Archive for the ‘Civil War’ Category

This looks like a great event, and as most of you know. I am a student at American Public Univsersity and Dr. Woodworth is current one of my instructors. Well they have a great event coming up: Discovering the Civil War Online - Live Webcast. From their website: Have you ever ... Full story

Brigham Young University sent me the following results of a study that analyzed pension and medical records from a random sample of the 179,000 black soldiers enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and found some interesting, though not surprising results. The study was performed by Sven E. Wilson ... Full story

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness." "My baby boy..." she whispers before dying. Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually ... Full story

One of the thrills of delving into any historical archives is holding a piece of history in your hands. I remember when I visited the Wisconsin State Archives while researching my book on the The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War. When they brought me the daily reports of the regiment and ... Full story

I guess I am implying that some see him as not a "Disaster" and I think that to be the case, he has defenders does he not? I am in the middle of a course on American Civil War Command and Leadership, and specifically the Joseph T. Glatthaar book Partners In Command. ... Full story

A Vicksburg newspaper reporter once referred to Van Dorn as "the terror of ugly husbands." (Van Dorn pictured left) The apparently handsome Earl Van Dorn was born near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on September 17, 1820. He graduated from West Point in 1842 and later served in the Mexican War. Van Dorn resigned his commission in the ... Full story

I am week four into my graduate class "Civil War Command and Leadership" at American Public University. It is an online program and I am not embarrassed to say it was my only choice living in an isolated region of Western Colorado where there are no graduate programs. This class is one example of why I am proud to say I am attending APU, ... Full story

There have been a few "Best of ..." lists, I would never be so presumptions to think that anyone would be on the edge of their seat for my Best of ... list. However, in honor or Rene's new website, if I were to pick a "Best in History" blog, Wig-Wags would be easily the one! Congrats on the new site Rene!... Full story

By: Michael A Dreese. McFarland & Co, Jefferson N.C. & London, pp 190. A decade ago historian Michael A Dreese resurrected one of the more unheralded fighting units of the American Civil War. McFarland has recently published a new paperback edition of Dreese's excellent narrative. Unheralded as they were one of the "9-month" regiments and curiously enough, they ... Full story

The Eighth Regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, and its muster into the United States service completed on the 13th of September, 1861, and on the 12th of October, it left the State for St. Louis. Arriving at St. Louis on the 14th of October, the regiment was soon after sent to Pilot Knob, on the ... Full story

I got a chance tonight to catch a re-airing of the History Channel's Aftershock: Beyond The Civil War. Though I enjoyed the documentary and as far as I can tell it did an excellent job establishing the general mood and conditions of the South and the state of continued violence that ravaged blacks, whites, and ... Full story

I received a copy of Joan Waugh's U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth several months ago and put it in the "pile" and promptly moved on. Yet 2 weeks ago for some reason I picked it up and looked at it. This turned into actual reading and I am pleased to have done so. Waugh's ... Full story

Received my copy of William L. Shea's Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign (Civil War America). Publish date: November, 2009. Hardcover: 392 pages Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press ISBN: 0807833150 From the publisher: "William Shea offers a gripping narrative of the events surrounding Prairie Grove, Arkansas, one of the great unsung battles of the Civil ... Full story

What are the best American Civil War Regimental Histories? Not the best regiment, but the best book about a Civil War regiment? I'd like to invite my fellow Civil War bloggers to join in and let me know what regimental histories they have enjoyed and why. My pick: Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine ... Full story

It looks like Mr. Dreyfuss had a nice day recently at Gettysburg as he continued his crusade championing American civics and history instruction. Last Friday thousands showed up for the keynote Dedication Day speaker and Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. After giving what appears to have been a well received speech on American ideals and virtue, ... Full story

The letter appears to be the only one Lincoln wrote to a child while in office that survives as an original document, he said. "There was a letter sent to youngsters Clara and Julia Brown, the original of which has been lost, and this letter to young Patten," Raab said. The letter to the Browns also ... Full story

I've often been fascinated how reviews can vary so much in regards to American Civil War books. Reviews for The American Civil War: A Military History, by renown British author/historian John Keegan perhaps represents one of the finest examples of such variety in reviews. I understand that every reviewer is not equal, and that ... Full story

I have found out today that my efforts to start an early American History survey course has been approved. Some of you who already have such a thing might be saying, "So What." Thus, allow me to explain. Starting next year, here in our School District in Colorado, U.S. History A and B will start post-Reconstruction with ... Full story

I recieved from Oxford University Press a couple of new books. This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War and Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign. This Mighty Scourge is the new paperback edition and Stand Firm the 15th Anniversary reprint. I have not read Stand ... Full story

The attack on Fort Blakely during the late afternoon hours (5:30pm) of April 9th 1865 had no impact on the outcome of the war, yet the fighting was as viscous as any had been. In the post war years accusations of atrocities committed by black troops on white Confederates surfaced. The eye witness accounts were ... Full story