St. Louis Civil War Sites and the Fight for Freedom
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Monuments of a Divided State
St. Louis was at the center of several key Civil War events from the Dred Scott decision through the Mississippi Campaign that cut the Confederate States in two. Visit the site from which enslaved people tried to cross the Mississippi River to the free state of Illinois. Discover how hundreds of lawsuits by enslaved people set the stage for the Dred Scott decision that lit the fuse to the Civil War. See the military base that produced over 200 Civil War generals and the arsenal that secessionists and unionists fought to control. Author Peter Downs goes behind the monuments and historic sites to explore the people, relationships and events that influenced the course of civil war in St. Louis and the nation.
The Little Rock Arsenal Crisis: On the Precipice of the American Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Before shots rang out on a distant South Carolina shore, talk of secession occurred throughout the antebellum United States. These talks grew to a fervent yell in Little Rock, Arkansas. On the eve of a statewide election to determine a secession convention, pro-secession militia descended on Little Rock in February 1861. They closed in around the Federally controlled arsenal in the hopes of seizing the weapons stores. A standoff began between the Federal troops and secessionists, with the citizens of Little Rock caught in the middle. The ensuing political debate set the stage for Southern secession, and the arsenal weapons became integral to the Confederate cause. Join author David Sesser in an exploration of the fascinating political drama and prelude to the bloodiest war in American history.
Mainers in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Too far north, the great state of Maine did not witness any Civil War battles. However, Mainers contributed to the war in many important ways. From the mainland to the islands, soldiers bravely fought to preserve the United States in all major battles. Men like General Joshua Chamberlain, a hero of Little Round Top, proudly returned home to serve as governor. Maine native Hannibal Hamlin served as Abraham Lincoln's first vice president. And Maine's strong women sacrificed and struggled to maintain their communities and support the men who had left to fight. Author Harry Gratwick diligently documents the stories of these Mainers, who preserved "The Way Life Should Be" for Maine and the entire United States.
Brooklyn's Plymouth Church in the Civil War Era
A Ministry of Freedom
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
As the financial capital of the nation, Manhattan had close ties and strong sympathies with the South. But across the East River in Brooklyn stood a bastion of antislavery sentiment--Plymouth Church--led by Henry Ward Beecher. He guided his congregants in a crusade against the institution. They held mock slave auctions, raised money to purchase freedom for slaves and sent guns--nicknamed "Beecher's Bibles"--to those struggling for a free Kansas. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Beecher's sister, wrote the influential "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and Lewis Tappan and George Whipple led an enormous effort to educate freed slaves. Plymouth Church was not only publicly important in the fight for abolition but also a busy Underground Railroad station. Once the Civil War broke out, the congregation helped raise troops and supplies for the U.S. Army. Discover this beautiful church's vital role in the nation's greatest struggle.
Germantown In The Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
When the first shots of the Civil War were fired, nearly one-third of Germantown's sons and daughters answered the call to duty. Generals and soldiers, doctors and nurses all fought to preserve the Union. Many were lost, but some returned home to carry on the memory of their fallen comrades through the efforts of the Grand Army of the Republic. The Philadelphia neighborhood was itself transformed when the town hall became Cuyler Hospital and local nurses like Catherine Keyser and Hannah Zell cared for the wounded of Gettysburg and other battles. In this intimate and sharply focused account, local historian Eugene Glenn Stackhouse commemorates the sacrifices of Germantown's proud citizenry.
California and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
In the long and bitter prelude to war, southern transplants dominated California government, keeping the state aligned with Dixie. However, a murderous duel in 1859 killed "Free Soil" U.S. Senator David C. Broderick, and public opinion began to change. As war broke out back east, a golden-tongued preacher named Reverend Thomas Starr King crisscrossed the state endeavoring to save the Golden State for the Union. Seventeen thousand California volunteers thwarted secessionist schemes and waged brutal campaigns against native tribesmen resisting white encroachment as far away as Idaho and New Mexico. And a determined battalion of California cavalry journeyed to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to battle John Singleton Mosby, the South's deadliest partisan ranger. Author Richard Hurley delves into home front activities during the nation's bloodiest war and chronicles the adventures of the brave men who fought far from home.
