Firsthand Accounts
Published: 1/9/23
Josephine Miller and Her Stove
Delve into the account of Gettysburg resident Josephine Miller, who had a memorable experience during the epic Pennsylvania battle.
Published: 12/5/22
Extra Voices: Army Stragglers
In the Voices section of our Winter 2022 issue we highlighted quotes about “straggling” soldiers in the Union and Confederate armies. Unfortunately, we didn’t have room to include all that...
Published: 9/26/22
A Straggler
Uncover the story behind the Army straggler illustration from Harper's Weekly, revealing the plight of soldiers during wartime.
Published: 9/12/22
“Union Jim” Williams
Learn about "Union Jim" Williams, a formerly enslaved man who aided Union forces in Louisiana.
Published: 9/1/22
A Thirst for Battle
Firsthand Union and Confederate soldier accounts about the bloodthirst many of them felt upon going into battle.
Published: 8/22/22
Extra Voices: A Thirst For Battle
Read the powerful firsthand quotes on the thirst for battle that gripped many Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
Published: 7/11/22
Extra Voices: Salt Pork
Delve into insightful quotes on salt pork from Civil War soldiers, highlighting its significance in military rations.
Published: 6/13/22
Ticks in Camp
Discover the challenges of dealing with ticks in camp as documented by a young officer in the 57th New York Infantry during the Civil War.
Published: 6/3/22
Eyewitness to Cold Harbor
Read Colonel Theodore Lyman's eyewitness letter about brutal Battle of Cold Harbor, fought in June 1864.
Published: 6/1/22
A Solemn Duty
Comrades’ letters to the faraway families of Civil War soldiers killed in battle or by disease offered details and heartfelt condolences.
Published: 6/1/22
Salt Pork
Quotes from Civil War soldiers about salt pork, a regular component of their daily ration.
Published: 3/21/22
Extra Voices: Mother Bickerdyke
Read the poignant quotes about Mother Bickerdyke that illustrate her role as a revolutionary nurse in the Civil War.
Published: 12/17/21
Extra Voices: War’s Grisly Toll
First-person quotes from Union and Confederate soldiers on the grisly impact of Civil War Combat.
Published: 12/1/21
War’s Grisly Toll
Firsthand Union and Confederate soldier quotes on the carnage resulting from Civil War combat.
Published: 9/20/21
Unceasing Fury at Chickamauga
Read Confederate soldier W.W. Heartsills' firsthand account of his participation in the Battle of Chickamauga.
Published: 9/13/21
Extra Voices: Nicknames
Read firsthand Union and Confederate soldiers' quotes about the nicknames they gave to comrades during the Civil War.
Published: 7/20/21
After Fort Wagner
Read 54th Massachusetts soldier Lewis Douglass' letter about the Battle of Fort Wagner which he wrote days after the the famed fight.
Published: 6/7/21
Extra Voices: Fear
Read firsthand Union and Confederate soldiers' quotes on the feelings of fear they experienced in battle.