TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Month: July 2012

  • Kearny vs. McClellan: Frustration on the Peninsula

    Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of guest posts by Greg Quinion.  In addition to being an avid history reader and world traveler, Greg works as a freelance travel and history writer and Information Analyst in Washington DC.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, […]

  • Civil War Book Review: Lee and His Generals: Essays in Honor of T. Harry Williams

    Hewitt, Lawrence Lee (ed).  Schott, Thomas E. (ed).  Lee and His Generals: Essays in Honor of T. Harry Williams (The University of Tennessee Press, June 15, 2012). 368 pages, illustrations, maps, bibliography, endnotes by essay, index. ISBN: 978-1-57233-850-0 $45.95 (Hardcover). Who was Robert E. Lee’s worst corps commander during the Civil War?  How has Robert […]

  • Wilmington Part 2

    Movement Begins Prompted by Grant, the expedition finally got under way on the 14th. In a surprise meeting on the 13th Butler announced to Grant that he would accompany the fleet. This of course would make him the de facto commander, superseding Grant’s choice of Weitzel.* The operation began with a move up the Potomac. […]

  • Civil War Book Review – Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation by Timothy B. Smith

    I must open this review with the disclaimer that I was predisposed by my admiration for Smith’s work on the Battle of Champion Hill to be favorable to this work as well. Having said that I did find much to like about this book but also some to dislike. The opening chapters contained the necessary […]

  • Thomas Riley: Confederate Hero, Deserter, Or Both?

    Several weeks ago I received a long awaited package in the mail from the State Archives of North Carolina: two 35mm diazo microfilm reels containing every issue of the Raleigh (NC) Daily Confederate from 1864 and 1865.  My goal is to view and print off articles pertaining to the Siege of Petersburg, and from time […]

  • Virginia At War, 1864 – Edited by William C. Davis & James I. Robertson, Jr

    Virginia at War, 1864 edited by William C. Davis and James I. Robertson, Jr. As a native of Tennessee, the focus of my reading has always been, for the most part, on the western theatre of the war so I was pleased with the opportunity to get into something concerning the events in the East. Don’t […]

  • Wilmington Part 1

    Why Wilmington? In 1860 peace time Wilmington, North Carolina was the state’s largest city. The 10,000 or so residents lived prosperous lives centered on maritime activities and a small but productive industrial base. Two ship building concern, two iron works, fishing, and the all important cotton trade benefited not only from ocean access but the […]