Newburyport and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The smoke of cannon fire and the sound of rifles were not seen or heard in Newburyport, Massachusetts during the Civil War yet it was an all too familiar experience for many of its inhabitants. Local author William Hallett describes in thrilling detail the lives and deeds of those from the Clipper City that served both Union and Confederate causes. From the abolitionist preaching of William Lloyd Garrison to the heroism of Albert W. Bartlett, with naval warfare, including the construction of the U.S.S. Marblehead, and political intrigue in between, Newburyport left its mark on the Civil War. With stories of valor both on the battlefield and the home front, Hallett presents the history and legacy of Newburyport in Civil War.
Civil War Eufaula
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Told here for the first time is the compelling story of the Bluff City during the Civil War. Historian and preservationist Mike Bunn takes you from the pivotal role Eufaula played in Alabama's secession and early enthusiasm for the Confederate cause to its aborted attempt to become the state's capital and its ultimate capture by Union forces, chronicling the effects of the conflict on Eufaulans along the way. "Civil War Eufaula "draws on a wide range of firsthand individual perspectives, including those of husbands and wives, political leaders, businessmen, journalists, soldiers, students and slaves, to produce a mosaic of observations on shared experiences. Together, they communicate what it was like to live in this riverside trading town during a prolonged and cataclysmic war. It is the story of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
Watauga County, North Carolina in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Some say that Watauga County's name comes from a word meaning "beautiful waters," yet during the Civil War, events in this rugged western North Carolina region were far from beautiful. Hundreds of the county's sons left to fight gloriously for the Confederacy. This left the area open to hordes of plundering rogues from East Tennessee, including George W. Kirk's notorious band of thieves. While no large-scale battles took place there, Boone was the scene of the beginning of Stoneman's 1865 raid. The infamous Keith and Malinda Blalock called Watauga County home, leading escaped POWs and dissidents from Blowing Rock to Banner Elk. The four brutal years of conflict, followed by the more brutal Reconstruction, changed the county forever. Join Civil War historian Michael C. Hardy as he reveals Watauga County's Civil War sacrifices and heroism, both on and off the battlefield.
Union-Occupied Maryland
A Civil War Chronicle of Civilians & Soldiers
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
When the first Federal troops arrived in the spring of 1861, Maryland was in the precarious position of a border state. Predominately loyal to the Union, Marylanders saw the influx of soldiers as defenders. Yet for the minority supporting the Confederacy, the Federals were oppressors. Historian Claudia Floyd explores this complex relationship between Maryland civilians and their Union occupiers. Residents on both sides of the conflict faced pillaging, vandalizing and criminal acts from errant soldiers. Civilians also quickly realized that Federal troops could not guarantee protection from Confederate invasions. Meanwhile, there was a strong backlash over African American emancipation and enlistment in the longtime slave state. Through contemporary accounts, Floyd creates a nuanced portrait of citizens and soldiers caught up in the turbulent upheaval of war.
Silver Spring and the Civil War
by Robert E. Oshel, Ph. D.
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
On July 11, 1864, some residents cheered and others watched in horror as Confederate troops spread across the fields and orchards of Silver Spring, Maryland. Many fled to the capital while General Jubal Early's troops ransacked their property. The estate of Lincoln's postmaster general, Montgomery Blair, was burned, and his father's home was used by Early as headquarters from which to launch an attack on Washington's defenses. Yet the first Civil War casualty in Silver Spring came well before Early's raid, when Union soldiers killed a prominent local farmer in 1862. This was life in the shadow of the Federal City. Drawing on contemporary accounts and memoirs, Dr. Robert E. Oshel tells the story of Silver Spring over the tumultuous course of the Civil War.
