The Front Line
Our communal blog featuring the latest in Civil War news, research, analysis, and events from a network of historians
Published: 2/18/19
Announcing Emerging Scholars Program Speakers
Join the American Civil War Museum to hear from Emerging Scholars program speakers showcasing fresh Civil War insights.
Published: 2/15/19
A Menu of Historic Proportions
Discover the menu at Lincoln's inaugural ball and how it reflected the era's dining trends during a pivotal moment in history.
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: 12/17/18
Emancipation on Stage
Aaron Flacke Ron Orbach (left) plays Major General Benjamin Butler and Cornelius Davidson portrays Shepard Mallory, an enslaved man who has taken refuge in Union-held Fortress Monroe, in “Ben Butler,”...
Published: 12/9/18
The Best Civil War Books of 2018
The Books & Authors section of our Winter 2018 issue contains our annual roundup of the year’s best Civil War titles. As usual, we enlisted the help of a handful...
Published: 12/3/18
Interview: Emerging Scholars at American Civil War Museum
Learn about The American Civil War Museum's Emerging Scholars program, a way for new voices to shape our understanding of the Civil War era.
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: 10/12/18
Jackson the Magician
Virginia Military Institute Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, as he appeared in November 1862. “Oh, for the presence and inspiration of Old Jack for just one hour!” That was the cry...
Published: 10/8/18
Interview: Animatronic Lincoln at Lincoln Memorial Shrine
Explore the animatronic Lincoln at California's Lincoln Memorial Shrine. Discover the exhibit's story and its impressive features.
Published: 9/24/18
Varina
John O’Brien Collection Confederate first lady Varina Davis, the subject of a new novel by Charles Frazier, as she appeared shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War A young...
Published: 7/30/18
“Martyrs” to Their Cause: John Brown, Edmund Ruffin, and Harpers Ferry
Dive into the stories of John Brown and Edmund Ruffin and their impact on the fight against slavery.
Published: 7/2/18
The Best Gettysburg Books
What are the best books on the Battle of Gettysburg? We asked a handful of Civil War historians for their picks.
Published: 6/25/18
Whither Public History?
CLAUDIO VAZQUEZ Visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park pause during a tour of the battlefield. Every one of you reading this magazine is a member of the public history world:...
Published: 5/2/18
Battlefield Echoes: MOPs, MOEs, and Chancellorsville
Library of Congress Kurz & Allison’s depiction of the Battle of Chancellorsville In the aftermath of his army’s defeat at Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee welcomed a brother of Secretary...
Published: 4/20/18
The Best Civil War Books of 2017
The Books & Authors section of our Winter 2017 issue contained our annual roundup of the year’s best Civil War titles. As usual, we enlisted the help of a handful...
Published: 4/6/18
Beyond the White Man’s Iliad
CATNAP72 / ISTOCK A statue of Robert E. Lee sits atop the Virginia Monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield. The Confederate monument controversy that has exploded in recent months raises fundamental...
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.