American Civil War | War History

Over 160 Years After Being Executed By the Confederates, Two Union Soldiers Receive the Medal of Honor

Portrait of Philip Shadrach + Portrait of George Wilson

The Great Locomotive Chase of April 1862 was among the most daring raids of the American Civil War. Led by James J. Andrews, a group…

In Photos: Burying the Hatchet at the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion

American Civil War veterans walking by tents at the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion

The 1913 Gettysburg Reunion was an event held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its namesake battle. The engagement, considered the turning point of the…

Cannonballs, Sword Dating Back to American Civil War Discovered in South Carolina River

View of the Congaree River + Portrait of William T. Sherman

While cleaning the Congaree River in South Carolina of toxic material, Dominion Energy made a historic discovery: hundreds of artifacts dating back to the American…

111-Year-Old Time Capsule Could Be Buried Beneath Confederate Memorial At Arlington National Cemetery

Confederate Memorial standing above Confederate graves at Arlington National Cemetery

Is there a 111-year-old time capsule buried beneath the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery? According to those who spoke with South Carolina’s The Post…

Morgan Freeman, Kevin Costner Civil War-Era Spy Series Given Green Light Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike

Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner as Robin Hood and Azeem Edin Bashir Al Bakir in 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'

While many Hollywood projects have been paused by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and writers strikes, a series under the helm of actors Kevin Costner and Morgan…

Majority of Lawsuit Aimed At Stopping the Melting Down of Charlottesville’s Robert E. Lee Statue Dismissed

Robert E. Lee statue being lifted into the air

A civil lawsuit aimed at stopping a Charlottesville museum from melting down a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee has suffered another hit in…

Hoard of American Civil War-Era Coins Worth $2 Million Discovered In Kentucky Corn Field

Close-up of a corn field

A discovery dating back to the mid-1800s has been made in rural Kentucky. A man, who’s chosen to remain anonymous, has unearthed a hoard of…

Retired Soldiers ‘Strenuously Object’ to Removal of Confederate Names from National Ranger Memorial

75th Ranger Regiment personnel standing in front of the National Ranger Memorial

Over 100 retired US Army Rangers have signed a letter to Congress, in which they “strenuously object to the defacement and desecration of the National…

Sherman’s Neckties: The Ingenious Union Tactic That Immobilized the Confederates

Sherman's Necktie laid out on the grass + Military portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman

Sherman’s Neckties – also known as Sherman’s Bowties, Jeff Davis’s Neckties and Sherman’s Hairpins – were railway destruction tactics used by the Union Army during…

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner Proved the 54th Infantry Regiment Had the Chops

Still from 'Glory'

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment proved their bravery and courage in fighting against Confederate forces at Fort Wagner.

Discover the Civil War-Era Military Facility Located Beneath Alcatraz

Aerial view of Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco Bay, is best known for housing Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. While the prison is what makes the area famous, its…

6-Star General: Only Three Individuals Have Been Promoted to the Prestigious Rank

Military portrait of Ulysses S. Grant + Military portrait of John J. Pershing + Military portrait of George Washington

The rank of 6-star general is so high in the US military’s hierarchy that it’s only ever been given out three times. One recipient was…

Judge Rules That Removal of Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery Can Continue

Frontal view of the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemtery

Update – 12/20/2023: US District Court Judge Rossie Alston of the Eastern District of Virginia has ruled that the removal of the Confederate monument at…

The Short Career of the Civil War-Era Double-Barreled Cannon

Double-barreled cannon on display

The double-barreled cannon is as cool as it sounds. It can shoot two cannon balls at the same time that, when attached by a chain,…

Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries

Dummy tank on display

Deception and military subterfuge have been used throughout history. The aim is to give armies the upper hand by tricking the enemy. The practice dates…

What Happened to the ‘Lost’ Confederate Gold?