On This Day In West Virginia Civil War History
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
West Virginia is the only state formed by seceding from a Confederate state. And its connections to the Civil War run deep. One day at a time, award-winning historian Michael Graham presents intriguing, event-driven anecdotes and history related to the state. On July 11, 1861, a Union force attacked 1,300 Confederate troops camped at Rich Mountain in a renowned battle. Confederate guerrillas raided Hacker's Creek on June 12, 1864. Find little-known facts about the Battles of Droop Mountain, Carnifex Ferry, Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown and a whole host of others. Read a story one day or month at a time. Celebrate an entire year of Civil War history in the Mountain State.
Streight's Foiled Raid on the Western & Atlantic Railroad
Emma Sansom's Courage and Nathan Bedford Forrest's Pursuit
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
In the spring of 1863, Union colonel Abel D. Streight sought to raid and destroy parts of the vital span of the Western and Atlantic Railroad in north Georgia with his mule-riding infantry brigade. Determined to thwart the potentially deadly attack, Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest fervently pursued Streight's forces. With the help of unlikely ally fifteen-year-old Emma Sansom of Gadson, Alabama, Forrest falsely convinced Streight he was vastly outnumbered, foiled the raid and forced Streight's surrender. Brandon H. Beck details Streight's dubious plan and the exciting story of a running battle between hunter and quarry that colors history from the hills of northeast Mississippi to the heart of Georgia.
Wisconsin and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Wisconsin troops fought and died for the Union on Civil War battlefields across the continent, from Shiloh to Gettysburg. Wisconsin lumberjacks built a dam that saved a stranded Union fleet. The Second Wisconsin Infantry suffered the highest percentage of battle deaths in the Union army. Back home, in a state largely populated by immigrants and recent transplants, the war effort forced Wisconsin's residents to forge a common identity for the first time. Drawing on unpublished letters and new research, Ron Larson tells Wisconsin's Civil War story, from the famous exploits of the Iron Brigade to the heretofore largely unknown contributions of the Badger State's women, African Americans and Native Americans.
Brooklyn and the Civil War
by E. A. 'Bud' Livingston
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
While Manhattan was the site of many important Civil War events, Brooklyn also played an important part in the war. Henry Ward Beecher "auctioned off" slaves at the Plymouth Church, raising the money to free them. Walt Whitman reported news of the war in a Brooklyn paper and wrote some of his most famous works. At the same time, Brooklyn both grappled with and embraced unique challenges, from the arrival of new immigrants to the formation of one of the nation's first baseball teams. Local historian Bud Livingston crafts the portrait of Brooklyn in transition--shaped by the Civil War while also leaving its own mark on the course of the terrible conflict.
Unionists In Virginia
Politics, Secession and Their Plan to Prevent Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Whether the Civil War was preventable is a debate that began shortly after Appomattox and continues today. But even earlier, in 1861, a group of Union-loyal Virginians--led by George Summers, John Brown Baldwin, John Janney and Jubal Early--felt war was avoidable. In the statewide election for delegates to the Secession Convention that same spring, the Unionists defeated the Southern Rights Democrats with a huge majority of the votes across the state. These heroic men unsuccessfully negotiated with Secretary of State William Henry Seward to prevent the national tragedy that would ensue. Author and historian Lawrence M. Denton traces this remarkable story of Virginians working against all odds in a failed attempt to save a nation from war.
Northborough in the Civil War
Citizen Soldiering and Sacrifice
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
A small town in the center of Massachusetts seems an unlikely place for altering the tide of war and public opinion, but the town of Northborough played just such a role. Slavery had already sparked the War Between the States, but abolition was not the majority view. Abolitionists on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line gave their lives for change, perhaps nowhere more passionately than in Northborough. More than half of the town's best and brightest joined the fray, and this vigorous anti-slavery activity demands attention: were towns like Northborough - welcoming of abolitionists and strongly involved in the fight - instrumental in changing the outcome via an emancipation that had to be proclaimed mid-war?
Guilford County and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Guilford County residents felt the brutal impact of the Civil War on both the homefront and the battlefield. From the plight of antislavery Quakers to the strength of women, the county was awash in political turmoil. Intriguing abolitionists, fire-breathing secessionists, peacemakers, valiant soldiers and carpetbaggers are some of the figures who contributed to the chaotic time. General Joseph E. Johnston's parole of the Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, as well as the birth of a free black community following the Confederate defeat, brought amazing changes. Local author and historian Carol Moore traces the romantic days in the lead-up to war, the horrors of war itself and the decades of aftermath that followed.
