TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Month: April 2013

  • The Minutemen of ’61

    Last month I wrote a bit about the Massachusetts Militia before the war.  That led me to think about the response of Massachusetts at the start of the war 152 years ago this week. Years later chroniclers of the Massachusetts militia boasted of their impact:  “To the fact that Massachusetts for years had maintained a […]

  • Abe’s Taxes

    Yes, tomorrow is that day again — Tax Day. You can blame it on Abe Lincoln. Back in 1861 when the war began, President Abraham Lincoln could foresee problems in raising money to finance the war effort; at that time the only Federal income was through customs duties.  It was then that Congress got into […]

  • The Great Naval Showdown that Wasn’t

    On April 14th 1863, 150 years ago this week, a naval battle occurred in the Atchafalaya Basin that could have had a big impact on the war; but instead of a dramatic showdown, it turned into a turkey shoot. ———————————————————————————————- In the beginning of 1863 Confederate naval forces in the Gulf Coast region enjoyed a […]

  • Burnside Expedition Part 4

    New Berne 11-13 March 1862 With a foothold established on the mainland Burnside turned his attention to the next target on the list; New Bern. The military importance of the city was defined by the railroads that ran through it or nearby. The Atlantic and North Carolina passed through it connecting the coast to the […]

  • April 2013 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! April 2013 James W. Durney *********************************************************** Scheduled to be in the stores  The LAST BATTLE OF WINCHESTER: Phil Sheridan, Jubal Early, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, August 7 – September 19, 1864 by Scott Patchan looks at the third Battle of Winchester the largest, longest, and bloodiest battle fought in […]

  • The Atchafalaya

    150 years ago, U.S. Army General-in-Chief Henry Halleck had a grand plan for the war in the west — open the Mississippi River by a cooperative movement of Gen. Grant from the north and Gen. Banks  from the south.  The problem was that the two were separated by over 150 miles of river protected by […]

  • 150 Years Ago, April 1863

    150 Years Ago April 1863 The Naval Blockade, inflation and disruption of the transportation system are taking a toll on the Confederacy.  The combination of high prices and shortages cause the “Bread Riot”.  On the Second, in Richmond, a small group of women and children march for “bread”.  The group grows, turns into a mob […]