Early Modern | War History

Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries

Dummy tank on display

Deception and military subterfuge have been used throughout history. The aim is to give armies the upper hand by tricking the enemy. The practice dates…

What Happened to the ‘Lost’ Confederate Gold?

Portrait of Jefferson Davis + Pile of gold bars

Going to war can be incredibly expensive. As such, the Confederate States of America solicited donations from wealthy citizens. A lot of that gold –…

Myths About the American Civil War That Need to Be Addressed

Painting of the Battle of Atlanta

One of the most, if not the most, prominent topics in US history is the American Civil War. While the majority of what’s presented about…

Alexander Hamilton Jr. Skillfully Avenged His Father’s Death

The entire world knows the name ‘Alexander Hamilton’ thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton. Because of this musical, the whole world also knows about…

Friedrich von Steuben: The Openly Gay War Hero Who Whipped the Continental Army Into Shape

Portrait of Friedrich von Steuben

Throughout American history, homosexual soldiers have been discriminated against in the military. It was only in 2011 that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was…

Revolutionary War-Era Cannons Pulled from Savannah River Could Be from Scuttled British Ship

Two Revolutionary War-era cannons on display

The US Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District has completed maintenance dredging in the Savannah River, a project which uncovered a total of 19 cannons…

From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War

US Air Force helicopter spraying Agent Orange over the jungle

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…

The Spencer Repeating Rifle Saved ‘A Thousand Lives’ During the Battle of Hoover’s Gap

Spencer Repeating Rifle + John T. Wilder

When the Spencer Repeating Rifle was first recommended to the US Department of War, it was turned away due to the notion it would be…

The Success of George H. Thomas’ Union Soldiers During the American Civil War

Military portrait of George H. Thomas

The two most famous Union generals of the American Civil War are William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant. One other name that should be…

Revolutionary War-Era Muskets Found Intact in Florida Shipwreck

Three British Brown Bess muskets on a table

Three largely intact muskets dating back to the Revolutionary War have been discovered off the Florida coast. They’ve since been cleaned by conservators with the…

The Sinking of the USS Housatonic was a Turning Point in Naval Warfare

A print showing the sinking of the USS Housatonic

The US Navy has existed longer than the country itself. The branch was established in August 1775 and re-established in 1794 during the French Revolution.…

John Clem: The Youngest Noncommissioned Officer in US Army History

John Clem as a child + John Clem as an adult

When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Union and Confederate armies. All men of fighting…