Monthly Archives: February 2025
Virginia Secedes
This book edited by Dr. Dwight Pitcaithley provides primary source material dealing with the decision of Virginia politicians to secede from the United States. In the Introduction he explains, “For the past fifteen decades, historians and popular writers have assigned many causes for the Civil War. Most of those written during the first century after […]
April 13, 1873: Colfax Massacre
I found this article on the Colfax Massacre of 1873. “The Colfax Massacre occurred in Colfax, Louisiana on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1873. Republicans had narrowly won the 1872 election to retain control of the state, but Democrats contested the results. Eric Foner notes, ‘The bloodiest single instance of racial carnage in the Reconstruction era, the […]
This emancipation proclamation predates President Lincoln’s
This article came into my feed the other day. “In 1861, Major General John C. Fremont issued an emancipation proclamation in St. Louis, freeing slaves in Missouri, a bold move that predated President Abraham Lincoln’s more famous Emancipation Proclamation by two years. Fremont, known as the ‘Pathfinder’ for his explorations of the West, was appointed […]
2025 Winter Lecture Series | Philip Brown
In this lecture from the Gettysburg National Military Park’s 2025 Winter Lecture Series, Ranger Philip Brown looks at the Battle of the Bulge. The video’s description reads, “In 1945 Walter Cronkite and Robert Musel referred to the Battle of the Bulge as a ‘Germany Gettysburg- representing the high tide of the enemy’s ability to wage […]
Sacred Trust Talks 2024 | Elizabeth R. Varon, Ph.D.
Here’s Professor Elizabeth Varon discussing James Longstreet as part of the 2024 Sacred Trust Lecture Series. The video’s description reads, “Reconsidering Longstreet: Gettysburg, Appomattox, New Orleans with Elizabeth R. Varon, Ph.D. General James Longstreet is remembered by many as a prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War. He also was reviled by generations of […]
Gettysburg Campaign 160th Anniversary Special – The Battle of 2nd Winchester
This episode of the “Addressing Gettysburg” podcast looks at the battle of 2nd Winchester with guest Professor Jonathan Noyalas. It’s an excellent conversation with a lot of information. The episode’s description reads, “Listener (and one of the sponsors of this episode) Casey Turben arranged for us to go to Winchester, Virginia ( a great city […]
Trump May Wish to Abolish the Past. We Historians Will Not.
I came across this essay from David Blight, Beth English, and James Grossman. “Under the grossly misleading title ‘Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,’ the White House last week issued an executive order that would undermine the integrity of writing and teaching of American history. The order uses ideological litmus tests to define for teachers […]
First 100 Days: Ulysses Grant – 1869
C-SPAN’s latest series is “100 Days,” looking at the first 100 days of presidential terms. In the inaugural episode, Professor Erik Alexander looks at Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency. This is an excellent program. The episode’s description reads, “Discussion on the early months of President Ulysses Grant’s first term in 1869, including selection of a cabinet, […]
Lincoln vs. Davis
In this video, author Nigel Hamilton discusses his book, Lincoln vs. Davis: The War of the Presidents. I have to say in my opinion he has no understanding of Lincoln, no understanding of George B. McClellan, no understanding of the Civil War, and no understanding of the historiography of the Civil War. He claimed several […]
Student of the American Civil War 
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