Firsthand Accounts
Published: 7/26/19
“My Little ‘Rebel’ Heart Was on Fire”
Read an excerpt from the autobiography of teenaged Confederate spy Belle Boyd regarding a traumatic event that led her into this role.
Published: 5/1/19
War’s Hardening Hand
A collection of first-hand quotes from Civil War soldiers and officers reflecting on how war hardened men's character, morals, and attitudes toward death.
Published: 5/1/19
Avid Readers
First-person quotes by soldiers and civilians on the insatiable thirst for reading material in Civil War armies.
Published: 3/4/19
Extra Voices: Avid Readers
Read more firsthand quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers who had a deep love of reading.
Published: 12/31/18
New Year’s Eve in Camp
Read the poignant reflections of Union officer William Thompson Lusk in a letter to his sister written on New Year's Eve 1862.
Published: 12/1/18
Snowballing
Read recollections from Union and Confederates veterans about the intense snowball fights that occurred in winter camp.
Published: 11/12/18
“A Lady of Excellent Worth”
Learn about Amanda Gardner's bravery in helping Union soldiers during their captivity at Castle Morgan prison in Cahaba, Alabama.
Published: 10/1/18
Slurs and Slights
Not all shots during the Civil War were taken with a rifle. Here are a few notable quotes from folks who also had a wicked tongue.
Published: 7/1/18
Big Talk
Some big talk from big men during the Civil War. Read some of the comments officers made about their opponents.
Published: 5/1/18
Tobacco
Firsthand quotes highlighting the centrality of tobacco to the lives of Civil War soldiers and civilians.
Published: 3/17/18
St. Patrick’s Day in the Army
A look at St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the Union army through Lieutenant Josiah Marshall Favill's firsthand observations.
Published: 3/16/18
Extra Voices: Tobacco
Explore the historical use of tobacco during the Civil War through first-person accounts from Union and Confederate troops.
Published: 2/2/18
A Story from the Trenches
Read Union surgeon John Gardner Perry's letter detailing a tragic incident involving a young lieutenant at Petersburg.
Published: 1/19/18
Close Calls at Beaver Dam Creek
Discover the historical significance of the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek through the personal letter of Private Oliver Willcox Norton.
Published: 1/12/18
Extra Voices: Dog Days of Summer
Read first-person quotes from Union and Confederate soldiers about the intense heat and discomfort that accompanied summer campaigning.
Published: 10/20/17
A Ball’s Bluff Letter
Uncover the events of the Battle of Ball's Bluff through Captain Caspar Crowinshield's letter of to his mother.
Published: 9/23/17
Extra Voices: Sounds of War
Library of Congress Alfred R. Waud’s depiction of the Battle of Fredericksburg In the Voices department of our summer 2014 issue (Vol. 4, No. 2) we featured soldiers’ quotes that...
Published: 9/15/17
The Search for Orville Wheelock
The Boys in White Julia Wheelock One hundred fifty-five years ago this month, 28-year-old Michigan resident Julia Wheelock learned that her brother, Orville, a soldier in the 8th Michigan Infantry,...