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.

Mexican War Hero Alexander W. Doniphan: One of the Civil War’s Great “What Ifs”

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Frank Jastrzembski

Some of the most thought-provoking “what ifs” of the Civil War involve noteworthy individuals that chose not to or could not participate in the war. Instead of taking up arms for one reason or another, they remained on the sidelines … Continue reading →

Posted in Mexican War, Personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Civil War Hero Cuts His Throat”: Suicide Among Union Brevet Brigadier Generals and Colonels

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Frank Jastrzembski

In his pioneering study Shook Over Hell: Post-Traumatic Stress, Vietnam, and the Civil War, Dr. Eric T. Dean, Jr. provides Brevet Brigadier General Newell Gleason as an example of a Union brevet brigadier general who suffered from the psychological consequences … Continue reading →

Posted in Emerging Civil War | 4 Comments

“On Whose Head Is This Blood?”: Union Colonels In Insane Asylums, Part 2

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Frank Jastrzembski

Part 1 of this article introduced a Union colonel who ended up being institutionalized after the war. He isn’t the only one who suffered this fate. This is a continuation of where it left off. 

Posted in Leadership--Federal, Medical | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

“On Whose Head Is This Blood?”: Union Colonels In Insane Asylums, Part 1

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Frank Jastrzembski

A blog post published last July explored the mental decline of Thomas W. Egan, a distinguished Union brigadier general who fought in the majority of the Army of the Potomac’s battles. Whether the direct result of war injuries, war trauma, … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership--Federal, Medical | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The Immortal 17: Civil War Veterans on the Active Army List in 1909, Part 2

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

Author’s note: This is Part 2 of 2 listing the 17 officers still on the active army list four decades after the Civil War ended. You can find Part 1 here. 

Posted in Common Soldier, Leadership--Federal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Immortal 17: Civil War Veterans on the Active Army List in 1909, Part 1

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

While skimming old newspapers online, I discovered a fascinating article published on May 30, 1909, in the New-York Tribune. It was titled, “Memorial Day This Year Finds Sixteen Veterans of The Civil War Still on The Active List of U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier, Leadership--Federal | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Saga of Lt. General A.P. Hill’s Remains Continues

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

A few weeks back, I forwarded my ECW blog post on Lt. General A.P. Hill’s remains to several of Richmond’s leading officials involved in the removal of the city’s Confederate monuments: Mayor Levar Stoney, Interim City Attorney Haskell C. Brown … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory, Monuments | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Another Grave Dilemma: Major General William W. Loring’s Remains

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

As in the rest of the country, things are starting to heat up in America’s oldest city when it comes to Confederate monuments. Similar to Lt. General Ambrose P. Hill’s monument and gravesite covered in a previous ECW post, Major … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership--Confederate, Memory | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

What To Do With Lt. General A.P. Hill’s Remains?

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

I’ve tried to stay out of the monument debate as long as I could — mainly to retain my sanity and avoid making enemies on either side. That was at least until a Civil War general’s remains became involved.

Posted in Leadership--Confederate, Memory | Tagged , | 119 Comments

Elation and Frustration: Rescuing Mexican War and Civil War Graves

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Frank Jastrzembski

I established Shrouded Veterans in September 2019 to rescue as many neglected graves of Mexican War and Civil War veterans as I possibly could. The idea to start this organization surfaced when I realized how many of these soldiers are … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory, Mexican War | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments