People
Published: 4/16/21
War’s Early Days
Read South Carolina diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut's gripping account of the fall of Fort Sumter and its aftermath.
Published: 4/9/21
Word-Clouding Lee’s and Grant’s Farewell Addresses
View the words Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee used in the farewell addresses they delivered to their men as represented in a word cloud.
Published: 4/5/21
Extra Voices: Shirkers
Read firsthand Civil War soldier quotes on shirking in the Union and Confederate armies.
Published: 3/22/21
The Hands-On Historian
A look at the origins of National Archives staffer Bryan Cheeseboro's lifelong interest in the American Civil War.
Published: 3/10/21
Thaddeus Stevens (2021)
An "accessible biography" of "a soldier of the Second American Revolution"
Published: 3/7/21
Shirkers
Firsthand Union and Confederate soldier quotes about the presence of comrades who shirked their duties.
Published: 3/7/21
United States Sanitary Commission at Gettysburg
Facts and figures about the U.S. Sanitary Commission's work at Gettysburg after the epic battle, one of its largest relief efforts of the war.
Published: 12/21/20
Extra Voices: Coffee
Read firsthand quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers about the the high value they placed on a good cup of coffee.
Published: 12/1/20
Coffee
Firsthand quotes about the strong reliance Union and Confederate soldiers had on coffee during the Civil War.
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Published: 10/16/20
John Brown’s Raid
Discover the story of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and its role in the fight against slavery. Explore images that relay the historical significance of this pivotal moment.
Published: 9/1/20
The Hero of Franklin
How quick thinking by Colonel Emerson Opdycke helped save the day for Union forces at the Battle of Franklin.
Published: 9/1/20
Thirst
Read first-hand accounts of how Union and Confederate soldiers dealt with thirst on and off the battlefield.
Published: 9/1/20
Wounded Warriors
For thousands of injured or infirm Union soldiers, the Invalid Corps provided a means to extend their military service.
Published: 8/25/20
Extra Voices: Thirst
Read firsthand Union an Confederate soldiers' quotes about the extreme thirst they experienced while in the army.
Published: 7/30/20
Eyewitness to the Crater
Read Confederate officer William "Willie" Pegram's eyewitness account of the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia.
Published: 6/15/20
Extra Voices: Camp Sports
Read firsthand Union and Confederate soldiers' quotes on the various sports they played during downtime in camp.
Published: 6/1/20
Camp Sports
Firsthand quotes about the camp sports that kept soldiers occupied and entertained during the Civil War, from baseball to boxing.
Published: 4/9/20
Lee Bids Farewell
Read Robert E. Lee's farewell address to the Army of Northern Virginia written shortly after the surrender at Appomattox.