UPPER LAKE, Calif. – When most people think of the Civil War, they think of battles throughout the South and perhaps Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

But the northernmost Civil War action took place up at St. Albans, Vermont near the Canadian border, 150 years ago this month.

Jan and Lee Cook visited St. Albans and will lead the discussion about the St. Albans Raid at the next Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable this coming Monday, Oct. 6, at 6:15 p.m. at the Tallman Hotel in historic downtown Upper Lake.

Two dozen Confederates slipped south from Canada and infiltrated St. Albans, Vermont in mid-October 1864.

They spread the word that they were in Vermont on a sporting vacation, all the while reconnoitering the banks and defenses of the small town.

They were about to execute the northernmost land action of the Civil War.

On Oct. 19, 1864,  Lt. Bennett H. Young and his men made their move.

In a fast, coordinated attack, they robbed banks, stole horses and tried to burn the town before escaping back into Canada.

They told their victims that they were going to treat St. Albans as Union forces had treated the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and western Virginia in the summer of 1864, where whole regions were devastated and left to starve.

The raiders seized about $200,000, wounded two civilians and killed a third.

No land was lost or gained at St. Albans and casualties were low, but the raid and its aftermath had international implications in the waning days of the Civil War.

The Civil War Roundtable meets once a month to discuss topics related to that war, and is attempting to review the war month by month. The group was founded to coincide with the Sesquicentennial of the conflict.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-264-4905, or Zane Jensen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-6390.