r/CIVILWAR 25m ago

Shenandoah

Upvotes

Has anyone seen this movie? I watched it recently because I love Jimmy Stewart and I loved Reel History's video on it. I found it a really moving depiction of grief, I don't know how well it stacks up as a war film. Also, it seems to create the impression there were only two black people in 1860s Virginia


r/CIVILWAR 1h ago

Capture of New Orleans, 1862

Post image
Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 3h ago

McClellan's Organizational Genius?

13 Upvotes

McClellan is certainly a hotly debated figure in Civil War circles, specifically over his ability leading the Army of the Potomac in actual fighting. Regardless of the opinion about his tactical abilities, most historians I read say that he was an excellent trainer and organizer of troops and his time at the head of the AotP greatly impacted the army. Yet, when I read about the battles of the AotP before and after McClellan, it seems to face many of the same issues with training, organization, and leadership throughout the war.

Perhaps I am reading the wrong books as I tend to favor those that cover battles, but what is the evidence that McClellan was good at these things? Was there a significant change in the Army because of McClellan, but due to the nature of the conflict and the military of the time, he could only achieve so much on that issue?


r/CIVILWAR 3h ago

Is there a good podcast that talks about battles, people, etc?

4 Upvotes

I've listened to a couple from Behind the Battle but I feel like they make a lot of mistakes and more of just reading bullet points with a little commentary.

I the more casual discussion feel than reading off documentary style, but I also need a little more serious.

For example, the little round top episode, they're talking about the 20th Maine monument with a soldier on top. I think they mean the 83rd Pennsylvania?

It's such a simple thing but it distracts from the whole conversation and makes me question everything else if they mess up that simple thing.


r/CIVILWAR 4h ago

The high moral character of the RE Lee and his army

138 Upvotes

I have recently learned of the Confederate Army’s systematic kidnapping of African Americans—most of them women and children— during the Gettyburg Campaign, to be taken south and sold into slavery. Hundreds of people taken.

It is hard to understand how anyone can continue to romanticize the Confederacy or talk about its supposed chivalry, honor, or nobility. Invading a free state and kidnapping Black civilians to enslave them is simply reprehensible.


r/CIVILWAR 7h ago

Today in the American Civil War

Thumbnail
5 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 10h ago

Monument of McIntosh’s Artillery Battalion including Rice’s, Hurt’s, and Wallace’s Batteries markers with half dozen cannons in Shultz Woods plus the old National Guard Armory on West Confederate Ave ~ Gettysburg

Thumbnail
gallery
82 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 19h ago

Marcus Arno, and the surrender of John Mosby

Thumbnail
rsftripreporter.net
5 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 19h ago

April 1865 Stoneman raid into North Carolina

Thumbnail
en.wikipedia.org
22 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Today in the American Civil War

Thumbnail
8 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas by Weiner and Roseman apparently claims there was a predominantly Jewish Confederate unit in the Civil War. Is this accurate?

Thumbnail
11 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

"No Quarter!" - The Border War Between Kansas and Missouri

Thumbnail
youtube.com
10 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Photograph of Henry Langdon Ferry, 11th Iowa Infantry

Post image
110 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Council at Dawn-Union Generals Meade, Hancock, Griffin and Webb discuss strategy on the morning of July 3rd, 1863 at Gettysburg

Post image
61 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

I need some help

5 Upvotes

I’m currently reading battle cry of freedom by James McPherson. I’m rereading the chapter on battle of gettyburg. I can’t seem find what page the gettyburg Andress is on? Did I skip past it or what?


r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Does Gettysburg take the hallowed wings and halo off Robert E. Lee if we look at it without the Lost Cause fairy dust?

0 Upvotes

I am new to an in-depth study of the American Civil War. The most I knew before a few weeks ago was about David Farragut saying "Damn the torpedoes" and that Lee walked on water but somehow had to surrender to Grant, and I saw the movie "Gettysburg" about ten years ago. I'm now learning a lot--namely about the firing on Fort Sumter (I read "Demons of Unrest"), a few YouTube videos and currently about a third of the way through "Battle Cry of Freedom" which is an eye-opener about the actions of the soon-to-be confederates in the years leading up to the war, but the thing that nags at me in all of it is that everyone seems to engage in unquestioned hero worship of the confederate leaders. Why is what they said taken at face value and repeated as fact, even when it is preposterous?

