Program:   Benjamin L. Cwayna described the remarkable story of "The Invincible Twelfth:  The 12th South Carolina Infantry of the Gregg-McGowan Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia," at the Fort Sumter Civil War Round Table meeting on June 8.  For his book on the Invincible Twelfth, Cwayna conducted years of research.  He exhaustively mining primary sources to reconstruct the 12th South Carolina’s history from its formation in 1861 until its final official reunion in the 1880s and beyond.  His new book describes through the words of its soldiers and officers, the protracted and arduous marches, scarcity of provisions, horrific and unimaginable carnage in battle, and an unwavering determination to persevere in the bitter struggle for independence at any cost and against insurmountable odds

Speaker:  Benjamin L. Cwayna is an attorney in private practice and a prominent leader in the Civil War reenacting and living history community. For many years, Cwayna commanded the 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc., a nationally recognized reenacting organization. He has been featured on the “Addressing Gettysburg Podcast” with Matt Callery and has dedicated his life to preserving the memory of the Civil War through living history demonstrations, presentations, and tours on numerous battlefields. A graduate of Michigan State University and Michigan State University College of Law, Benjamin resides with his son, Grant, in Grand Ledge, Michigan. An active member of the community, Cwayna is a member and past president of the Grand Ledge Rotary Club, volunteer coach, and participant in numerous other civic organizations.