Andover In The Civil War
The Spirit and Sacrifice of a New England Town
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
They departed Boston in August 1861 to a cheering crowd and the tune of "John Brown's Body." Though some of these Andover soldiers would not "see the elephant" until two years later, more than a quarter of them would never return to their beloved hometown. Drawing on journals, letters, and newspaper articles, Andover in the Civil War chronicles the journey of these brave men and brings to life the efforts of those who remained on the homefront. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Elizabeth Stuart Phelps were just two Andover citizens who threw themselves wholeheartedly into the Union cause. Lesser known but equally impressive was Robert Rollins, who migrated to Andover in 1863 and enlisted in the North's first all-black regiment. Historian Joan Silva Patrakis introduces many more patriotic characters and moving stories from this "Hill, Mill and Till" town during the bloodiest years of America's history.
Brooklyn and the Civil War
by E. A. 'Bud' Livingston
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
While Manhattan was the site of many important Civil War events, Brooklyn also played an important part in the war. Henry Ward Beecher "auctioned off" slaves at the Plymouth Church, raising the money to free them. Walt Whitman reported news of the war in a Brooklyn paper and wrote some of his most famous works. At the same time, Brooklyn both grappled with and embraced unique challenges, from the arrival of new immigrants to the formation of one of the nation's first baseball teams. Local historian Bud Livingston crafts the portrait of Brooklyn in transition--shaped by the Civil War while also leaving its own mark on the course of the terrible conflict.
The Pennsylvania Wilds and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Call of Service and the Trial of War From abolitionists to copperheads, from patriotic volunteer soldiers to deserters, the Pennsylvania Wilds lived up to its adventurous name during the Civil War era. The region not only joined the front lines, but also played its part in the abolition of slavery. Including an extensive Underground Railroad system, many defied the Federal Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 to help those desperate to be free pass through the region on their way to Canada. The Wilds had average citizens and heroes alike volunteer for service including women who were not nurses but acted as nurses and those who remained on the home-front. Author Kathy Meyers presents stories of how the war came to the Pennsylvania Wilds and how the people of the Wilds responded.
Black Antietam
African Americans and the Civil War in Sharpsburg
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Read the story of the Battle of Antietam from the African American perspective.
The African American community around Sharpsburg, Maryland witnessed John Brown's raid, wartime skirmishes, the Battle of South Mountain, and the aftermath of the bloodiest day in American history. Read stories of encounters with Abraham Lincoln and Union and Confederate generals, and of Black civilian suffering and sacrifice in the cause of freedom. Their experiences during four years of Civil War come to life in vivid detail, often in their own words.
Award-winning historian Emilie Amt recounts the personal stories of African Americans, both enslaved and free, who lived on the battlefield and who worked in the armies who clashed there.
Lansing and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
When war erupted between North and South, the capital of Michigan was ready to serve. The population of Lansing in 1860 was only three thousand, but by the spring of 1865, over five hundred men from the Capital City had enlisted to fight. These citizen-
Washington County, Virginia, in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The citizens of Washington County, Virginia gave up their sons and daughters to the Confederate cause of the Civil War. Contributing six Confederate generals as well as Union officers, the region is emblematic of communities throughout the nation that sacrificed during the war. Though the sounds of cannon fire and gunshots were only heard at a distance, Washington County was the breadbasket for Confederate armies. From the fields surrounding Abingdon to the coveted salt works in Saltville, Union Generals were constantly eyeing the region, resulting in the Saltville Massacre and the burning of Abingdon's famous courthouse. Historian Michael Shaffer gives a detailed narrative of Washington County during the Civil War, painting vivid images of heroism on and off the battlefield.
