Civil War Traveler and Blogger
At the time of the Civil War, Irvin McDowell’s family was loaded with military and political connections. His cousin-in-law was the famed John Buford who played a role in the battle at Gettysburg, and his younger brother, John Adair McDowell, also joined the army but did not achieve the same level of renown as the… Continue reading Irvin McDowell – A Reluctant General
A book recently came into my possession that was suggested on a Civil War podcast station. They said that “Fighting for the Confederacy” by Edward Porter Alexander was a great companion text for any Civil War enthusiast who wanted to get an officer’s view of battles in Virginia. I expected it to be something similar… Continue reading A Bird’s Eye View of Bull Run
A year and a half before Ambrose Burnside was in command of the entire Army of the Potomac, he was Colonel of the Second Brigade under Colonel David Hunter in the Second Division at the first battle of Manassas. The brigade consisted of the 71st New York, 2nd New Hampshire, 1st Rhode Island, and 2nd… Continue reading Rhode Island to the Rear
The role women played can’t be ignored. Whether it was in the home or on the battlefields themselves, the ladies of the Union and the Confederacy made a difference in the lives of the soldiers who fought for it. Manassas was no exception. Fanny Ricketts James Ricketts, the famed artillery commander who fired upon Henry… Continue reading The Bravery of Fanny Ricketts
One of the treats of battlefield exploration is discovering something new – or at least feeling like you’re discovering something new. The summer of 2018 was my genesis into Civil War research. I was writing a novel about a Confederate soldier in the 7th Georgia Infantry. Though the book starts off the evening before the… Continue reading Hidden 7th Georgia Marker – Manassas
There are two impressive monuments upon the Manassas Battlefield – in my humble opinion. Now, there are quite a few of them. Memorials and plaques abound across the national park. But I’m talking about two that stand out to me, as an amateur historian and battlefield trekker. The first is the monument to Thomas “Stonewall”… Continue reading History of Judith Henry and Her House
Civilians and soldiers on both sides of the war thought the conflict would be swift and decisive. The southerners, fueled by their convictions and need for independence, was equally matched by the northerner’s enthusiasm to preserve the Union and future of their nation. Yankees believed they could whip the uncultured farm boys, while the Rebs… Continue reading Mayhem At Manassas
Belle on the Battlefield 