Blog Posts
The Civil War Maps of Louis Prang
Louis Prang was born in Breslau, Germany, on March 12, 1824. His father was a calico printer who taught a young Louis the art of color mixing and color printing. While working with his father […]
Articles by Mathew W. Lively
Blog Posts
More Civil War Nicknames
Over the years, a previous article on Civil War Nicknames has remained one of the most popular posts on this site, so much so that a sequel to the original seems to be in order. […]
Blog Posts
Grant Protects Lee From Treason Trial
Following the end of Civil War hostilities in 1865, there were many in the North who wanted the civil and military officials of the Confederacy to stand trial for treason. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln […]
Blog Posts
Christmas at Moss Neck with Stonewall Jackson
Following the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, General Stonewall Jackson established his winter headquarters at Moss Neck Manor, a stately plantation home located twelve miles east of the city. The home of Richard […]
Blog Posts
The Phantom Limbs of George Dedlow
In July 1866, The Atlantic Monthly magazine published a lead article titled “The Case of George Dedlow.” Although the author was anonymous, it appeared to be an autobiographical narrative of a physician who had served […]
Blog Posts
Edmund Ruffin Fires His Final Shot of the War
The renowned Southern nationalist, Edmund Ruffin, was 67-years-old when he travelled to South Carolina and fired a cannon during the opening attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. He was also present at the battles […]
Blog Posts
The Band Sings About The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
On a self-titled album in 1969, the rock group The Band released “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” a song depicting the final days of the Confederacy in 1865. A long-time favorite of many, […]
Blog Posts
The Changing Face of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln’s physical appearance changed dramatically during his tenure as President of the United States. The magnitude of his apparent aging is often demonstrated by showing a photograph from the start of his first term […]
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Lincoln’s Letter to Mrs. Bixby
One hundred and fifty years ago today, a letter was written to a Mrs. Lydia Bixby of Massachusetts consoling her for the loss of five sons during their service in the Union army. The letter, […]
Blog Posts
Dwight D. Eisenhower in Defense of Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee remains one of the most polarizing figures of the Civil War (or War Between the States). Debates and opinions abound in newspapers, books, and social media as to whether Lee is a […]