The Front Line
Our communal blog featuring the latest in Civil War news, research, analysis, and events from a network of historians
Published: 2/15/12
Voice from the Past: “Absolute Naval Supremacy”
We continue our Fort Donelson sesquicentennial celebration with the following diary entry by William Howard Russell, December, 1861: On my return to New York, at the end of February, the...
Published: 2/14/12
Voice from the Past: Sending Valentines
Another Valentine’s Day 1862 “Voice from the Past” to mark the holiday. Friday, 14th — This is Valentine’s Day and some of the boys are having a great time sending...
Published: 2/14/12
Voice from the Past: “To Be Your Valentine”
Happy Valentine’s Day from The Civil War Monitor. We hope you enjoy this letter from Valentine’s Day, 1862. Good morrow, ‘t is St. Valentine’s day All in the morning betime....
Published: 2/14/12
Voice from the Past: “A Desperate Fight at Fort Donelson”
Good morning! Today’s Fort Donelson sesquicentennial post comes from a letter William Penn Lyon wrote to Adelia Caroline Duncotabe Lyon on February 17, 1862: Mound City, Monday noon, Feb. 17,...
Published: 2/13/12
Voice from the Past: “St. Valentine’s Day, I believe”
An early Valentine’s greeting from all of us at The Civil War Monitor. To celebrate, all this week, “The Front Line” blog will be publishing a “Voices from the Past”...
Published: 2/13/12
Voice from the Past: “The Startling Intelligence from Fort Donelson”
Good morning! We have another contribution to our Fort Donelson sesquicentennial series. This excerpt is from Alfred Lewis Castleman’s diary: What a week of news, opening on us with intelligence...
Published: 2/13/12
From The Struggle of Slavery to the Struggle for Liberty
Uncut sheet of twelve illustrated cards presenting the journey of a slave from plantation life to the struggle for liberty, for which he gives his life, as a Union soldier...
Published: 2/12/12
Happy 203rd Birthday Abraham Lincoln
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln – Image Credit: “President elect, Abraham Lincoln Portrait...
Published: 2/12/12
Voice from the Past: “Great Victories…At Such a Price of Blood”
Good morning! Our Fort Donelson sesquicentennial series continues with this excerpt from Lucy Larcom’s February, 1862 diary: There is news to-day of great victories in progress for us. Fort Donelson...
Published: 2/11/12
The Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Fort Donelson
Today marks the beginning of the Battle of Fort Donelson’s sesquicentennial—February 11-16, 1862. After capturing Fort Henry on February 6th, Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant advanced towards Fort Donelson. Five...
Published: 2/11/12
Voice from the Past: “Such Astounding Events”
Our Fort Donelson sesquicentennial series begins with the following entry from John Beauchamp Jones’ February, 1862 diary: Such astounding events have occurred since the 8th instant, such an excitement has...
Published: 2/9/12
Black Soldiers and Lady Liberty
Our Black History Month celebration continues with this 1865 drawing of a wounded Union soldier by Thomas Nast. “Franchise. And not this man?” despite his service and sacrifice. Image Credit:...
Published: 2/8/12
Roanoke Island…150 Years Ago
Roanoke Island showing the position of Confederate Batteries Image Credit: Harper’s Weekly, March 1, 1862.
Published: 2/7/12
Camp Life for African American Regiments
“Army of the Potomac—Scene in camp of Negro regiments—Method of punishment of Negro soldiers for various offences.” Image Credit: Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, December 10, 1864.
Published: 2/7/12
Voice from the Past: “The Right to Citizenship”
“Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in...
Published: 2/7/12
The Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Roanoke Island
February 7th and 8th mark the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Roanoke Island. A lesser known battle, Roanoke Island was part of Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition...
Published: 2/6/12
Honoring the 107th U.S. Colored Infantry Band
Our Black History Month Celebration continues… 107th U.S. Colored Infantry Band at Fort Corcoran in Arlington, Virginia, November 1865. Freed blacks served in various capacities in the Union army, including...
Published: 2/6/12
The Battle of Fort Henry Sesquicentennial
The Union Gun-Boats Advancing Up the Tennessee River to the Attack of Fort Henry Today marks the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Fort Henry—a Confederate earthern fort on the Tennessee...