TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Month: July 2010

  • Review: Confederate Alamo by John Fox

    The Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburg’s Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865 John Fox III, Angle Valley Press 2010, ISBN: 978-0-9711950-0-4 Price: $34.95 In his new book The Confederate Alamo John Fox takes a look at one of the least-known but most important battles of the Petersburg campaign—the defense of Fort Gregg and its associated […]

  • Sharps Conversions

    The Sharps rifles and carbines used during the Civil War used a soft combustible case of paper or linen that burned when the weapon fired. The Sharps used a falling block breech that sealed off the combustion gasses during firing, at least most of the time. Occasionally the system got out of order and gasses […]

  • While I’m Away…

    The family and I are packing up and heading out on a much deserved vacation.  Due to limited internet and email access, I’ll be taking a short break from blogging for the next two weeks.  Fred and Jim may make the occasional post while I’m gone.  I’ll be back hopefully refreshed on Monday, July 26.  […]

  • Finding Fort Owen

    Believe it or not there are still “lost” Civil War forts that occasionally come to light. One such was Fort Owen, which played a brief but pivotal role in the events of April 2, 1865 at Petersburg. Named after Louisiana artillery officer Col. William Miller Owen, the fort had a short life, being constructed in […]

  • July 2010 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! July 2010 James W. Durney *********************************************************** In my mailbox or on the shelves Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market by Charles R. Knight is 336 pages, 50 photos and illustrations, 9 original maps, and 8 appendices, with traditional footnotes, covering the “complex prelude” and the battle.  The author is […]

  • Civil War Book Review: American Civil War Railroad Tactics (Elite 171)

    Hodges, Robert R. American Civil War Railroad Tactics (Elite 171) Osprey Publishing (August, 2009). 64 pages, illustrations, bibliography, index. ISBN: 978-1846034527 $18.95 (Paperback). Two of my favorite topics are Civil War history and the history of railroads.  I was pleased to see one of Osprey’s latest books in their Elite series, American Civil War Railroad […]