The Little Rock Arsenal Crisis
On the Precipice of the American Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Before shots rang out on a distant South Carolina shore, talk of secession occurred throughout the antebellum United States. These talks grew to a fervent yell in Little Rock, Arkansas. On the eve of a statewide election to determine a secession convention, pro-secession militia descended on Little Rock in February 1861. They closed in around the Federally controlled arsenal in the hopes of seizing the weapons stores. A standoff began between the Federal troops and secessionists, with the citizens of Little Rock caught in the middle. The ensuing political debate set the stage for Southern secession, and the arsenal weapons became integral to the Confederate cause. Join author David Sesser in an exploration of the fascinating political drama and prelude to the bloodiest war in American history.
Grand Rapids and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Grand Rapids responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops with passionate swiftness. Kent County men fought stubbornly on memorable battlefields like First Bull Run, Stones River and Gettysburg, as well as obscure places like Boonville, La Vergne and Mossy Creek. An affinity for cavalry earned Grand Rapids the moniker "Michigan's Horse Soldier City," while Valley City engineers designed and constructed spectacular railroad bridges throughout the South. Back home, the soldiers' mothers, wives and sisters faced the conflict's many challenges with patriotic doggedness. Dr. Roger L. Rosentreter chronicles how Grand Rapids citizens responded to wartime trials and tribulations while helping the North save the Union and end slavery.
Williamstown, Vermont, in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Though it was far from the front lines of the War Between the States, Williamstown, Vermont, made undeniable contributions to the victory of the United States Army. The proud sons of Patriots fell on the fields of Gettysburg, Antietam and Shiloh, and many gallant soldiers were lost in lesser-known skirmishes. These men fought for honor, for country and at times for money. Many men made the ultimate sacrifice, and others who returned home bore the scars of battle for the rest of their lives. With the support of the Williamstown Historical Society, author Paul Zeller honors the Williamstown soldiers and ordinary citizens who fought to preserve the Union and presents their incredible stories of adventure and bravery.
Guilford County and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Guilford County residents felt the brutal impact of the Civil War on both the homefront and the battlefield. From the plight of antislavery Quakers to the strength of women, the county was awash in political turmoil. Intriguing abolitionists, fire-breathing secessionists, peacemakers, valiant soldiers and carpetbaggers are some of the figures who contributed to the chaotic time. General Joseph E. Johnston's parole of the Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, as well as the birth of a free black community following the Confederate defeat, brought amazing changes. Local author and historian Carol Moore traces the romantic days in the lead-up to war, the horrors of war itself and the decades of aftermath that followed.
Newburyport and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The smoke of cannon fire and the sound of rifles were not seen or heard in Newburyport, Massachusetts during the Civil War yet it was an all too familiar experience for many of its inhabitants. Local author William Hallett describes in thrilling detail the lives and deeds of those from the Clipper City that served both Union and Confederate causes. From the abolitionist preaching of William Lloyd Garrison to the heroism of Albert W. Bartlett, with naval warfare, including the construction of the U.S.S. Marblehead, and political intrigue in between, Newburyport left its mark on the Civil War. With stories of valor both on the battlefield and the home front, Hallett presents the history and legacy of Newburyport in Civil War.
Fort Clinch, Fernandina and the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Even though Fernandina was tucked away in the far southern reaches of the Confederacy, Fort Clinch had been abandoned to Federal forces by March 1862. It proved a boon to the Union war effort, and the island became a haven for runaway slaves, with many joining the Federal army. The military occupation of this vital seaport helped end the war, and the Reconstruction period that followed bore witness to Union and Confederate veterans working together to bring Fernandina into a golden era of prosperity. Author and local historian Frank A. Ofeldt III captures the vital and under-told story of Amelia Island during the Civil War.
The Battle of Ball's Bluff
All the Drowned Soldiers
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Three months after the Civil War's first important battle at Manassas in 1861, Union and Confederate armies met again near the sleepy town of Leesburg. What began as a simple scouting mission evolved into a full-scale battle when a regiment of Union soldiers unexpectedly encountered a detachment of Confederate cavalry. The Confederates pushed forward and scattered the Union line. Soldiers drowned trying to escape back to Union lines on the other side of the Potomac River. A congressional investigation of the battle had long-lasting effects on the war's political and military administration. Bill Howard narrates the history of the battle as well as its thorny aftermath.
