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  1. David Watson Prepares for Battle
    date December, 1860 to January, 1861map LOUISA, Virginiatags Economy, Government, War

    From December, 1860 to January, 1861 David Watson of Louisa County, Virginia wrote a series of letters back home to his mother. Watson enlisted in the Virginia militia and was writing from several locations, including Charleston, South Carolina at Fort Sumter. Built after the War of 1812 as one of a series of fortifications linking the southeastern coast, Fort Sumter fell on April 13, 1861 to Confederate...

  2. Religion on the Battlefield
    date September 16, 1861map NANSEMOND, Virginiatags Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death, War

    In an unsigned letter dated September 16, 1861, a Confederate soldier wrote to his family to tell of his first few weeks marching to war. His letter began with mundane details of the dates and names of towns his regiment marched through and speculations of when and where he would meet the enemy, but most of the letter is filled with religious tones and rhetoric. The anonymous Confederate soldier...

  3. General William Rosecrans' Report at the Battle of Chickamauga
    date September 19, 1863 to September 20, 1863map HAMILTON, Tennessee, WALKER, Georgiatags William Rosecrans, The Battle of Chickamauga, Civil War

    Major General William Rosecrans, commander of the U.S. Army of the Cumberland, awoke nervous on September 20, 1863. His forces at Chickamauga had been assailed throughout the previous day but held their ground. Rosecrans did not know if they could withstand another day of Confederate assault, however. He also did not know that he was about to give an order that would swing the battle, the Chattanooga...

  4. August Willich: No Ordinary General
    date September 1, 1963map Walker, Georgiatags August Willich, 32nd Indiana Regiment, The Battle of Chickamauga

    All men may be created equal but they are remembered differently. In contrast to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, August Willich was not a celebrity of the Civil War.  He was a Prussian political refugee and an aristocrat with an unapologetic communistic political leaning. Willch’s communistic nature generated his pre-war nickname, “Reddest of the Red.” Yet, his tremendous contributions...

  5. James A. Garfield at Chickamauga
    date September 19, 1863 to September 20, 1863map WALKER, Georgiatags The Battle of Chickamauga, James A. Garfield

    James A. Garfield was by definition an opportunist, he used even his failures in life to present a heroic image and thus propel himself into political office.  Such was the case when he beseeched his commanding officer after their position had been overrun and he desired to be where the Union was winning the battle (and thus seen as victorious), “Let me go to the front… It is dangerous, but the...