'The River War' topic at National Historical Society program posted Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 @ 1:46 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  The Natchez Historical Society will present an illustrated talk by Stephen Douglas Don entitled "The River War" at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 South Commerce Street, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Don is with the National Park Service, currently stationed at the Natchez National Historical Park. His talk will focus on the Civil War and the Union navy's Mississippi Squadron. Fifty-six former slaves from the Natchez area served on board the squadron's vessels. In addition to telling the story of these runaway slaves who became sailors, Don will discuss the Union and Confederate forces in the region and the overwhelming Union naval force that invaded the Lower Mississippi River. After serving for 15 years in the United States Navy, Don received his Associate of Arts degree from Northwestern Michigan College, B.A. and M.A. degrees in History from the University of Vermont, and M.S. degree in Education from Troy University in Dothan, Alabama. Before coming to Natchez, he was stationed at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. The Natchez Historical Society holds monthly meetings, except during June-August, with informative programs by guest speakers on a variety of historical topics. The meetings begin with a social gathering at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. For information, call 601-445-9274.