New Hampshire and the Civil War
Voices From The Granite State
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Granite State has a remarkable record of service during the Civil War. It supplied a total of 10,657 recruits for the infantry, cavalry and field artillery divisions in 1861, with the majority of these first recruits enlisting for three years of service. Historian Bruce Heald lets the soldiers and sailors tell their stories in their own words by weaving together the letters to those left behind--families in Portsmouth and Nashua and sweethearts in Concord and Manchester. Heald includes brief introductions to each volunteer regiment, accounts of more than one hundred personal letters and an in-depth look at camp life. This book offers a personal and intimate connection with New Hampshire during the War Between the States through the voices of its heroic sons.
Wisconsin At Antietam
The Badger State's Sacrifice On America's Bloodiest Day
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history, and Wisconsin played a vital role. The Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin Regiments served in the Iron Brigade, one of the most respected infantries in the Federal army, and fighting by their side in Maryland was the Third Wisconsin. The mettle of the Badger State was sorely tested and proven on South Mountain and on the bloody Miller's Cornfield. The Third alone lost more than half its men to death or injury, and the Iron Brigade, too, suffered extraordinary losses. Yet Wisconsin's sacrifices at Antietam rebuffed the Confederate incursion into Northern territory and enabled the Emancipation Proclamation. Civil War historian Cal Schoonover sheds new light on the exploits of Wisconsin soldiers in this turning point to secure the Union.
New Hampshire and the Civil War
Voices from the Granite State
by Dr. Bruce D. Heald, Ph. D.
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Granite State has a remarkable record of service during the Civil War. It supplied a total of 10,657 recruits for the infantry, cavalry and field artillery divisions in 1861, with the majority of these first recruits enlisting for three years of service. Historian Bruce Heald lets the soldiers and sailors tell their stories in their own words by weaving together the letters to those left behind--families in Portsmouth and Nashua and sweethearts in Concord and Manchester. Heald includes brief introductions to each volunteer regiment, accounts of more than one hundred personal letters and an in-depth look at camp life. This book offers a personal and intimate connection with New Hampshire during the War Between the States through the voices of its heroic sons.
Notre Dame And The Civil War
Marching Onward to Victory
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
While many institutions of higher education made great sacrifices during the Civil War, few can boast of the dedication and effort made by the University of Notre Dame. For four years, Notre Dame gave freely of its faculty and students as soldiers, sent its Holy Cross priests to the camps and battlefields as chaplains and dispatched its sisters to the hospitals as nurses. Though far from the battlefields, the war was ever-present on campus, as Notre Dame witnessed fisticuffs among the student body, provided a home to the children of a famous general, responded to political harassment and tried to keep at least some of its community from the fray. At war's end, a proud Notre Dame welcomed back several bona fide war heroes and became home to a unique veterans' organization.
Confederate South Carolina
True Stories of Civilians, Soldiers and the War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Civil War never left South Carolina, from its beginning at Fort Sumter in 1861 through the destructive, harrowing days of Sherman's march through the state in 1865. Included here are the stories of Confederate civilians and soldiers who remained true to their cause throughout the perilous struggle. An English aristocrat risked his life to run the blockade and become one of the defenders of Charleston. The Haskells of Abbeville sent seven sons into Confederate service. Many South Carolina women made heart-rending sacrifices, including a disabled woman from Laurens County whose heroic efforts preserved Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, from wartime ravages. Author Karen Stokes details the lives of men and women whose destinies intertwined with a tragic era in Palmetto State history.
New Bern and the Civil War
by James Edward White III
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
On March 14, 1862, Federal forces under the command of General Ambrose Burnside overwhelmed Confederate forces in the Battle of New Bern, capturing the town and its important seaport. From that time on, Confederates planned to retake the city. D.H. Hill and James J. Pettigrew made the first attempt but failed miserably. General George Pickett tried in February 1864. He nearly succeeded but called the attack off on the edge of victory. The Confederates made another charge in May led by General Robert Hoke. They had the city surrounded with superior forces when Lee called Hoke back to Richmond and ended the expedition. Author Jim White details the chaotic history of New Bern in the Civil War.