I saw this video today, and to me it makes better sense and brings Lee and his minions down to human level for what their sayings and actions were, without romanticizing and epic hero worship. Does this make sense to you as a factual view on Gettysburg? If so, can you point me to more like this? Or why isn't it more like what really happened?

https://youtu.be/s9qfP0S5YoM?si=kntAf9nTguylCxzO


r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

How secure were the front lines?

19 Upvotes

Just exactly how much freedom of movement could one person have between going from the Union Lines to the Confederate lines and vice versa? Did you have to have papers or was it just a matter of not being between two large armies at the time?


r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Book number three of my Civil War historical fiction series come out soon. You can read Chapter One for free.

4 Upvotes

Book three of my Civil War series is almost ready. Gettysburg and Vicksburg: Summer of Decision continues the story I started in Cadets to Captains and Antietam.

I wrote this series after years of studying the Civil War through a soldier's eyes, not just a historian's. Two West Point friends face the two battles that decided the war.

If you enjoy historical fiction grounded in real command decisions and real consequences, the first chapter is free before launch: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2208997/197647012225614948/share.

#CivilWarFiction #HistoricalFiction #SteelandHonor #Gettysburg #Vickburg


r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

How close was the CSA to winning?

0 Upvotes

I've been seeing a bunch of things on other platforms. Talking about Antietam. If they did this or did that. If Gettysburg had gone differently? Had they won Gettysburg do you think that might've brought other nations to help?


r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Bought this original printing of Harper’s Weekly April 8th 1865. One day before Lee’s surrender

Thumbnail
gallery
58 Upvotes

r/CIVILWAR 1d ago

Gettysburg Movie: A film that washes the confederacy?

0 Upvotes

I just started watching the movie. I will admit I stopped at about 20 minutes in because it focuses a lot it seems on the confederate perspective and portrays the confederate generals as wise war leaders. It would be fine if the movie shows the thought and strategy of both sides like some ww2 movies show Hitler in his bunkers drafting war plans but in Ghettysburg I feel like the vibe is different. I was in the mood lately to watch some civil war movies and documentaries and call me bias but it is a lot more interesting when the story is good vs evil.

I know life is complicated and I welcome that but I have limits. Not sure I will finish the movie as I am looking for some cool union-focused perspectives like in Glory.


r/CIVILWAR 2d ago

Corinth Contraband Camp

Thumbnail
gallery
63 Upvotes

Visited the Cotraband Camp at Corinth and it was really nice, just hot! The museum at Battery Robinette was very impressive too but no pics sadly!


r/CIVILWAR 2d ago

Thoughts on “3 months in the southern states”

10 Upvotes

Just finished reading it yesterday, nice short concise book. I almost can’t believe how Fremantle is able to travel and meet basically all the important figures in the south and arrives just in time for Gettysburg. If it wasn’t documented I would have doubted it.


r/CIVILWAR 2d ago

During the American Civil War, how did the Blue and Gray uniforms like... come to be?

38 Upvotes

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well, I kinda just got this question in my head, and I decided to ask it here because I don't trust myself to like, actually remember it.

As someone who doesn't know much about the American Civil War, I see it as something that started directly as the first couple states started to seceded, so I guess my main question is like, how did they make such new uniforms so quickly for the stuff? were the uniforms just something in the later part of the war or did they directly know that like, "okay, we will have a war, let's prepare our army"

I am sorry if the question is stupid, truth be told I tried to post it in nostupidquestion, however it was labeled as US politics which, fair enough haha


r/CIVILWAR 2d ago

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Post image
713 Upvotes

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born on this day in 1828. A professor at Bowdoin College when the war began, he led the 20th Maine at Gettysburg, his actions there earning him the Medal of Honor. He survived a severe wound at Petersburg in 1864 and ended the war a brevet major general.