Civil War Traveler and Blogger
Below is a transcribed letter from a soldier in the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H. After mustering August, the author of this letter, Hugh Quinn Adams, he and the rest of his company traveled through Maryland and into Virginia, settling north of the Rappahannock after the battle of Fredericksburg. Their first major engagement came the… Continue reading A Chancellorsville Letter
While the ball was opening around Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, many gloss over the fact that there was another battle going on down by the Rappahannock on May 3rd of 1863. “Uncle John” Sedgwick had been tasked with keeping an eye on the Confederates around Fredericksburg at the start of Joseph Hooker’s campaign. Five pontoon… Continue reading Fighting for Fredericksburg… Again
Veterans on both sides of the Civil War who were present for duty at Chancellorsville on May 3rd, 1863, described it as the ultimate slaughter. In some accounts, they call it the worst fighting of the entire war. Cavalry officer J.E.B Stuart was personally appointed by the wounded Thomas Stonewall Jackson to take command of… Continue reading Compassion and Chaos at Chancellorsville
Battles and skirmishes fought during the Civil War didn’t always take place in open fields or on farmland. Homes and even entire towns would become the hotbed of some nasty firefights between 1861 and 1865. Some of these battles or at least components of battles are named after the place they were fought around. Some… Continue reading Firefight Around the Furnace
As I learn more about the Civil War, I come to find some interesting stories regarding animals. Of course, the first that comes to mind are horses. Officers and generals rode them into battle, they were used to pull the cannons and limber chests, and there's the cavalry. Then there's the mules and donkeys who… Continue reading A Good Boy – Jack’s Story
While I have not been privileged in exploring every aspect of the Chancellorsville battlefield (just the visitor center so far) some wonderful historians have and aren't shy about sharing their knowledge. I follow one such historian on the Emerging Civil War Blog, Chris Mackowski. Below are some brief videos shot and uploaded in May of… Continue reading Standing at the Crossroads
Call it odd, but whenever I read about Civil War battles and come across a peculiar case where a soldier, officer, or civilian was supposed to die from a fatal wound and then lived, I tend to pay a little closer attention to that human interest story. One such case comes from a Union colonel… Continue reading From Clerk to Colonel – The Nelson Miles Story
This statement is not for history buffs. This statement is for those who are just getting into Civil War military history or who did not read my previous posts about that pivotal battle in May of 1863. Chancellorsville was NOT a town. It was not a city. It might have had a post office, but… Continue reading Chancellorsville Mansion – One House, So Much History
Perhaps one of the most famous paintings of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson is one that is about 50% historically inaccurate, but 100% inspiring to most historians and Southerners. Of course, I’m referring to the masterpiece titled “The Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson”. Painted by Everett B. D. Julio in 1869, it was originally titled “The… Continue reading “The Last Meeting” – Jackson and Lee Immortalized in Art
I would be remiss if I chose to talk about the battle of Chancellorsville without some spotlight shined on one of the most pivotal moments of Civil War history. Of course, I’m referring to the wounding of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Whatever your opinions of Stonewall may be, any historian cannot deny that his wounding… Continue reading Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson – The Man and Myth
Belle on the Battlefield 