Maney's Confederate Brigade at the Battle of Perryville
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
On October 8, 1862, forty thousand Union and Confederate soldiers clashed at Perryville, Kentucky, in the state's largest Civil War battle. Of those who fought, none endured as much as the Tennessee and Georgia soldiers who composed Brigadier General George Maney's brigade. The Confederate unit entered the fray to save other Southern regiments and, in doing so, experienced deadly resistance. Many of those involved called the brigade's encounter the toughest of the Civil War, as several of Maney's regiments suffered casualties of 50 percent or greater. Despite relentless fighting, the Confederates were unable to break the Union line, and the Bluegrass State remained in Federal control. Join author Stuart W. Sanders as he chronicles Maney's brigade in the Battle of Perryville.
New Mexico And The Civil War
by Dr. Walter Earl Pittman
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Although the New Mexico Territory was far distant from the main theaters of war, it was engulfed in the same violence and bloodshed as the rest of the nation. The Civil War in New Mexico was fought in the deserts and mountains of the huge territory, which was mostly wilderness, amid the continuing ancient wars against the wild Indian tribes waged by both sides. The armies were small, but the stakes were high: control of the Southwest. Retired lieutenant colonel and Civil War historian Dr. Walter Earl Pittman presents this concise history of New Mexico during the Civil War years from the Confederate invasion of 1861 to the Battles of Valverde and Glorieta to the end of the war.
Kentucky Civil War Lexington
Bluegrass Breeding Ground of Power
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Although no great Civil War battles were fought in Lexington, Kentucky, the city afforded some of the greatest military and political leaders on each side. It produced the Honorable Henry Clay, whose efforts postponed the war by at least a decade. The city touched the lives of both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln, whose wife, Mary Todd, spent her early years there. This breeding ground of power molded the careers and characters of men like John C. Breckinridge and John Hunt Morgan. Authors Josh Leet and Karen Leet introduce the men and women of Lexington who shaped United States history and whose lives were forever changed by the war that shook the nation.
Shenandoah County In The Civil War
Four Dark Years
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Shenandoah County, in the years prior to the Civil War, was a prosperous place. Nestled within the Shenandoah Valley, it was a haven for agricultural commerce fueled by slave labor. Integral railways and transportation routes passed through Shenandoah County, feeding its impressive agricultural output throughout the Virginia. With the outbreak of Civil War, all of that would change. Four major battles took place in and around Shenandoah County New Market, Toms Brook, Fishers Hill, and Cedar Creek. Although the proceedings of these historic battles have been well-documented, the effect the combat had on residents of Shenandoah County has receded into the background. Now, author Hal Shape brings the lives of county residents to fore, recounting how their spirits were tested during this dark hour of American history.
Onward Southern Soldiers
Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
The Civil War was trying, bloody and hard-fought combat for both sides. What was it, then, that sustained soldiers low on supplies and morale? For the Army of Tennessee, it was religion. Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion and the Army of Tennessee in the Civil War explores the significant impact of religion on every rank, from generals to chaplains to common soldiers. It took faith to endure overwhelming adversity. Religion united troops, informing both why and how they fought and providing the rationale for enduring great hardship for the Confederate cause. Using primary source material such as diaries, letters, journals and sermons of the Army of Tennessee, Traci Nichols-Belt, along with Gordon T. Belt, presents the history of the vital role of the army's religious practices.
The Civil War in Loudoun County Virginia
A History of Hard Times
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
A no-man's land through which raiding armies frequently passed, Loudoun County, Virginia, was itself a land of divided loyalties--one in three voters rejected secession in 1861--but with each new regiment came strengthened resolve to salvage their shattered lives despite defeat and military occupation. In this look at Loudoun County's role in the Civil War, historian Stevan Meserve narrates not only the large-scale fighting at Ball's Bluff in 1861 and in the Loudoun Valley cavalry battles of 1863, but also the lives of the citizens who sacrificed their crops and livestock, cared for the wounded and buried the dead of storied regiments such as White's Comanches, Cole's Potomac Home Brigade, Mosby's Rangers and the Independent Loudoun Rangers. Drawing upon military accounts and other historical documents, The Civil War in Loudoun County celebrates their eventual triumph and the vibrant communities that exist today.