Portrait of Jefferson Davis + Pile of gold bars

Going to war can be incredibly expensive. As such, the Confederate States of America solicited donations from wealthy citizens. A lot of that gold –…

Myths About the American Civil War That Need to Be Addressed

Painting of the Battle of Atlanta

One of the most, if not the most, prominent topics in US history is the American Civil War. While the majority of what’s presented about…

From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War

US Air Force helicopter spraying Agent Orange over the jungle

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…

The Spencer Repeating Rifle Saved ‘A Thousand Lives’ During the Battle of Hoover’s Gap

Spencer Repeating Rifle + John T. Wilder

When the Spencer Repeating Rifle was first recommended to the US Department of War, it was turned away due to the notion it would be…

The Success of George H. Thomas’ Union Soldiers During the American Civil War

Military portrait of George H. Thomas

The two most famous Union generals of the American Civil War are William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant. One other name that should be…

The Sinking of the USS Housatonic was a Turning Point in Naval Warfare

A print showing the sinking of the USS Housatonic

The US Navy has existed longer than the country itself. The branch was established in August 1775 and re-established in 1794 during the French Revolution.…

John Clem: The Youngest Noncommissioned Officer in US Army History

John Clem as a child + John Clem as an adult

When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Union and Confederate armies. All men of fighting…

Mary Edwards Walker: The Only Woman to Receive the Medal of Honor

Mary Edwards Walker wearing a top hat

Today, about a third of all American doctors are female, and women make up 14 percent of all active-duty US military members. This represents a…

These Female Spies of the American Civil War Have Some Incredible Stories To Share

Female Spies of the Civil War

During the Civil War, most American males were involved in the battle in some way. But there were also several women who were very important…

The Interesting History of Wartime Counterfeiting

Forged £10 banknote

There has never been a time in history when war wasn’t costly. Of course, it’s costly in terms of death and destruction, but it’s also…

Rose O’Neal: The Confederate Spy Who Drowned Because Of Her Dress And A Pile Of Gold

Civil War Rowboat

While the Civil War was fought between the North and South, a person’s geographic location did not necessarily determine the side one took. Rose O’Neal…

The Evolution of Sea Mines and Their Impact on War

Three German soldiers sitting atop a pile of sea mines

Sea mines are some of the most terrifying and destructive weapons at a navy’s disposal. Capable of wreaking havoc on fleets, they’re a staple of…

The Most Iconic Last Words in Military History: General John Sedgwick

1. American Revolutionary war battle scene, 2. Portrait of John Sedgwick.

General John Sedgwick was a United States military general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Known as a dependable and brave man,…

Four US Presidents Who Were Battle-Hardened Generals

Andrew Jackson + Ulysses S. Grant + Zachary Taylor + Theodore Roosevelt

Considering the President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief, it’s surprising military experience is not a requirement for the job. Despite this, many former…

These Are the Salaries Paid to US Troops During Each War

Soldier saluting the American flag

Being a member of the US Army is one of the most valiant careers a person can choose. However, the job hasn’t always paid as…

Five Celebrated Military Commanders Who Might Not Live Up To Their Hype

Portrait of George Washington + William Halsey yelling + George Patton in military uniform

Nearly all notable military leaders are surrounded by controversy, usually from those who think they were great – and those who think they weren’t. As…

Second Capsule Located Within Pedestal of Richmond’s Robert E. Lee Statue

Robert E. Lee statue being hoisted off of its pedestal with harnesses

A second capsule has been located within the pedestal of the Robert E. Lee statue that once stood over Richmond, Virginia’s Monument Avenue. The discovery…

Capsule Within Base of Robert E. Lee Statue Reveals Books, Silver Coin

Bust of Robert E. Lee Statue in harnesses

Experts with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources have opened a capsule found within the pedestal of the Robert E. Lee statue removed from Richmond…

Robert E. Lee Statue to Be Melted Down, Turned Into Art

Statue of Robert E. Lee atop a horse being lifted

A decision has been made regarding the fate of Charlottesville’s Robert E. Lee statue. The center of 2017’s Unite the Right rally and 2020’s Black…

Memorial for Black Soldiers Killed By Confederates Unveiled In Virginia

Members of the U.S. Colored Troops standing at attention around an American Civil War memorial

The county of Culpeper in Virginia has unveiled a memorial dedicated to three African American soldiers who were executed by members of the Confederate Army…

How the American Civil War helped shape the modern candy industry

Necco wafers and a group of airmen by an aircraft.

