Episodes Around: 18630216 to 18630317

  1. Families Split
    date April 27, 1861 to 1864map HENRICO, Virginiatags Health/Death, War, Women

    After leaving Richmond on his way to Harper's Ferry, Thomas Jackson quickly wrote his wife Mary Anna on April 27, 1861 telling her of his reassignment. The Governor appointed him Colonel of the Virginia Volunteers; he was honored to hold such an independent position but warned Mary Anna, whom he affectionately called little one, that they would probably not be able to correspond for quite some...

  2. William Bartlett Sustains Many Wounds
    date April, 1862 to 1864map CHARLOTTE, Virginiatags War

    Captain William Bartlett suffered from multiple wounds throughout the course of the war. Even so, he continued to serve for the duration and received numerous commendations for his bravery. An unusual man, Bartlett started out as a private in the Fourth Battalion of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia fighting a war that "went against his principles." Born in Massachusetts, he was a Confederate sympathizer...

  3. The Gruesome History of a Wartime Steamboat
    date 1863 to October 30, 1864map AVOYELLES, Louisianatags Crime/Violence, Health/Death, Migration/Transportation, War

    The Civil War diary of John L. Sharitt, Jr., a Confederate soldier, describes the repugnant state of war that he daily faced.Because of the hopelessness of the southern cause and his desire to return home before more destruction damaged Louisiana.On October 30, 1864, while aboard a boat at Norman's Landing, Louisiana, Sharitt reveals the history of the boat.The boat had been captured by the...

  4. Slaves in the War
    date 1863map MOBILE, Alabamatags African-Americans, Law, Race-Relations, Slavery, War

    Throughout southern history, masters continually feared that their slaves would rise up against them. When the Civil War broke, this was exacerbated by the fear that slaves would join the Union army. Louis Hughes was a slave from Mississippi. As the war progressed, Union armies came closer and closer to his hometown until ultimately they came through and destroyed Panola. Masters feared for their...

  5. Fire and Steel: Weaponry of the Confederacy
    date 1863map CHARLESTON, South Carolinatags Science/Technology, War

    Cannons and rifles perform a cacophony of blood and thunder as the cold steel of bayonets slice through the enemy line. Deadly technology meets close quarters fighting and Napoleonic tactics, and the result is not pretty.

    These deadly weapons are listed in detail in Col. J. Gorgas' The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the Confederate States Army....

  6. Faith during the Civil War
    date January 29, 1863 to August 24, 1863map PRINCE GEORGES, Marylandtags Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death, War

    In 1863 Priscilla Munnikhuysen Bond wrote in her personal diary about the hardships the Civil War brought upon her. Bond wrote regularly about her faith and how the "Lord [will] direct our ways and grant we may follow them." Although a Maryland native, Bond moved to Louisiana in 1861 because of her husband Howard Bond's service in the Confederate Army. His departure invoked many of the religious...

  7. Lincoln The Monster
    date February 7, 1863 to 1863map BEDFORD, Virginiatags Crime/Violence, Government, Law, Politics, Race-Relations, Slavery, War

    On January 7, 1863, the Lynchburg Daily Virginian posted an article that called President Lincoln a monster. Their opinion stated that President Lincoln was instigator of servile insurrection, including amongst his victims helpless women and children. Lincoln should be considered an outlaw and a reward offered for his head. Also, the paper said that a fitting response must be made in response to...

  8. Still Life in Camp: Union Soldiers Waiting for Action
    date February 16, 1863 to March 17, 1863map RAPPAHANNOCK, Virginiatags Arts/Leisure, War

    Life as a Civil War soldier involved fighting and immense amounts of sitting and waiting. Soldiers from both sides of the war wrote letters home to loved ones describing the daily events and occurrences in camp life. Life as a soldier required patience. Many soldiers recounted the long periods of time spent sitting in camp waiting for their chance to fight. At camps soldiers could actually...