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.
American Digger Lowcountry Civil War & Artifact Show
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.— Jan. 6-7. It was against all odds: A snow and ice storm coupled with sub-freezing temperatures turned the city of Charleston and nearby Moun…
Whitney’s “Enfield” Rifle Muskets
Last month we discussed the American-made Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket contract that was the downfall of the Robbins & Lawrence firearms manufacturing compan…
Waco Belt Buckle
Dear Chris, It was a pleasure talking to you on the phone and I will not mention the digging site you just found in Texas. The plethora of objects you sent photos…
U.S. Army Company Musket Firing 1859-1861
From the fall of 1859 to early winter 1861, U.S. Army posts in Texas and New Mexico were inspected by Lt. Col. Joseph E. Johnson and Col. Joseph K. F. Mansfield.…
To Catch a Snake
“That was a torpedo, sir! It has blown a hole in her hull under the boilers, and the water is within three inches of her fires.” – USS Montauk Chief Engineer Bloc…
The Slaughter Pen Farm Reenactment in Fredericksburg
The Slaughter Pen. The name is a stark reminder of what took place on this 208-acre, level piece of land a short distance south of Fredericksburg, Va. With little…
The Devilish Lieutenant Bierce
BRIDE, n. A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her. INFIDEL, n. In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople, on…
The Confederate ‘Wizard of the Saddle’ Loses His Statue in Memphis
Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia. Jefferson Davis served as the Confederacy’s only president. Thomas J. Jackson earned the distinctive nickna…
Small Talk — February 2018
1. What actor played Gen. Robert E. Lee in Ted Turner’s Civil War film, Gettysburg (1993, Ronald Maxwell, director)? 2. Who played General Lee in Turner’s subsequ…
Perspectives on Bull Run
Every reader of Civil War News knows about the July 21, 1861, battle on the banks of Bull Run, thirty miles or so from Washington City, the first large-scale batt…
Lincoln Forum Leadership To Change After 24 Years, As Frank Williams Announces Retirement From Chairmanship
Forum’s Teacher and Student Scholarship Programs To be Re-Named in Honor of Frank and Virginia Williams December 1—After nearly a quarter century of consistent le…
Letters To The Editor
Addition to the article “Save Camp Letterman” in the Jan. 2018 issue on page 5. Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association (GBPA) is working with two develop…
Hot Chocolate
February 22nd 1863. Sabbath, a severe rain with wind and consequently quite dreary without. Lay in tent all day, not going out but once and then to make some choc…
Grant’s Special Order 126 at Petersburg, Nov. 12, 1864
Ulysses S. Grant suffered from a controversial reputation before, during, and after his service as perhaps the best general of the Union Army during the American…
Gary Casteel Opens Sculpture Gallery in Gettysburg
The commercial area along Gettysburg’s Baltimore St. near the national cemetery entrance will soon be graced with the opening of the National Civil War Memorial g…
From The Lowcountry
Mark Twain once wrote of the Bible that it “has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and a wealth of obscenity; and upward…
Civil War Maps: An Annotated List of Maps and Atlases in the Library of Congress
This month, continuing our look at various Civil War map sources, we dive into a helpful printed resource, which serves as a great compliment to using the Library…
Civil War Events Feb. – April
Before making plans to attend an event contact the event host. Deadlines for Advertising, Editorial or Events Submissions is the 20th of each month. Email to: ads…
Cathey and Waddey Awarded Robertson Prize
WOODBRIDGE, N.J.—M. Todd Cathey and Gary W. Waddey have been selected as the winners of the 2016 Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. Literary Prize for Confederate History…
Bullet Ridded Battle of Franklin Structure Restoration Celebrated
FRANKLIN, Tenn.—A small frame building central to the fighting at the Battle of Franklin has been preserved after a fundraising effort by the Battle of Franklin T…
Book Reviews — February 2018
Seeking Love in the Civil War Practical Strangers: The Courtship Correspondence of Nathaniel Dawson and Elodie Todd, Sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Edited by Stephe…
Battlefields Mean Business
Every spring, summer, and fall, families and individuals flock to America’s best-known battlefields, lured by great stories, momentous deeds, and breathtaking lan…
An Early Defense of Hood’s Georgia and Tennessee Campaigns
A month after his army had been routed in mid-December 1864 at Nashville, Gen. John B. Hood was at Tupelo, Miss., with his remaining troops. His superior, Gen. P.…
Accepting Submissions for Edwin C. Bearss Award
CHAMBERSBURG, Penn.— Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours is now accepting applications for the 2018 Edwin C. Bearss Award. Given annually, this award supports…