The American Civil War brought about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and was one of the first indicators of what modern advances…

Robert Smalls: The Slave Who Stole A Warship, Escaped The Confederates, And Became A U.S. Congressman

The life of Robert Smalls is an epic underdog story of an illiterate slave from South Carolina who managed to free himself by escaping from…

Strange Military Truces and How They Happened

Turks and Anzac Troops Truce

Apart from a few exceptions, truces and ceasefires are not normally known to be eventful, with most consisting of either a white flag or the…

Loreta Janeta Velázquez disguised herself as a man to fight alongside her husband in the Civil War

Loreta Janeta Velázquez and her husband Lieutenant Harry Buford

The life of Loreta Janeta Velázquez is one of adventure, twists, and turns. She was born in the mid-1800s, and later disguised herself and fought…

Brig. Gen. Martin Green Bragged About His Invincibility – He Was Quickly Proven Wrong

Painting of the fighting at the Siege of Vicksburg + Military portrait of Martin Green

The sheer scale of the American Civil War meant a number of seemingly improbable events occurred. Among them were bullets colliding and fusing in mid-air,…

Robert E. Lee Statue Removed From Richmond, Virginia Following State Supreme Court Decision

Top half of the Robert E. Lee statue in harnesses

The statue of Confederate Army general Robert E. Lee that stood over Richmond, Virginia’s Monument Avenue has been removed from its pedestal. The removal of…

Pentagon Requests Public Assistance In Renaming Of Military Installations

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin standing behind a podium + the entrance to Fort Bragg

The Pentagon has asked for the public’s help in renaming military installations named after Confederate Army soldiers. The request follows the passing of the Defense…

The Mistake That Led To The Confederate Loss At The Battle Of Antietam During The Civil War

Robert E Lee Statue

It was early September in 1862, and General Robert E. Lee was drafting plans for his Confederate invasion of Maryland. Lee drew up a detailed…

Virginia Supreme Court Rules General Robert E. Lee Statue Can Be Removed

Robert E. Lee statue surrounded by concrete barriers

Virginia’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled on the fate of the 21-foot-tall statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Richmond. The state capital served…

Effort To Rename Fort Benning After Decorated Lieutenant General Gains Traction

A petition calling for Fort Benning to be renamed “Fort Moore” after Lieutenant General Harold “Hal” Moore and his wife, Julie, has gained steam. It…

Civil War Air Balloons Existed And Had Their Own Corp

An air balloon and gunfire is not something you’d usually want to mix together, but the Union Army certainly did so with respectable results during…

The Items Found In Abraham Lincoln’s Pockets On the Night He Was Assassinated

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln + Abraham Lincoln's death mask and the items found in his pockets

US President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth, a moment that has immortalized the country’s 16th president. The assassination…

Military Events That Prove Just How Unlucky Friday the 13th Really Is

King George VI and Elizabeth, the Queen Mother standing with a man near a damaged part of Buckingham Palace

Friday the 13th is considered one of the unluckiest days of the year. While many feel it’s just everyone being overly superstitious, others believe there’s…

Comparing Historic Battlefields, Then and Now

French troops standing together in a trench

Battles typically have a lasting physical impact on the places where they occur, leaving behind scars that hint at what happened. The following in a…

Statue Of Confederate General Robert E. Lee Removed From Charlottesville Park

Robert E. Lee statue being hoisted in the air + the statue on a truck surrounded by people

The debate surrounding Civil War-era monuments in the United States has been gathering steam over the years. With movements like Black Lives Matter raising issues…

The Curious Case of the US Camel Corps

Man standing with a camel in a grassy field

On May 10, 1855, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis wrote one of the most bizarre orders in US Army history. Addressed to Brevet Maj. Henry…

Charlottesville City Council Votes To Remove Robert E. Lee Statue

A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is seen in Market Street Park on April 1, 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Action is being taken in Charlottesville, Virginia, to remove statues of former Confederate American Civil War generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from the…

Pauline Cushman: The Union Civil War Spy Who Was Also a Stage Actress

Pauline Cushman dressed in her military uniform

Pauline Cushman may have been considered a mediocre actress, but she’s seen as one of the most successful Union spies of the American Civil War.…

The Morbid Origin of the Word “Deadline”

Volunteers reenact prisoners at Andersonville huddling around a fire.

