Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg
Dedicated to Studying, Discussing, & Preserving the History of the American Civil War
Teacher, Preacher, Soldier, Spy: John R. Kelso
Wed, Jun 17
|Jepson Alumni Executive Center
Christopher Grasso's analysis of Kelso's life story offers a unique look at one of the Civil War’s most interesting individuals.
Time & Location
Jun 17, 2026, 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM
Jepson Alumni Executive Center, 1119 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA
About the event
CWRTF Meeting: Teacher, Preacher, Soldier, Spy: John R. Kelso
Start Time: 5:45 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM
Contact: Elizabeth Daly
Guest: Dr. Christopher Grasso
Teacher, Preacher, Soldier, Spy: The Civil Wars of John R. Kelso is an account of an extraordinary nineteenth-century American life. A former Methodist preacher and Missouri schoolteacher, John R. Kelso served as a Union Army foot soldier, cavalry officer, guerrilla fighter, and spy. Kelso became driven by revenge after pro-Southern neighbors stole his property, burned down his house, and drove his family and friends from their homes. He vowed to kill twenty-five Confederates with his own hands and, often disguised as a rebel, proceeded to track and kill unsuspecting victims with "wild delight."