The Front Line
Our communal blog featuring the latest in Civil War news, research, analysis, and events from a network of historians
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...
Published: 2/6/12
Voice from the Past: “The 6th Dawned Mild and Cheering”
The following is Rear Admiral Henry Walke’s recollection of the Battle of Fort Henry. …Heavy rains had been falling, and the river had risen rapidly to an unusual height; the...
Published: 2/6/12
Aboard a Gun Deck During the Battle of Fort Henry
Gun-Deck of one of the Mississippi Gun-Boats Engaged in the Attack on Fort Henry – sketched by Alexander Simplot – Image Credit: Harper’s Weekly, February 22, 1862
Published: 2/6/12
Voice from the Past: “We Had Held Out for Over Two”
The following is Captain Jesse Taylor’s recollection of the Confederate defense of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862. …Arriving at the fort, I was convinced by a glance at its...
Published: 2/2/12
Voice from the Past: Rallying with the Hearts of Lions
The following letter is from Samuel Cabble, a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry, to his wife. Cabble was a slave before he joined the army at twenty-one years of...
Published: 2/2/12
Preparing to See the Elephant
Preparing the Negro Soldiers to Use the Minie Rifle Image Credit: Harper’s Weekly, March 14, 1863.
Published: 2/1/12
Honoring African American Veterans for Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! Today—and throughout the month of February, we honor those African Americans who fought in the Civil War. Image Credit: “A Negro Regiment in Action,” Harper’s Weekly,...
Published: 1/30/12
The Launching of a Legend…the USS Monitor
Naval Historical Center’s Online Library of Selected Images 150 years ago today, the Union Navy launched the USS Monitor—its first ironclad—from the Continental Iron Works, at Greenpoint in Long Island,...
Published: 1/30/12
Inboard the USS Monitor
Naval Historical Center’s Online Library of Selected Images The above image is the USS Monitor‘s general plan featuring an inboard profile of the ironclad. First published in in 1862, the...