Murfreesboro in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
As the Civil War unfolded, Murfreesboro became hotly contested by Confederate and Union forces. Both sides occupied the town for significant periods, with power changing hands as the fighting raged. Punctuated by events like Nathan Bedford Forrest's raid on Union forces in July 1862, Jefferson Davis's visit and the wedding of General John Hunt Morgan and Martha Ready, wartime Murfreesboro saw no shortage of drama. As combat escalated, the bloody Battle of Stones River and the Nashville Campaign brought more destruction. Yet at war's end, the resilient locals remained and rebuilt their town from the rubble. Authors and Civil War historians Michael Bradley and Shirley Farris Jones track the tumult of the proceedings to recount the compelling story of Murfreesboro during the Civil War.
North Carolina in the Civil War
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
"First at Bethel, farthest at Gettysburg and Chickamauga and last at Appomattox" is a phrase that is often used to encapsulate the role of North Carolina's Confederate soldiers. But the state's involvement stretched far beyond these few battles. The state was one of the last to leave the Union but contributed more men and sustained more dead than any other Southern state. Tar Heels witnessed the pitched battles of New Bern, Averysboro and Bentonville, as well as incursions like Sherman's March and Stoneman's Raid. Join Civil War scholar Michael Hardy as he delves into the story of North Carolina in the Civil War, from civilians to soldiers, as these valorous Tar Heels proved they were a force to be reckoned with.
Louisville and the Civil War
A History & Guide
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Learn how a thriving antebellum city became a crucial outpost for the Union army while its citizens were besieged with constant fear of guerilla warfare and swift Rebel vengeance. Trace the steps of soldiers, commanders and civic leaders on the enclosed map, which includes over thirty Union forts that once peppered Louisville's landscape, as well as long-forgotten hideaways and hotbeds of insurgence. Explore Union casinos and brothels along Jefferson and Fourth Street; the infamous Louisville Military Prison; Jefferson General Hospital, the third largest during the war; and the original Galt House, site of Union General Bull Nelson's assassination. Join renowned Civil War expert and Louisville native Bryan S. Bush as he traverses Louisville, a city bristling with Civil War history.
Ohio at Antietam
The Buckeye State's Sacrifice on America's Bloodiest Day
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
Among the thousands who fought in the pivotal Battle of Antietam were scores of Ohioans. Sending eleven regiments and two batteries to the fight, the Buckeye State lost hundreds, during the Maryland Campaign's first engagement, South Mountain, and hundreds more "gave their last full measure of devotion" at the Cornfield, the Bloody Lane and Burnside's Bridge. Many of these brave men are buried at the Antietam National Cemetery. Aged veterans who survived the ferocious contest returned to Antietam in the early 1900s to fight for and preserve the memory of their sacrifices all those years earlier. Join Kevin Pawlak and Dan Welch as they explore Ohio's role, during those crucial hours on September 17, 1862.
Silver Spring and the Civil War
by Robert E. Oshel Ph. D.
Part of the Civil War (Various) series
On July 11, 1864, some residents cheered and others watched in horror as Confederate troops spread across the fields and orchards of Silver Spring, Maryland. Many fled to the capital while General Jubal Early's troops ransacked their property. The estate of Lincoln's postmaster general, Montgomery Blair, was burned, and his father's home was used by Early as headquarters from which to launch an attack on Washington's defenses. Yet the first Civil War casualty in Silver Spring came well before Early's raid, when Union soldiers killed a prominent local farmer in 1862. This was life in the shadow of the Federal City. Drawing on contemporary accounts and memoirs, Dr. Robert E. Oshel tells the story of Silver Spring over the tumultuous course of the Civil War.