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People
Published: 6/2/25
Eyewitness to the Overland Campaign
Experience the Overland Campaign of 1864 through the eyes of John R. Pillings, a corporal in the 86th New York Infantry.
Published: 5/28/25
Rebs on Yanks
Read quotes by Confederate soldiers that reveal the diversity of their feelings toward their Union counterparts.
Published: 5/28/25
The Five Best Books on Jefferson Davis
What are the best books about Confederate president Jefferson Davis? We asked two experts for their picks.
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Published: 5/28/25
Rufus Dawes’ Civil War
The Civil War story of Union officer Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry, one of the regiment of the famed Iron Brigade.
Published: 5/28/25
The Re-creation of Thomas J. Jackson
A look at the historical accuracy of director Ron Maxwell's 2013 movie "Gods and Generals"—in particular the portrayal of Stonewall Jackson.
Published: 5/26/25
The Waste of War
Explore the physical and emotional toll of the Civil War through the powerful poem "April 30, 1864" by Charles G. Halpine.
Published: 5/19/25
Misquoting Honest Abe
A look at how and why the most revered and respected figure in American history—Abraham Lincoln—is regularly misquoted today.
Published: 5/5/25
Smoothbore vs. Rifled Muskets
A look at the military philosophy of Colonel George Willard, whose advocacy for the use of the smoothbore (not rifled) musket in battle flew in the face of contemporary thinking.
Published: 4/28/25
Extra Voices: Please Write!
Read comments from Union and Confederate soldiers about their intense desire to receive news from family and friends back home.
Published: 4/21/25
The Burning of Harmon Farm
The story of Gettysburg teenager Amelia Harmon, who took shelter in the family home as the fighting swirled around it on July 1, 1863.
Published: 4/7/25
Killed at Shiloh
Read a moving letter to the parents of a Union soldier killed at Shiloh that the "Dead-letter Office" tried to see delivered properly.
Published: 3/24/25
A Tragic History
The author visits a cemetery for massacre victims in a lonely Carolina valley.
Published: 3/18/25
Please Write!
First-person quotes from Union and Confederate soldiers about their deep desire to receive letters from home.
Published: 3/18/25
A Boy Soldier
The story of 15-year-old Jimmy Bateman's relentless pursuit to join the Union army in 1861.
Published: 3/18/25
Failure at Fredericksburg
Union general William B. Franklin and the perils of indecision and delay at the Battle of Fredericksburg
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Published: 3/14/25
The Making of a General
Before he became the Union's top soldier, Mexican War veteran turned store clerk Ulysses S. Grant needed to find a way back into the army.
Published: 3/10/25
A Lesser-Known Gettysburg Hero
Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain of the 20th Maine Infantry earned the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. So too did his regiment's color sergeant, Andrew Jackson Tozier.
Published: 3/3/25
Cleaning Ironclads
A look at the process used to clean the ironclad monitor-class warships that made up the Union's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
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