Author Archives: Chris Kolakowski

Sheridan and the Franco-Prussian War

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

150 years ago this month, the Franco-Prussian War broke out. By early September the Prussian/German forces had smashed two French armies, captured Emperor Napoleon III, and were marching to Paris to lay siege to the city. When the war ended … Continue reading →

Posted in Cavalry, Leadership--Federal, Personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Jacob Zeilin, USMC

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, Leadership--Federal, Navies, Personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Marines at First Manassas

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

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 … Continue reading →

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The U.S. Marines of 1861

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Armies, Battles, Leadership--Federal, Navies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Civil War Echoes: The Invasion of Okinawa

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

75 years ago today American forces invaded Okinawa. I blogged about the battle’s significant Civil War connections last year.

Posted in Emerging Civil War | Leave a comment

Fact vs Interpretation at the Bloody Lane

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

There is a movement afoot to reinterpret key parts of the Maryland Campaign. In some cases, battlefield interpretation is being changed or removed based on new sources and/or new perspectives. I am all for reexamining history based on new or … Continue reading →

Posted in Artillery, Battles, Leadership--Confederate, National Park Service, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Buckner Graves

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

Last June I visited the graves of Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr and Jr, who are buried with their wives in the Frankfort Cemetery in Kentucky. I blogged about both men before here.

Posted in Leadership--Confederate, Personalities, Ties to the War, Western Theater | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Wisconsin’s King Veterans Home

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Chris Kolakowski

On February 24 I visited the King Veterans Home, site of a second location of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The plaque giving its founding and history might be of interest to our readers.

Posted in Armies, On Location | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Memoriam: D. P. Newton

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

Chief Historian Chris Kolakowski (left) presents ECW’s Award for Service in Civil War Public History to D.P. Newton This morning the ECW community learned of the passing of D.P. Newton, a lifelong resident of Stafford County, Virginia. D.P. was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Emerging Civil War | 4 Comments

Do We Still Care About the Civil War: Chris Kolakowski

Posted on October 3, 2019 by Chris Kolakowski

The cover story of the newest issue of Civil War Times asks, “Do we still care about the Civil War?” ECW is pleased to partner with Civil War Times to extend the conversation here on the blog. Does the Civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Ties to the War | Tagged , | 4 Comments