She was born probably in 1822 in Maryland. Her name was Arminta Ross. Her mother called her “Minty”. Both her parents were slaves. Three of her sisters were sold away. When the master came to sell away one of her sons, she threatened to split his skull and he backed Read more…
Whenever I ponder how far America has come in its view of warfare, I usually think of this battle. No battle better exemplifies the cold fact that Revolutionary War tactics were ineffective due to the advances in small arms fire and artillery fire. The rifle and the cannon were Read more…
One of the most famous Civil War spies was Maria Isabella Boyd. Better known as Belle Boyd. Belle was born in Virginia in 1844. When the Civil War broke out, her 45-year-old father enlisted in Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. A loyal and patriotic Southerner, she wanted to serve her country. Read more…
The most famous mascot in the history of the U.S. Army was an eagle. In 1861, a Chippewa Indian chief chopped down a tree to get two eaglets in a nest. One eaglet died in the fall, but the other became Chief Sky’s pet. He traded him for a Read more…
Part of Gen. Grant’s strategy to capture Richmond involved conquering the Shenandoah Valley. He assigned the task to Maj. Gen. Sigel. In May, 1864, Sigel moved south up the valley. His targets were the towns of Staunton and Lynchburg. Facing him was the army of Maj. Gen. John Breckinridge. Read more…
On May 14, 1864, Gen. Grant and his Army of the Potomac were about a week into the Wilderness Campaign (sometimes called the Overland Campaign). It had fought two vicious battles in the Wilderness forest and at Spotsylvania Court House. Although stymied at both places by Gen. Lee’s Army of Read more…
One of the Civil Wars greatest commanders was mortally wounded on the day of his greatest triumph. Stonewall Jackson was shot during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Earlier on May 2, 1863, Jackson’s corps has pulled off the greatest flanking attack of the war. He had marched his men all day Read more…
Let’s put this claim in perspective. In the first half of the 19th Century, liquor was considered to be nutritious, it calmed the nerves, and helped with digestion. It could be used to wash down bad food. In 1830, it is estimated that Americans on average drank 5 gallons Read more…
The following story is an example of an apocryphal story. Apocryphal means the anecdote is most likely not true. Or, as I would say, too good to be true. Many apocryphal stories begin with a true story that is “enhanced” for entertainment purposes. Unfortunately, the story is usually passed on Read more…
In September of 1864, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was starving during the Siege of Petersburg. On Sept. 5, a scout brought some information to Major General Wade Hampton. Hampton was the commander of Confederate cavalry (after the death of JEB Stuart). The scout told him of a large Read more…