The Front Line
Our communal blog featuring the latest in Civil War news, research, analysis, and events from a network of historians
Published: 11/22/19
The Dogs of Andersonville
Learn about "Spot," one of the dogs used to guard Union prisoners of war at Andersonville.
Published: 11/16/19
Word-clouding the Gettysburg Address
View a world cloud of Abraham Lincoln's famed Gettysburg Address, delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in 1863.
Published: 11/15/19
The March to the Sea Begins
Read William T. Sherman's Special Field Orders 120, his plan for the March to the Sea through Georgia in 1864.
Published: 10/21/19
Grant’s War Horse: Cincinnati
Discover the story of U.S. Grant's favorite war horse, Cincinnati. Learn about their bond and Cincinnati's role during the Civil War.
Published: 10/14/19
Lee’s War Horse: Traveller
Learn about Confederate general Robert E. Lee's warhorse, Traveller.
Published: 10/4/19
Which Way Did They Go?
Julian Scott’s 1872 painting “Sold” helps tell the story of the use of "Quaker guns" during the American Civil War.
Published: 9/27/19
A Hair-Raising Incident at Shiloh
Read the amusing tale of a Confederate officer who lost his "hair" during the Battle of Shiloh.
Published: 9/23/19
A Triple Bereavement at Cairo
Learn about the valuable work of 40-year-old Civil War nurse Mary Livermore in a scene from her memoir of the conflict.
Published: 9/20/19
Rock of Chickamauga
Library of Congress Major General George H. Thomas, the “Rock of Chickamauga” In the American Iliad, the Civil War’s chief victors are well known: Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant and...
Published: 8/25/19
Extra Voices: Clara Barton, The Angel of the Battlefield
Read first person quotes by and about famed Civil War nurse Clara Barton.
Published: 8/14/19
Mutiny in the Army
Read a firsthand account of the mutiny among disgruntled soldiers in the 79th New York Infantry in the summer of 1861.
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: 7/26/19
History as Imagination
Library of Congress Harriet Tubman, as she appeared in the late 1860s Anyone who has spent considerable time in research libraries or logging onto digital archives knows what it feels...
Published: 6/14/19
Extra Dossier: J.E.B. Stuart
Historians weigh in on Confederate cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart's best and worst qualities as a leader.
Published: 6/4/19
The Best Civil War Movies of All Time
Discover the ultimate list of the best Civil War movies of all time. From epic classics to modern gems, these films bring history to life.
Published: 5/17/19
A Bright Future
Ronald S. Coddington Collection Captain Thomas Bartlett Griffith This Union officer sporting stylish spectacles with tinted glass and a second pair of lenses is Captain Thomas Bartlett Griffith, a prosperous...
Published: 4/29/19
Emerging Scholars Speakers
Learn about the Emerging Scholars speakers at The American Civil War Museum and their significant contributions to Civil War history.
Published: 3/22/19
Map Quest
Jimell Greene Scott Roland stands on a corner of the fabled Gettysburg electric map in its new home in Hanover, Pennsylvania. It was a sight that stopped traffic: a 10,000-pound...