People
Published: 9/14/26
A Death at Antietam
A Connecticut infantryman reflects on the death of his soldier-brother at the Battle of Antietam in a moving letter home.
16
Published: 8/20/26
Road to Glory
Robert Gould Shaw commanded one of the war’s first black regiments. His personal views on emancipation were surprisingly complicated.
Published: 8/20/26
Dear Diary
Read the story of Cyrena Stone, or Miss Abby, and her secret firsthand account of the fall of Atlanta—and the collapse of the Confederate home front.
Published: 8/20/26
Robert E. Lee Timeline
The following chronology explores the defining milestones of Robert E. Lee's consequential—and controversial—life and career.
Published: 8/20/26
On the March
Firsthand accounts from Civil War soldiers on the fatigue and pain associated with marching long distances.
Published: 8/17/26
The Murder of Captain McKay
Learn about the mystery surrounding the murder of Captain Thomas M. McKay of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry during the American Civil War.
Published: 6/29/26
Extra Voices: Before the Storm
Firsthand quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers about their thoughts and feelings when on the verge of entering battle.
Published: 6/22/26
Captain Strong’s Adventure
Discover the story of Captain William E. Strong's death-defying adventure during the Civil War, as told by Harper's Weekly.
Published: 6/9/26
Eyewitness to Brandy Station
A Confederate cavalryman details his participation in the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry battle ever fought in North America.
Published: 5/21/26
Before the Storm
Read the words of Union and Confederate soldiers on how they felt when on the verge of battle.
Published: 4/27/26
Grant’s Valuable Lesson
How an early war incident in Missouri helped shape the future general-in-chief of the Union armies
9
Published: 2/19/26
The Man Behind The Cane
A look at Preston Brooks' caning of Charles Sumner, and how the assault—and the reaction to it—foreshadowed civil war.
8
Published: 2/19/26
The Survivor: Harlan Paige’s Civil War
Read about the exceptional luck of Vermont soldier Harlan Paige on the long and bloody road to Appomattox.
Published: 2/19/26
A Quaker Who Served
Read the story of Abraham Joseph Mabbett, a Quaker who served the U.S. Army without enlisting.
Published: 2/19/26
Faith in the Fight
Firsthand quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers on the importance of religious faith in their lives.
Published: 1/26/26
A Crab Warship
An 1864 letter to "The Scientific American" outlines a fantastical idea for a new kind of Civil War warship.
Published: 12/29/25
The Dog of the Regiment
Read the poem "The Dog of the Regiment," which tells the tale of a loyal dog adopted by a Union sergeant in the midst of the Civil War.
Published: 12/22/25
Impractical Packages from Home
In 1862, a Wisconsin newspaper poked fun at people who sent impractical care packages to family and friends in the Union army.