The Many Lives of The US Ship Harriet Lane, Which Fired the First Shot of the American Civil War
Late in the day on April 11th, 1861, the ship Nashville was sailing past Charleston harbor. The crew could see a fleet of ships at…
The Black Dispatches From the Civil War Spies
The typical Southern officer’s opinion of African Americans was that they were an inferior subhuman race, lacking in intelligence or cunning. Their ignorance and subsequent…
The Civil War Photographer that Time Forgot: Alexander Gardner
When people remember famous Civil War photographers, they think of one name in particular; and “Alexander Gardner” is not it. However, a significant number of…
A Bloody New Year – The Massive American Civil War Battle of Stones River
It was cold at the turning of the year in Murfreesboro, right in the middle of the state of Tennessee. The little town nestled under…
The Flaws of the Brilliant Civil War General “Stonewall” Jackson
General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest tactical commanders in American military history. While his solid determination to hold…
The Element of Surprise – Totally Effective Surprise Attacks in Military History
Surprise attacks and ambushes can turn the tide of war. More often than not, the side that has the larger base of industry or manpower…
Five “A- List” Battles of the American Civil War – The Most Decisive Battles Of The War
According to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSA), the many battles fought during the American Civil War can be categorized according to how significant…
In These Battles, Fighting Spirit Overcame The Odds To Gain Victory
Battles can be lost for a hundred different reasons. Poor numbers, unwise strategy, inferior weapons, the list goes on. But just occasionally, a fighting force…
Warrior Frank Baldwin Received Two Medals of Honor, One for Fighting the Confederates & Another for Fighting the Indians
Receiving the Medal of Honor for valor in combat puts one in the hallowed company of but a few thousand individuals to ever grace the…
First casualty – Tyree Cemetery is the gravesite of first casualty of Battle of Cole Camp
War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families…
Civil War Spies: The Confederacy’s Vast Web of Intelligence and Disruption
Reliable Confederate spy records are hard to find. When Union troops were on their way to the South’s capital in Richmond, the Confederate Secretary of…
Heroes of America: The Red String Band Rebelled Against the Confederacy in the Civil War
It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…