BGES Members Making a Difference: Bryan Hagan

The Civil War era—and all of American history, for that matter—has had its fair share of colorful characters. For BGES member Bryan Hagen, this undeniable fact is one of the things that makes the study of our nation’s past so fascinating. And it’s even more fun for him when he gets to be “in character.” … Read more

Five Questions: The Virginia Campaign of 1781, with Richard Britton

The Revolutionary War wrapped up in Virginia, with the French assisting the Colonists in defeating the British at Yorktown. The final steps leading up to this final American/French victory—including why British Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwallis was there in the first place—are explored on an upcoming BGES tour, The Virginia Campaign of 1781, slated for November … Read more

BGES Members Making a Difference: Parker Hills

Perhaps no one has done more to interpret and preserve Mississippi’s complicated Civil War past than Magnolia State native Parker Hills. A military veteran, Hills served for more than three decades in active and reserve roles, retiring as a brigadier general, Mississippi Army National Guard. Fittingly, it was during a military staff ride more than thirty … Read more

BGES Members Making a Difference: Kimble Johnson

  The Battle of Shiloh raged on April 6 and 7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. It remains the seventh bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and the nineteenth bloodiest battle in all of American history. Monuments to the battle began being erected in 1902, with fifteen total soon honoring the service and sacrifice of different … Read more

Chatting with Thomas Clemens about Saving Antietam

Battlefields just don’t get preserved through wishful thinking. It takes dedication, know-how, funding, and a host of other commitments to ensure preservation of these historic venues. Antietam is one such place that, if not for the devoted efforts of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation, may have been usurped by the rising tide of development and … Read more

Chatting up Hal Jespersen about the Civil War

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

Project Intel: The Lincoln Archives Digital Project

Historian Karen Needles has undertaken quite the task. Since 2002 she has been digitalizing all executive, legislative, judicial and military federal records created during the presidency of our 16th President. We’re talking 30 million records that are being scanned and housed in one place. To date, about 60,000 have been uploaded, including newspapers, documents, maps, … Read more

FIVE QUESTIONS for Len Riedel: Civil War New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

As Dixie’s largest city, New Orleans buzzed during the Civil War with commercial, shipping, and manufacturing verve. The Union coveted it for all of the above, resulting in the Farragut-led Battle of New Orleans and subsequent Union occupation. In his upcoming tour on April 5-8, 2019, “Civil War New Orleans and the Gulf Coast,” BGES’ … Read more