Blog
Published: 1/19/25
Civil War Snow Sledding
A contemporary review of Brown's Coasting Sled, a device patented in 1862, offers a look at the nature of snow sledding during the Civil War years.
Published: 1/15/25
The Mexican-American War Experiences of Twelve Civil War Generals (2024)
Readers of Timothy Johnson's volume will appreciate the chance to learn more about the early lives and careers of a dozen Civil War generals.
Published: 1/13/25
Extra Voices: Narrow Escapes
In the Voices section of our Winter 2024 issue we highlighted quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers about the close calls they or their comrades had experienced during the Civil...
Published: 1/8/25
Holding the Political Center in Illinois (2024)
"Holding the Political Center in Illinois" is fascinating account of Prairie State politics in the 1850s.
Published: 1/6/25
A Firearm Transformed
In the first two years of the Civil War, the United States Model 1816/22 .69-caliber smoothbore musket was undoubtedly one of the most issued and most used firearms by both...
Published: 1/1/25
An Eventful New Year
Sometime in early 1865, Massachusetts officer S.R. Keenan, stationed in New Bern, North Carolina, wrote the following letter to Miss Sarah Southworth of Winthrop, Maine, to wish her a Happy...
Published: 1/1/25
American Civil Wars (2024)
Alan Taylor's "American Civil Wars" offers a lucid, engaging, and spritely account of the period.
Published: 12/30/24
The Loss of the “Monitor”
In December 1862, USS Monitor—which had garnered national attention for its engagement with CSS Virginia in the first-ever battle of ironclad warships at Hampton Roads the previous March—was ordered to...
Published: 12/25/24
Freedom Was in Sight! (2024)
"Freedom Was in Sight!" represents a synthesis of popular art and solid historical scholarship.
Published: 12/23/24
A West Point Fantasy Draft
Evaluating antebellum West Point graduates based on their class performances as part of a mock Civil War commanders' NFL-style draft.
Published: 12/18/24
The Carceral City (2024)
John Bardes' "The Carceral City" is an important and careful history of slavery, freedom, and incarceration in the United States.
Published: 12/16/24
How a Man Feels in Battle
In its October 12, 1861, issue, The Scientific American reprinted a brief article that had recently appeared in the Philadelphia newspaper North American. In it, an editor at the North...
Published: 12/11/24
Between Extremes (2024)
Jack Furniss's welcome book shows how loyal state governments defined the purposes of the Civil War when calling upon their citizens to sacrifice for the Union cause.
Published: 12/9/24
At Fredericksburg
In its February 7, 1863, issue, Harper’s Weekly published the following poem. Titled “At Fredericksburg” and published under the byline “L.C.M.,” the poem tells a poignant tale of two Union...
Published: 12/4/24
Reckoning with the Devil (2024)
"Reckoning with the Devil" distinguishes itself as the most informative and comprehensive account of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s life and legacy to date.
Published: 12/2/24
Discovering Munfordville
Plagued by my god-awful wanderlust, I pack my 8-ounce drone and head north from Nashville to Hart County, Kentucky. I figure it’s high time for a first visit to the...
Published: 11/27/24
“Digging All Night and Fighting All Day” (2024)
“Digging All Night and Fighting All Day” is a fantastic look at one of the Civil War’s final campaigns, demonstrating federal prowess, Confederate resolve, the intricacies of interservice cooperation, and the complexities of how wars end.
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Published: 11/25/24
Civil War Punishments
Discover the various methods used to discipline soldiers during the Civil War.