UFM Lifetime Learning presents Three Significant American Military Campaigns taught by Robert Smith, Ph.D., Director of the Fort Riley Museums Complex. This three-session course will begin Thursday, July 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room. The second and third sessions will meet Aug. 3 and Aug. 10.

This class will examine three significant campaigns fought by the United State Army. The first session will discuss George Washington’s New York Campaign of 1776, which was his first major military action as leader of the Continental Army. The campaign for control of New York, the colonies’ largest city, pitted a British Army of 32,000 troops against Washington’s 14,000.

The second session will review Sherman’s Civil War Atlanta campaign of 1864. In May 1864, General William T. Sherman, with more than 100,000 Union soldiers, campaigned for nearly four months for control of the Confederate city of Atlanta. The campaign became a war of maneuver against Joseph E. Johnston’s 60,000 Confederate troops defending the city.

The final class will focus on the World War II Battle of the Bulge. The last major German offensive of World War II attempted to drive a wedge between the U.S. Army and the British Army in an attempt by Hitler to bring about a negotiated peace with the Western Allies. The month-long campaign was one of America’s costliest battles, incurring nearly 61,000 American and 120,000 German casualties.

Smith (Bob) was born in Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, where he majored in history. Bob has always had a love for history and a particular interest in military history as he comes from a military family. Prior to his return to academia and advanced degrees, Bob managed a family operated business where he learned management and organizational skills. He returned to academia in 1998, attending Kansas State University, receiving a master of arts in military history in 2004, and a Ph.D. in military history in December 2008.

Enrollment is now open and can be completed by calling (785) 539-8763. This class is offered through UFM at no charge to Meadowlark residents, and Passport members may attend with a 20-percent discount. Reminder: Meadowlark does not have a partnership agreement with Osher Lifetime Learning; therefore, Osher classes are not available at a discount to Meadowlark affiliates.