The “Spirit” of Hilo
The Front Line
An examination of the American Civil War’s effects on faraway Hawaii through its impact on the native sugar industry.
A New Look at America’s Greatest Conflict
Current Issue
Road to Glory
Vol. 16, No. 3
Robert Gould Shaw commanded one of the war’s first black regiments. His personal views on emancipation were surprisingly complicated.
Recent Posts
Requiem for Reconstruction (2026)
Book Reviews
Bland’s “Requiem for Reconstruction” offers a fresh perspective on an old history
Odd Civil War Photos, Pt. 4
Photo Essays
Discover more strange and offbeat images from the Civil War in the fourth installment of our ‘Odd Civil War Photos’ series.
The Forts Henry and Donelson Campaign (2026)
Book Reviews
The latest entry in Southern Illinois University Press’s Civil War Campaigns in the West series assembles seven essays on ten days that doomed the Confederacy.
The Course They Didn’t Advertise
The Front Line
How the Civil War’s Morrill Act embedded military training in the institutional foundations of western higher education
Featured Posts
Episode 20: Why Did the Civil War Happen?
Civil War Curious
Historian Allen C. Guelzo discusses the various causes behind the outbreak of the American Civil War.
The Patriots
Featured
Civil War historians weigh in on how the American Revolution influenced and inspired both the Union and the Confederacy.
Dressing Billy Yank
Facts and Figures
Shown here are figures associated with the procurement of some of the more common uniform pieces donned by “Billy Yank.”
The Case of the Two Graves
Featured
Unraveling the mystery surrounding the death and final resting place of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis.
The Five Best Books on Civil War Massacres
Best Of Lists
Civil War massacres frequently saw surrendering troops and noncombatants victimized. Here are five of the best books about some of the worst behavior of the Civil War.
“Babylon Is Fallen.”
Featured
How the northern press reported—with shock and awe—on Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864.