The Bloody Lane

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The Rashness of that Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate General Alfred Iverson

Review: Wynstra, Robert, J. The Rashness of that Hour, Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson. Savas Beatie LLC; El Dorado Hills, CA, 2010. Pp. X, 408. ISBN 978-1-93271-88-3. Hardcover. $32.95. On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg started when elements of both the Confederate and Union armies bumped into each […]

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If Meade had Known….

Traveling along the park road that runs along the south edge of the North Woods at Antietam, I thought about George Gordon Meade, leader of the Pennsylvania Reserves, and wondered what he would think if he knew what lay ahead beyond the day’s fighting….

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Scenes from Guinea Station

I know we may sometimes seem a little fixated on the death of Stonewall Jackson around here. Part of that stems from the fact that so many of us work or have worked for the Park Service at the Jackson Shrine. Part of it stems from the fact that Kris and I have written a […]

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Jackson’s Mountain Top Rendezvous

May 8, 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s first victory in the Shenandoah Campaign of 1862. Some historians credit this victory, at the Battle of McDowell, as the first battle in that infamous campaign—others credit his only defeat at 1st Kernstown-I’ll let you be the judge. Following the action […]

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Thought for the Day

“The preservation of a house, a monument, an historic view or an ancient road ensures that each succeeding generation will have the privilege of keeping in contact with the experiences and achievements of past generations: not the ashes of the past but the flame that passes from generation to generation, the flame of a living […]

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The Civil War Sesquicentennial at the Gates of Richmond

The Civil War 150th arrives at the gates of Richmond later this week.  Check out Richmond National Battlefield’s full guide of activities, (available as a free downloadable PDF). Things get started this weekend with the commemoration of the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, then next month they kick into gear for commemoration of the Seven Days’ […]

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“Greatest” of the Greatest?

As part of the research I’m doing on the Chancellorsville battlefield, I’m giving thought tonight about the 149-year-old characterization of Chancellorsville as “Lee’s greatest victory.” I suspect, statistically and situationally, a case could be made for several of Lee’s victories as “the greatest.”

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Remembering May 3

I had the opportunity to speak to a college history class about the battle of Chancellorsville on Thursday. It was May 3, the 149th anniversary of the battle. I began by presenting them with an iconic vision of the fight: Robert E. Lee, astride his horse, Traveler, riding into the clearing around the Chancellorsville mansion, […]

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