Author Archives: Frank Jastrzembski

About Frank Jastrzembski

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Frank Jastrzembski studied history at John Carroll University (B.A.) and Cleveland State University (M.A.). He's written dozens of articles and two books on Victorian officers. Visit www.frankjastrzembski.com to view a complete list of his publications. When he is not writing, he travels with his wife, explores old cemeteries, plays wargames, and hunts for vintage military and political memorabilia.

Two Women Scholars That Made An Impact

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

Fortunately for me, I have had some outstanding professors during my academic journey. I can think of two specific women professors who had a great impact on me as a historian while pursuing my undergraduate degree in history at John … Continue reading →

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The Unending War for Ten Union Generals

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

In a blog post published last July about Brigadier General Thomas W. Egan, I stressed how countless disabled Civil War veterans endured decades of chronic pain and emotional distress long after the guns of the Civil War fell silent. In … Continue reading →

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The Book That Got Me Started: Great Battles of the Civil War

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

Every Civil War enthusiast has a favorite book. Heck, I can name off ten. I thought to myself, “Which book had the greatest impact on stimulating my interest in the American Civil War”?

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Honoring General Milton S. Littlefield: The Right Thing to Do?

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

A few months ago, if I already don’t have enough on my plate, I decided to establish Shrouded Veterans with the goal to properly honor Mexican War and American Civil War soldiers buried in unmarked graves. One of these projects … Continue reading →

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ECW Weekender – Civil War History in the Pacific Northwest: San Juan Island

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

It was a stifling day as Asha and I walked the trail leading to American Camp. Despite the warm weather, we had a wonderful view from the southern point of San Juan Island. It’s hard to believe that this quaint … Continue reading →

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ECW Weekender – Civil War History in the Pacific Northwest: The Pickett House

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

When my wife Asha and I pulled up to the Pickett House, we didn’t know what to expect. I scheduled an 11:00 a.m. tour of the museum and national historic site with Edradine Hovde, vice-president of Whatcom Chapter No. 5 … Continue reading →

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“I Felt Keenly All the Horrors of War”: Psychological Experiences of Civil War Generals During the Mexican War

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

There is no shortage of connections between the Mexican War (1846-48) and the American Civil War. When Lee and Grant met at Appomattox in April 1865, the two adversaries eased the tension by evoking memories of the Mexican War. Lee … Continue reading →

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“Down Fame’s Ladder”: Brigadier General Thomas W. Egan’s Unending War

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock gave glowing praise of the Third Division’s 1st Brigade and its commander, 29-year-old Colonel Thomas W. Egan, in his report following the Battle of North Anna on May 23, 1864. “Egan’s brigade, led gallantly by … Continue reading →

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A Saintly Civil War Veteran: Brother Joseph Dutton

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

By the age of 40, former Union lieutenant Ira Barnes Dutton felt disgusted with how he had spent most of his twenties and thirties in sin. To atone for these misdeeds, he decided to devote his remaining years to helping … Continue reading →

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General Hartsuff’s Nine Lives

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Frank Jastrzembski

With a bullet wound to his left arm and a ball lodged in his chest, 25-year-old Lieutenant George L. Hartsuff submerged himself in a pond of brackish water hoping to evade detection. He did everything in his power to keep … Continue reading →

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