Civil War Traveler and Blogger
To catch up on my adventures in research, check out Part 1. The 6th Louisiana Infantry’s baptism of fire would come on May 23rd, 1862 at the town of Front Royal, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley. General Richard Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade under General Thomas “Stonewall Jackson” chased Maryland skirmishers through the town and storm a… Continue reading Hunting Down a Soldier – Part 2
All I had was a name. A name that meant little, but it sparked a search that turned into something obsessive. When I first began studying the Civil War, I wanted to know what most historians or budding history scholars wanted to know. Do I have any connection to the war? Do I have… Continue reading Hunting Down a Soldier – Part 1
Back in November, I had the opportunity to take a flying trip to Andersonville National Historic Site near Americus, Georgia for their annual Civil War Day. This wasn't my first trip to the infamous prison camp, but I couldn't resist the chance to see the NPS rangers and other historical reenactors recreating the stockade scene,… Continue reading A Trip To Andersonville
Those who know their Civil War history, will know that New Orleans was barely fought over in 1862. The city was practically handed over to the Federal Army. The same can’t be said for a battle that occurred just outside of New Orleans earlier in the century. Made infamous by a terribly inaccurate song by… Continue reading Chalmette Battlefield – Nexus of Wars
New Orleans draws tourists from all over the country and the world for its unique and diverse cultural experience. The city itself changed hands between the French, Spanish, and Americans enough times that a bit of each of them rubbed off on the Crescent City. Not to mention the Irish and the German played important… Continue reading Confederate Memorial Hall – Civil War Material Culture History in NOLA
In my studies, I have the amazing opportunity to learn about extraordinary efforts and projects carried out by other historians. Whether that project is writing a book, preserving a battlefield, or creating more awareness about our country's past, I enjoy seeing their progress and rooting for them on the sidelines. One such project has become… Continue reading Shrouded Veterans – Remembering the People of the Past
The below letter was written by Charles Clarence Miller (1843-1912), Gates, Monroe county, New York. In the 1860 US Census, 16 year-old Charles was enumerated in his parents household in Gates where he attended school and worked as a farm laborer. 140th NY depicted at Saunders Field In August 1862, he enlisted with Company D… Continue reading A Thanksgiving Letter Home
Writers say the best ideas come late at night when they’re trying to go to sleep. That’s true, and mine sometimes come right as I’m trying to wake up. On the edge of sleep one morning, wondering if I should snooze for another ten minutes (always a dangerous thing), a random thought came to mind.… Continue reading The Dash Between the Dates
“War is hell”, as William Tecumseh Sherman so poignantly put it. This battle series about the Battle of Spotsylvania illustrated that so well. Though there were worse battles before it (Antietam and Gettysburg), the fighting at the Bloody Angle left an undeniable impression on the survivors. Studying history is not for the faint hearted. Especially… Continue reading The Humor in Hell – Bloody Angle, May 12th 1864
I have the best conversations with my husband. I really do. He’s also a history buff, but he prefers medieval history and sometimes he’ll throw out stuff about the War of the Roses or Agincourt and I’m lost. I guess it’s fair, because he gets that same blank look if I start rattling off about… Continue reading What Makes It A Tragedy?
Belle on the Battlefield 