Showing results for "Medal of Honor"
Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions—A Review
Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions: Farnsworth’s Charge, South CavalryField and the Battle of Fairfield, July 3, 1863. Author: Eric Wittenberg Publisher: Savas Beatie 244 pages, 8 maps, 4 appendices. Many historians and students of the Battle of Gettysburg ultimately conclude the fighting near the Copse of Trees and the end of Pickett’s Charge. However, author Eric […]
Read more...The United States Colored Troops: Fighting for Freedom (part two)
Last week, I wrote about black soldiers who fought on both sides of the war, and I also offered a brief history of the United States Colored Troops. Now let me discuss a few of the battles where the USCT fought. Most famous is the Battle of Fort Wagner—depicted in the movie Glory—where the 54th […]
Read more...Fire Along Boatswain Creek: Reflections on the Battle of Gaines Mill
Traveling for an extended Columbus Day weekend vacation, I had the opportunity to make an early-morning stop at the Gaines Mill battlefield. Much to my delight, I found upon arrival that I had the entire battlefield to myself. After reading the signs near the Watt House, I grabbed my coffee and cigar and set out […]
Read more...The Battle of New Market Heights by James S. Price
We are happy to welcome author James S. Price, as a guest author. James S. Price is a Civil War historian, blogger and educator who specializes in the history of African-American Union soldiers. He has worked for many Civil War sites and museums, including Petersburg National Battlefield, Pamplin Historical Park and the American Civil War […]
Read more...The United States Colored Troops: Fighting for Freedom (part one)
At the beginning of the Civil War, black men tried to enlist in both the Union and Confederate armies. Most were not allowed in either army. By the end of the war, though, some 180,000 blacks served in the United States Army, and another 20,000 served in the United States Navy. Approximately 38,000 of them […]
Read more...The Civil War, A Visual History: Rare Images and Tales of the War Between the States
The Civil War, A Visual History: Rare Images and Tales of the War Between the States, Paragon Press, 225 pages, $14.95. This new work by Parragon Publishing is a beautifully laid out book of artwork, sketches, and photographs from the Civil War period. The book is a change from the normal coffee table book, which […]
Read more...The Bull Pen at Bentonville
It is the favorite part of one of my favorite battlefields. It was the scene of desperate fighting, a touch and go affair that could have gone either way. There were countless acts of bravery, Medals of Honor were earned, and the fate of the battle hinged on it. The Bull Pen at Bentonville should […]
Read more...The Surrender of Port Hudson
After the failure of his second assault on Port Hudson, on June 15 Banks called on a “Forlorn Hope” of choice volunteers. They would storm the Rebel lines, lured by promises of recognition, promotion, and medals made from captured Confederate guns. Banks wanted 1,000 men. 1,300 stepped forth, mostly from regiments that had not seen […]
Read more...Fort Harrison: What can a little-known fort teach us?
Have you ever heard of Fort Harrison, outside of Richmond? Maybe you have, if you’re well read on the Richmond campaigns, but chances are you haven’t. Built as part of the lines defending the city, the Fort was attacked and taken by Union troops on September 29, 1864. The next day Confederates tried to take […]
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