Mike Kennedy 
One of the great things about a trip to Gettysburg is the number of Civil War attractions within walking distance of each other. In fact, you don’t even have to stray outside of the city’s historic downtown area to find an intriguing collection of sites. Here’s an easy walk that takes in central sights providing … Read more
Hal Jespersen may be the author of hundreds of Civil War articles, not to mention his prolific career as a Civil War cartographer and travel writer, but he doesn’t like to be called a historian. Jespersen prefers to say he is a “student of history.” If that’s the case, then this former U.S. Army Signal … Read more
Missouri’s role in the Civil War is well documented. Given its central location and geographic features, notably the Mississippi River, the state was crucial to the fortunes of both sides of the conflict. More than 100,000 Missourians fought in the war, the large majority for the Union, despite the fact that Missouri was a slave … Read more
If your healthy obsession with the Civil War gives you a healthy appetite, here are 10 eateries that you’ll love. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern Middleburg, VA For Civil War buffs, it’s hard to find a more authentic restaurant than the Red Fox Inn & Tavern. Built in 1728 by Joseph Chinn (and known … Read more
If you’re a parent, you know that getting your kids excited about anything related even remotely to education while on vacation is no easy trick. But these Civil War attractions fit the bill. In fact, your kids will have so much fun they might not realize they are actually learning about one of the most … Read more
Debonair and dashing, J.E.B Stuart cut an unmistakable figure on and off the battlefield during the Civil War. Regarded as the Confederate Army’s most accomplished cavalryman, he proudly looked the part, typically adorned in flamboyant military garb as he sat atop his warhorse Skylark. Stuart made his mark leading successful reconnaissance missions, which in part … Read more
Despite suffering more than 30,000 casualties during the Civil War, North Carolina was not the site of many major battles. But that doesn’t mean the Tar Heel state didn’t see its fair share of fighting. Indeed, the U.S. Navy patrolled the coastline, often providing critical support for invading Union troops. At the same time, guerilla … Read more
Few military commanders in U.S. history have reached the notoriety and adulation achieved by William Tecumseh Sherman. But not everyone is aware of some of Sherman’s personal struggles. For example, this Southern leader resigned his first commission in 1853 to enter for a spell the field of banking; and he thought about leaving the Army … Read more
The Civil War has produced a staggering amount of fodder for literature, both fiction and nonfiction. Sorting through the good, the bad, the great, and the life-changing isn’t easy. So rather than identify the ten best Civil War novels, here’s a list of some that shouldn’t be missed. Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier (1997) One … Read more
Andrew Jackson. Our nation’s seventh president. Known as “Old Hickory” for his legendary toughness—though the original nickname coined by those under his command was simply “Hickory.” That’s one of many interesting facts about this favorite son of the South and one of American history’s more colorful figures. Here are 11 more. 1. Jackson’s birthplace is … Read more
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