A Prank Gone Wrong
The Front Line
An attempted prank on an unflappable friend goes terribly wrong in a story from the August 1867 issue of Harper’s New Monthly Magazine.
A New Look at America’s Greatest Conflict
Current Issue
Road to Glory
Vol. 16, No. 3
Robert Gould Shaw commanded one of the war’s first black regiments. His personal views on emancipation were surprisingly complicated.
Recent Posts
Episode 11: Miasma Theory
Civil War Breakthroughs
Melanie Kiechle discusses how fear of “bad air” guided the daily decisions and medical practices of Civil War soldiers and physicians.
Why Lincoln (2026)
Book Reviews
Jonathan W. White has assembled an impressive cast of contributors to reflect on Lincoln’s enduring meaning and significance.
Tips for Army Surgeons
The Front Line
Medical student—and future Union army assistant surgeon—Charles Stubbs offered tips on dealing with battlefield injuries in an 1862 letter.
Episode 10: War Trauma
Civil War Breakthroughs
Historian Sarah Handley-Cousins discusses the presence and treatment of the “invisible wounds” suffered by Civil War soldiers.
Featured Posts
Episode 20: Why Did the Civil War Happen?
Civil War Curious
Historian Allen C. Guelzo discusses the various causes behind the outbreak of the American Civil War.
The Patriots
Featured
Civil War historians weigh in on how the American Revolution influenced and inspired both the Union and the Confederacy.
Dressing Billy Yank
Facts and Figures
Shown here are figures associated with the procurement of some of the more common uniform pieces donned by “Billy Yank.”
The Case of the Two Graves
Featured
Unraveling the mystery surrounding the death and final resting place of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis.
The Five Best Books on Civil War Massacres
Best Of Lists
Civil War massacres frequently saw surrendering troops and noncombatants victimized. Here are five of the best books about some of the worst behavior of the Civil War.
“Babylon Is Fallen.”
Featured
How the northern press reported—with shock and awe—on Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864.