Category Archives: Common Soldier

Havelocks: The Face Masks of 1861

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Meg Groeling

Ah! Havelocks! A hallmark of the American Civil War in 1861 and then tossed aside, rarely to be seen again—until the 125th re-enactment of the First Battle of Bull Run. After that, rarely. In case you are wondering, a havelock … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The Bizarre Life of States Barton Flandreau

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Edward S. Alexander

Few Civil War soldiers have a story quite like States B. Flandreau. The New York native first fought in a Confederate regiment, switched teams across the Rappahannock, and was separately wounded and captured while serving in both armies. Throughout his … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier, Personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

“The 18th Connecticut was now the only regiment left on the field” Second Lieutenant Asahel George Scranton

Posted on July 28, 2020 by ECW Guest Post

ECW welcomes guest author Steven Stabler The Battle of Second Winchester fought June 13-15, 1863 saw Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell’s 12,500 Confederates face off against Major General Robert H. Milroy’s force of 7,000 Union troops tasked with defending the … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, Common Soldier | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Along The River: Corporal Lynch’s Summer Breaks

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Sarah Kay Bierle

Charles Lynch’s diary is one of my favorites for a Union soldier’s perspective on infantry fighting in the Shenandoah Valley during 1864. He promoted to corporal after the Battle of Piedmont and served with the 18th Connecticut. It’s also one … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Page of Gettysburg History & Humanity’s Struggle

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Sarah Kay Bierle

The Gettysburg anniversary this year was a blur to me. To be honest, I didn’t spend much time reading or thinking about the battle. Maybe it was a coping mechanism. Maybe it was some sort of subconscious distancing since I … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A Geneseo Gunner on the Virginia Peninsula

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Edward S. Alexander

I have had difficulty connecting my hometown to the Virginia battlefields I primarily research. Geneseo, Illinois sent its fair share of soldiers to the western theater but had no formal units in the east. While researching a blog article two … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, Common Soldier, Newspapers, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gettysburg Off the Beaten Path: The Bliss Farm

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Kristopher D. White

Part of a series. Just like many farms on the Gettysburg Battlefield, the roughly 60-acre farm of William and Adeline Bliss lay in the no-mans land of the Gettysburg battlefield, and in the midst of the battle, the Bliss barn … Continue reading →

Posted in Armies, Battlefields & Historic Places, Battles, Campaigns, Civilian, Common Soldier | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Louisiana Tigers at Gaines’ Mill

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Bert Dunkerly

Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat and the Louisiana Tigers loom large in Civil War history. Such a famous, and ferocious unit, and its commander, met its end outside of Richmond in June, 1862. At six feet, two inches, and weight about … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, Common Soldier | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

All For the Union, 1910

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Meg Groeling

From Elisha Hunt Rhodes of the 2nd Rhode Island, author of All For the Union, from a speech given at the 44th Annual Encampment, Department of Massachusetts, Grand Army of the Republic, Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts. April 6 and 7, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Authors, Common Soldier, Memory, Monuments, Personalities, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Face of Battle: Responding to Fear (An Addendum)

Posted on June 18, 2020 by JoAnna McDonald

On Wednesday, I posted a blog, “Face of Battle: Responding to Fear,” which I subsequently shared with a former Special Forces soldier. He made an insightful comment that I would like to share:

Posted in Common Soldier, Ties to the War | Tagged , , | 5 Comments