A deadline is something ingrained in modern culture, establishing a time which something has to be completed by, whether that’s a payment, college work, or…

The Most Lethal Fighting Unit of the Civil War

At approximately 4:00 PM, July 2, 1863 the great Confederate turning movement at Gettysburg, meant to roll-up the Federal line from left-to-right, finally stepped-off, General…

Officials Plead for Consumers to NOT Recycle Live Cannonballs

Workers at the Kent County Recycling Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, got a lot more than they bargained for when  Civil War cannonballs was delivered…

Rediscovered Civil War Shipwreck Gains International Recognition

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 10, 2020) – As the United States battled its most divisive conflict at the height of the American Civil War, a cargo…

One of the Most Daring and Romantic Naval Feats of History

Rain began falling in sheets as the small steamer known as picketboat No. 1 puffed its way through the choppy surf toward the mouth of…

History Hack – Fantastic Podcasts Beating Lockdown Blues

Timing, as they say is everything. With everyone currently at home under confinement there has never been a better time to launch a series of…

Civil War Cannonball Exploded & Killed 140 Years After it Was Fired

Sam White was a dyed-in-the-wool Civil War fanatic. He was never happier than when he was searching for Civil War relics or restoring those that…

The Day the South Nearly Won the Civil War

It has become an accepted historical fact that the South could not have won the American Civil War. The North’s advantages in finance, population, railroads,…

Restoration of Nuclear Bunkers: Only For The Brave

The standard design for each bunker was approximately 13 feet by 16 feet, with access provided by a 14 foot deep shaft with a ladder.…

Hood’s Texas Brigade: The Elite Confederate Shock Troops

Hood led his brigade in a fast and aggressive attack that broke through the Union center, throwing the entire Northern army into disarray. On the…

A Controversial Decision About Lee & Jackson Statues in Charlottesville

Judge Richard Moore in Charlottesville, Virginia has ruled that statues of Lee and Jackson are war memorials and cannot be moved. This was after a…

The Enloe Stone: The Grave That hid Weapons & Valuables in the Civil War

Though leading an army of an estimated 12,000 soldiers, General Price believed the Union forces protecting Jefferson City to be too formidable. At the outbreak…

Robert E. Lee. & The US Camel Corps That Never Were

Showing the typical hubris and racial bias of the time, Wayne declared that Americans could “manage camels not only as well, but better than the…

The Battle of Little Big Horn: Custers Ultimate Humiliation

“I have seen my people prepare for battle many times,” she said, “and this I know: that the Sioux that morning had no thought of…

Propaganda Of The American Civil War – Started Years Before The Outbreak

While it is commonly thought that the First World War was the first war in which war propaganda was widespread, propaganda goes back earlier than…

The Successful Unionist Rebellion in the Heart of Dixie

It is difficult to pin many killings directly to Knight and his men, but numerous tax collectors, conscription officers, and Confederate government supporters were killed…

The Ghosts of Gettysburg: A Haunted History of a Battlefield

According to witnesses and researchers, paranormal activity is stronger in Gettysburg than anywhere else. It even has phantom perfumes! Gettysburg is a small town in…

Born in 1842 The Oldest Veteran Of The US Civil War Who Lived Until 1953!

One of Hard’s uncles served in the American Revolutionary War, while some of his grandsons and great-grandsons served in the Second World War. One of…

How was Jefferson Davis a Union General and The Confederate President?

Davis appeared a short while later with a pistol and shot General Nelson in the chest. Nelson died half an hour later. One Union general…

Heroes of America: The Civil War Within the Confederacy

He was an enthusiastic supporter of Reconstruction, and made numerous efforts to suppress the Ku Klux Klan. The American Civil War was a titanic struggle…

Angels’ Glow at The Battle Of Shiloh

As night fell they saw that their wounds seemed to be glowing in the dark Glow in the dark wounds might sound like something out…

Southern Safari-The Most Ironic Last Words in Military History

His men were clearly embarrassed but couldn’t help ducking each time the gunfire came. There are several monuments raised in memory of the Battle of…

From The Horses Mouth-Secret Codes in Equestrian Statues

Indeed, General Sheridan was wounded during the Civil War, but did not die in battle The depiction of wartime heroes, royalty, and similar important figures…

A Strange Story From The Civil War: There in McLean’s parlor, Grant & Lee Hashed Out The Surrender

The American Civil War threatened to rip the nation apart and created rifts that in some ways have not healed. For four years the nation…

The Louisiana Native Guards – The First African-American Civil War Unit To Go Into Battle

While the far more well-known 54th Massachusetts Infantry regiment is usually portrayed as the first African-American unit of the American Civil War to have seen…

From The Atlantic to Pacific: The American Civil War on the West Coast

The American Civil War threatened to split the United States asunder. From California to Virginia the nation divided itself over whether or not it supported…

WW2 “Sweetheart Grips” Surprisingly Few People Know About Them

The personalization of equipment goes back for centuries. The Greeks often had to supply their own armor so they usually added ridged elements that simulated…

1860: The First U.S. Navy Submarine: “Alligator”

Submarines did not become common in naval forces around the world until the 20th century. But one did exist in 1860s America during the Civil War–the…

“Glowing” Wounds: Why Civil War Soldiers Had Injuries That Shone

Using insects – primarily maggots – to treat burns and wounds is a recognized, valid therapy. It is still used today to “debride” (clean) everything…

Most Extraordinary Footage Captures the Famous Confederate Battle Cry – The Rebel Yell

History has shown that a battle cry can be a powerful weapon. Not only does it create a feeling of unity among the ones performing…

Strange but True: Former Russian Officer Was One of the Union’s Great Leaders in the Civil War

Ivan Turchaninov was born in 1822 in the Don River region of southern Russia, and graduated in 1841 from the Imperial Military School in St.…

Civil War Sniper Jack Hinson Was Hell Bent on Revenge

An old proverb dictates that, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” but to Southerner Jack Hinson, revenge tasted best when he was consumed with…

Snipers Created Confederate Chain-of-Command Crisis at Antietam

At Antietam—as with other Civil War battles—the most modern weaponry was employed, rifled muskets and long-range cannons that could lob a shell a mile distant.…

River Snakes – Civil War Gunboats in Action

The Western Theater of the American Civil War brought its own challenges to defeating the southern Rebels. Fewer railroads and a sparser population spread left…

Total Victory Lost – Why the South Lost Civil War at Chancellorsville not Gettysburg

While Chancellorsville is often regarded as General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory, many would be surprised to know that after the battle he remarked “We…

Iron Men and Iron Ships: The Riverboats of the American Civil War

The American Civil War, in contention with the Crimean War to be considered the first modern war, saw advances in warfare both on land and…

2 Hour Break At Antietam – Suddenly Both Sides Stopped Fighting

Battles don’t unfold as one might imagine. They don’t progress in orderly or predictable ways. Smack in the middle of the bloodiest day in U.S.…

The Georgian 450 – Holding Off 12 Thousand Men at Antietam Under the Brash General Robert Toombs

Impossible Odds The ability of 450 resolute Georgians to stave off 12,500 Federals, preventing them from crossing Antietam Creek for several crucial hours, has to…

Aggressive Tactics at 2nd Bull Run Led to Pope’s Defeat

In late August 1862, thirteen months after the first Battle of Bull Run, the Union army was poised for a rematch against the Confederates in…

1st Texas At Antietam – 80% Losses and Their Unique Flag on America’s Costliest Day

This is the first in a series of posts, as guest blogger Justin Martin counts down to the September 17 anniversary of Antietam, still America’s…

Fierce and Colorful – Zouave Regiments in the Civil War

The Zouaves originally came as part of the French Army linked to French North Africa, which served between 1830 and 1962. Their uniform and tactics…

The Stonewall Brigade: More Than the Man

The Confederate left flank was on the verge of complete collapse at the First Battle of Manassas, and General Barnard Bee was struggling to instill…

Claiming Deseret: The Utah War

Throughout the nineteenth century the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons, struggled to find a home for themselves. Eventually,…

Confederate Secret Weapon – Mapmaker Jedediah Hotchkiss

Jedediah Hotchkiss’s migration to the Shenandoah Valley in 1847 at age 19 proved to be more fortuitous than he could imagine. His long exploratory treks…

Best Union Generals Not Named “Grant” and “Sherman” – We Picked 3

Very generally speaking, most American Civil War professors, informal historians, and novices can easily tick off a list of well-known and talented Confederate generals. The…

Rock of Chickamagua – General Thomas Covered for “Old Rosy”

Famous for his victories in the Western Theatre, Major General William S. Rosecrans became the subject of public criticism after he suffered a resounding defeat…

Ironclads and Huge Cannons: Union Attack on Fort Donelson

After the successful siege of Fort Henry by Federal troops on February 6th, 1862, the Confederate forces hurried back to the neighboring Fort Donelson which…