Showing results for "First Manassas"

Under Fire: “Till My Heart Sickens and War Is Not Glorious” — John Pelham at First Manassas

It had been three months since John Pelham of Alabama left West Point Military Academy under the cover of darkness and began his circuitous journey into the heart of the newly formed Confederacy. His months of waiting, asking for advice, and trying to define his personal stance on secession ended. On April 17, 1861, he […]

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First Manassas/Bull Run Campaign, July 21, 1861: Uniforms

Civil War uniforms tend to be a specialty subject. This may be because the photographs are in black and white or sepia-toned. Hence the student must dig through letters and memoirs to get a clear idea of what each uniform looked like. It’s tedious and not that fun. Nevertheless, the topic can tell us a […]

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The Marines at First Manassas

The American Battlefield Trust Conference this year was to have featured a tour of mine about the Marine Battalion at the First Battle of Manassas. It has been postponed until 2021. In the meantime, I wanted to share some of my research into the Marines of 1861. This is Part II of a three-part series. […]

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Hospitals Of First Manassas

Today, we are pleased to welcome back guest author Paige Gibbons-Backus One hundred and fifty-six years ago this July, Americans reached a deadly point in American history in Prince William County at the Battle of First Manassas (or Bull Run). When the carnage began, no one had fully prepared for the violence and tragedy that […]

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“A Bloody Battle is a Dreadful Experience”: Edward Craighill and the Aftermath of First Manassas

Today, we are pleased to welcome back guest author Jimmy Price Edward A. Craighill of Charles Town, VA had not yet reached the age of 21 at the time of the First Battle of Manassas. When war broke out, young Craighill wanted to fight in the ranks as a common foot soldier rather than apply […]

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Two New Books in the Emerging Civil War Series: Second Manassas and Knoxville

It’s been a great week for books around here at ECW. Our two latest releases from the Emerging Civil War Series dropped on authors’ doorsteps, which means they’ll also soon be on their way to bookstores. (We’ve even had a Second Manassas sighting at a Barnes & Noble already!) Of course, you can also order […]

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Echoes of First Bull Run: Words of Battle

Yesterday on the 162nd anniversary of First Bull Run (Manassas), I paged through that battle book from the Voices of the Civil War series. Scanning the different primary source excerpts, I had an idea. What if I pulled the dialog quotes out of the primary sources and put those quotes into a document? Instead of […]

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The Last Casualty of Second Manassas: The Court Martial of Fitz John Porter

ECW welcomes back guest author Kevin C. Donovan  Abraham Lincoln laid down his pen. It was January 21, 1863. The President had just signed a document destroying the U.S. Army career and reputation of Major General Fitz John Porter. Specifically, Lincoln approved the findings and sentence of a court-martial, whose members had found Porter guilty […]

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Medical Care at Second Manassas: Reaching A Crossroads?

At the crossroads of the Sudley-Manassas Road and Warrenton Turnpike (now modern roads Route 29/Lee Highway and 234/Sudley Road) stands a historic stone house. Dating back to 1848, this structure has stood guard at the trafficked intersection and witnessed two large-scale battles of the American Civil War. At both battles, the Matthew Family’s stone dwelling […]

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