TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Author: James Durney

  • 150 Years Ago, March 1863

    150 Years Ago March 1863 For armies that move by the muscles of men, horses or mules, weather is everything.  The standard six horse/mule army wagons carry 1,100 to 1,700 pounds.   Large loads on good dry roads, less off road or in bad weather.  An army’s location determines much of its’ activities.  Hooker and Lee, […]

  • Civil War Book Review: Fury on the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg

    Fury on the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg by John M. Archer Product Details Paperback: 80 pages Publisher: Ten Roads Publishing, LLC. (June 13, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0983721394 ISBN-13: 978-0983721390 Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches Starting July 4, 1863 and continuing until they died the participants wrote and talked about Gettysburg. The […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Battle of Carthage, Missouri: First Trans-Mississippi Conflict of the Civil War

    The Battle of Carthage, Missouri: First Trans-Mississippi Conflict of the Civil War by Kenneth E. Burchett Product Details Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: McFarland (November 29, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0786469595 ISBN-13: 978-0786469598 The history of a non-event History has a way of overlooking or forgetting events.  Oh yes, the event is real.  People talked about […]

  • February 2013 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! February 2013 James W. Durney *********************************************************** New in the stores SIMPLY MURDER: The Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 by Chris Mackowski & Kristopher White is a unique combination of battle history and guidebook that works!  Reading this book showed me what I missed during my visit to Fredericksburg.   […]

  • 150 Years Ago, February 1863

    150 Years Ago February 1863 Winter holds the Virginia armies hostage.  The “Mud March” is both an example and warning to commanders about conducting operations.  The infantry and artillery stay snug in their winter camps.  The men live in log huts using tents for a roof.  Cracker boxes become chimneys, cabinets and furniture making the […]

  • Civil War Movie Review: Gods & Generals [Blu-ray]

    Gods & Generals [Blu-ray] Product Details Actors: Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall Directors: Ronald F. Maxwell Format: AC-3, Director’s Cut, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Language: English Subtitles: French, English, Spanish Region: All Regions Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: […]

  • Civil War Book Review: Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation

    Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation by Timothy B. Smith Product Details Hardcover: 472 pages Publisher: University Press of Kansas (May 9, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 070061852X ISBN-13: 978-0700618521   Railroads were the “super highways” of the Civil War.  Unlike today, railroads went into towns and/or towns went to railroads.  During the war, both sides expended […]