Association, which owns and maintains the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery. She considers this a natural progression from her Ellwood tenure. Her grandparents, Horace and Betty Lacy, were founders of the cemetery.

Carolyn is author of "Dear Old Ellwood", published in November 2016. It's an interesting book with a detailed history of the farm and its owners. One of Carolyn's ancestors written about in the book, Evander Willis, served with the Union Army, Company D, 8th Vermont, from December 5, 1863 to June 28, 1865. After the war, he eventually made his way to Ellwood where he lived cared for the property. Evander recently drew the attention of the local chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. They found that Evander Hollis was the last Union soldier to be buried in Fredericksburg. He died October 12, 1935 and is buried with his wife in Fredericksburg National Cemetery.

Carolyn has an undergraduate degree in music from Sweet Briar College, VA and holds a master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Virginia. She is married to dentist Tom Elstner. They have two children, Meg (in Virginia) and Peter (in Oregon), and one grandchild.

Roger Leturno, CWRTF President, is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. After his retirement, he discovered his great, great grandfather had served in I Co of the 111th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Roger has a passion for American history and the Civil War in particular. He is a member of the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg and Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table. Roger is a past commander for the Irish Brigade Camp #4, Son of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Paul T. Scott, is a past president of the CWRTF. A sixth-generation resident of this area, Paul attended public schools in Fredericksburg graduating from James Monroe High School in 1961. After receiving a BA Degree from the University of Virginia in 1965 he entered the US Army through ROTC as a lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. After completing courses at the Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he was assigned for duty with the Medical Platoon of the 1st Battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds) of the 25th Infantry Division. He served with the Wolfhounds in Viet Nam in 1966, and participated in every battalion operation and lead the forward aid station during the Battle of Attleboro (Dau Tieng), one of the largest battles of the war. Among other medals, Paul earned the Combat Medic's Badge, the Bronze Star with "V Device and the Bronze Star for Meritorious service.

After his military service Paul attended law school and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1969. He practiced law in this area for 44 years and retired in 2013. He was a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, was on the Council of the Real Estate Section of the Virginia Bar Association and was President of the Fredericksburg Bar Association. During this time, he was active in the community and served on governmental and civic organizations. These include the Fredericksburg Electoral Board, Fredericksburg BZA (Chairman), HFFI (President), SAR (President), Fredericksburg Jaycees (Secretary), Stafford Rotary Club, Campaign Director for the March of Dimes and Goodwill Industries (Board). In 1977 he received the Distinguished Service Award as Young Man of the Year from the Fredericksburg Jaycees for Community Service. He currently serves on the board of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT).

Paul's interests include woodworking, fishing, hunting, gardening and history. He has had a special interest in Civil War History beginning in his youth with relic hunting at Aquia Landing near his family's summer cottage and as a member of the CWRTF in 1959-1961 and 2007 to the present. Three of his ancestors served in the Confederacy with two great great grandfathers in the 30th Virginia Infantry and the Rockbridge Artillery and a great grandfather in the 6th Virginia Cavalry. Paul is married to De'Onne C. Scott and has three daughters.