The Archive
All Articles
Every article indexed from the pages of Civil War News — 2551 of them across113 issues, 2016 to 2026. Each one opens the full text on civilwarnews.com.
“Smoking My Troubles Away”
William Byrns (1838–75) of Burr Oak, Mi., enlisted as a fifer in Company B, 1st Michigan Infantry, during 1861. He was promoted in August 1861 to 2nd lieutenant,…
‘The Gunboat Commodore’ – US Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote
“He had a megaphone and he kept popping in and out of the pilothouse on St. Louis, shouting instructions to his captains.” St. Louis was struck 59 times, drifted…
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Announced Awards for Employee and Team of the Year for 2019
Park makes history with special honors during a virtual awards ceremony REPUBLIC, Mo.—Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield paid tribute recently to employees who d…
To The Editor:
Thanks for the review of the long overdue history of the 39th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. I am familiar with the role the 39th played especially during the Gettys…
The Volunteers in Defence (sic) of the Government Against Usurpation
The Graphic War highlights prints and printmakers from the Civil War discussing their meaning and most importantly, the print maker or artist’s goals. Allegorical…
The Mysterious “Manton” U.S. Model 1861 Rifle Musket
During the American Civil War, the U.S. government entered into contracts with more than two dozen firms to produce the U.S. Model 1861 and Model 1861 “Special Mo…
The Devil On A Run
“Any army marching tonight must be made up of a set of damned fools.” – Confederate Officer On April 17, 1861, the Richmond, Va. Convention passed an Ordinance of…
Portraying Mary Todd Lincoln – America’s First, First Lady
As a young girl growing up in Lexington, Ky., Mary Ann Todd dreamed of living in the Executive Mansion—the White House. She was vivacious, welleducated, and ambit…
Kearny Selects Some Sharpshooters & the Intelligent Whale Moves
New Jersey sent two brigades to Virginia in 1861. The first was a four regiment militia brigade enlisted for 90-days service; the second the official “First New J…
Identified Confederate Knapsack
In my nearly forty years of collecting the Confederacy, this is the best knapsack I have ever owned. The knapsack itself is great, but the Confederate soldier’s p…
How Schuylkill County Filled Its Draft Quota
On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln called for 75,000 militia to subdue an insurrection by “combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of…
Griswold Revolver added to Database
Question: Earlier this evening I read your excellent article in Arms Heritage, Vol. 9, Issue 3. I have what I believe to be a Griswold revolver that was passed do…
Fold3: Civil War Stories
Researching ancestors who fought in the American Civil War just got more engaging with the launch of ‘Civil War Stories’ from Fold3. While the service requires a…
Fact or Fiction? Black Confederates
This article deals with a very inflammatory topic, that has been the subject of great debate, but attempts to present some source cited documentary evidence and i…
Emerging Civil War — June 2020
From The Editor Route 1A from Brewer runs through Holden, past the Lucerne Inn with its golf course and gorgeous overlook, and into long stretches of pine forests…
Covid-19
Due to the spread of Covid-19, Civil War News has made the tough decision to temporarily suspend the free Calendar Events section until gathering bans have been l…
Civil War Alphabet Quiz - D
1. Standard naval gun at start of Civil War 2. John Hunt Morgan’s second in command who also commanded President Davis’ escort during flight from Richmond through…
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust — June 2020
Chris Mackowski serves on CVBT’s Board of Directors. 1. Why is Central Virginia battlefield preservation important to you? Preservation in general is important to…
Book Reviews — June 2020
Lincoln’s Multiple Personal Tragedies to the Terrible Carnage of the Civil War The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death. By Brian R. Dirck. Notes, Bibliograph…
American Battlefield Trust News
Even as we adjust to working remotely rather than in the field, the American Battlefield Trust continues to rack up major preservation victories, most recently an…
A Few Thoughts on Rations
The accomplishments of the Confederate forces during the Civil War, especially the continued success of the Army of Northern Virginia, are particularly noteworthy…
The Last Soldier of Atlantic County, N.J.
On November 2, 2019, the Col. Louis R. Francine Camp #7, Department of N.J., Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, placed and dedicated a “Last Soldier” marker…
The Land Tells the Story
It’s a quiet location, tucked back from the busy road. A place where—with a little imagination—it’s evening in May 1863 and two generals are meeting for their fin…
The COVID-19 Economic Impact: a Trade Show Promoter's Perspective
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs....' is the opening line of the immortal poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling. Published in 1910 and still…