Total Victory Lost – Why the South Lost Civil War at Chancellorsville not Gettysburg
While Chancellorsville is often regarded as General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory, many would be surprised to know that after the battle he remarked “We…
Iron Men and Iron Ships: The Riverboats of the American Civil War
The American Civil War, in contention with the Crimean War to be considered the first modern war, saw advances in warfare both on land and…
2 Hour Break At Antietam – Suddenly Both Sides Stopped Fighting
Battles don’t unfold as one might imagine. They don’t progress in orderly or predictable ways. Smack in the middle of the bloodiest day in U.S.…
The Georgian 450 – Holding Off 12 Thousand Men at Antietam Under the Brash General Robert Toombs
Impossible Odds The ability of 450 resolute Georgians to stave off 12,500 Federals, preventing them from crossing Antietam Creek for several crucial hours, has to…
Aggressive Tactics at 2nd Bull Run Led to Pope’s Defeat
In late August 1862, thirteen months after the first Battle of Bull Run, the Union army was poised for a rematch against the Confederates in…
1st Texas At Antietam – 80% Losses and Their Unique Flag on America’s Costliest Day
This is the first in a series of posts, as guest blogger Justin Martin counts down to the September 17 anniversary of Antietam, still America’s…
Fierce and Colorful – Zouave Regiments in the Civil War
The Zouaves originally came as part of the French Army linked to French North Africa, which served between 1830 and 1962. Their uniform and tactics…
The Stonewall Brigade: More Than the Man
The Confederate left flank was on the verge of complete collapse at the First Battle of Manassas, and General Barnard Bee was struggling to instill…
Claiming Deseret: The Utah War
Throughout the nineteenth century the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons, struggled to find a home for themselves. Eventually,…
Confederate Secret Weapon – Mapmaker Jedediah Hotchkiss
Jedediah Hotchkiss’s migration to the Shenandoah Valley in 1847 at age 19 proved to be more fortuitous than he could imagine. His long exploratory treks…
Best Union Generals Not Named “Grant” and “Sherman” – We Picked 3
Very generally speaking, most American Civil War professors, informal historians, and novices can easily tick off a list of well-known and talented Confederate generals. The…
Rock of Chickamagua – General Thomas Covered for “Old Rosy”
Famous for his victories in the Western Theatre, Major General William S. Rosecrans became the subject of public criticism after he suffered a resounding defeat…