The Front Line
Our communal blog featuring the latest in Civil War news, research, analysis, and events from a network of historians
Published: 11/17/25
Irish Connections
The author's trip to Ireland reveals the country's myriad connections to participants in the American Civil War.
Published: 11/3/25
The Future of Public History
Rich Condon ponders the future of public history in today's environment of division and anti-intellectualism.
Published: 10/27/25
An Unnamed Hero Revealed
Learn about the historic clash between USS Sassacus and CSS Albemarle, featuring the heroism of Union sailor James M. Hobby.
Published: 10/20/25
Sir Richard Francis Burton’s American Adventure
A look at British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton's 1860 tour of the U.S.—including the West—as the country hurtled toward civil war.
Published: 10/13/25
Extra Voices: Fraternizing with the Enemy
Read quotes from Union and Confederate soldiers about the times they interacted with their opponents when not in active combat.
Published: 10/6/25
Under the “Damn the Torpedoes” Surface
A look at the origins of the monument to Admiral David G. Farragut in New York City's Madison Square Park.
Published: 9/29/25
Soldiers Love Coffee
Army of the Potomac surgeon J. Theodore Calhoun on how much Union soldiers loved—and came to depend upon—coffee.
Published: 9/22/25
A Civil War Tank
Learn about Indiana inventor Albert E. Redstone's proposed "Land Monitor," a Civil War tank that never was.
Published: 9/15/25
A Fistful of Lincoln
A look at how and why we value and interpret physical objects and documents associated with President Abraham Lincoln.
Published: 9/1/25
Fatal Terrain
How terrain helped influence the nature of combat—and of the many resulting casualties—on Civil War battlefields.
Published: 8/25/25
An Aromatic Belt
Aromatic belts were among the many suspect items peddled to Civil War soldiers in search of extra protections against disease.
Published: 8/18/25
Setting the Record Straight
A look at the trailblazing efforts of Civil War nurse Adaline Blanchard Tyler.
Published: 8/11/25
Extra Voices: Rebs on Yanks
Read quotes from Confederate soldiers and civilians that reflect their intense feelings about their Yankee opponents.
Published: 8/4/25
A Confederate General in California
The story behind former Confederate general Tyree H. Bell’s unexpected final resting place.
Published: 7/28/25
Battle at the Crater
Explore the Battle at the Crater, a pivotal moment in the Siege of Petersburg, through the first-hand account of a Union staff officer.
Published: 7/21/25
A Brilliant “Boy Major”
The Gettysburg story of young Confederate artillery officer Joseph White Latimer, known as the "Boy Major."
Published: 7/7/25
Tall Tales Tested off the Battlefield
A science-based examination of claims that dead bodies carpeted the ground and bullets flew thick as hail on Civil War battlefields.
Published: 6/30/25
A Texan at Gettysburg
Discover the heartfelt letter of a Texas soldier, John Camden West, to his son after the Battle of Gettysburg.