Month: September 2012

  • John Hennessy: “The Gift That Keeps on Giving”

    Editor’s Note: I also posted this short blog entry over at The Siege of Petersburg Online, which is where I’m spending most of my “Civil War time” these days. Harry Smeltzer at Bull Runnings often refers to historian John Hennessy of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park as “the gift that keeps on giving.” […]

  • Civil War Book Preview: New Siege of Petersburg Diary from the 36th Wisconsin

    Editor’s Note: This preview has been cross-posted at The Siege of Petersburg Online.  Also be sure to check out the book’s permanent bibliography page. Taylor, Guy C. & Alderson, Kevin (ed) & Alderson, Patsy (ed). Letters Home to Sarah: The Civil War Letters of Guy C. Taylor, Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers. (University of Wisconsin Press: November […]

  • Before the Seven Days – Advance to the Chickahominy Part 3

    Hancock’s Reconnaissance Contact with Magruder’s line of defenders brought the Union advance to a complete stop. Operating under an inflated view of the Confederate strength and unwilling to walk into a poor tactical situation the Federals drew up a line and considered their options. On the 6th BG William F, Smith ordered BG Winfield Scott […]

  • The Red Legged Devils of the 14th New York

    THE RED LEGGED DEVILS OF THE 14th NEW YORK Here is an excerpt from the History of the 14th Regiment. When revile sounded the morning of July 1st the regiment awakened to a blood red sunrise, the prophecy of a hot summer day.  At 7 A. M. an aide galloped hurriedly to Colonel Fowler’s tent […]

  • Before the Seven Days – Advance to the Chickahominy Part 2

    On the March (Left Column) While the troops gathered McClellan remained at Alexandria to oversee the final details of the operation. No facet of the campaign was overlooked. Logistical support facilities were established at Fort Monroe, Cheeseman’s Creek, and Ship Point. An impressive engineer force complete with 160 Bateaux (wooden boats), canvas boats, portable trestles, […]

  • Review: Death and the Civil War (PBS American Experience)

    I’ve been a fan of the American Experience series for quite some time now.  I love the way PBS takes significant events in American History and covers them in surprising detail for a television show.  Experts, typically those who have written books on a subject or have spent considerable portions of their lives studying the […]

  • First reactions to “The Chattanooga Campaign”

    This week I was excited to get my hands on The Chattanooga Campaign, a collection of essays released by Southern Illinois University Press on August 27, 2012.    Since writing back in May about Walker’s division at Chattanooga, I have wanted to blog some more about the fighting at the north end of Missionary Ridge.  […]