The Case of the Two Graves
The Front Line
Unraveling the mystery surrounding the death and final resting place of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis.
A New Look at America’s Greatest Conflict
Current Issue
My War Story
Vol. 15, No. 4
A young Virginian’s remarkable firsthand account of the Confederate victory at Second Manassas
Recent Posts
John Brown in New York (2025)
Book Reviews
An excellent and engaging book that students of John Brown will want on their bookshelf.
Civil War Inventions
Photo Essays
A look at a variety of proposed wartime inventions—some more practical than others—highlighted in the pages of The Scientific American.
Union Soldiers of Southwestern Illinois (2024)
Book Reviews
John J. Dunphy’s “Union Soldiers of Southwestern Illinois” introduces some lesser-known figures from a region long regarded as pro-Confederate.
A Crab Warship
Civilians
An 1864 letter to “The Scientific American” outlines a fantastical idea for a new kind of Civil War warship.
The Girl in the Middle (2025)
Book Reviews
Martha A. Sandweiss uses a single photograph to explore a sprawling century of U.S. history.
Featured Posts
Civil War Breakthroughs Trailer
Civil War Breakthroughs
Civil War Breakthroughs, the Monitor’s latest podcast series, is launching soon. The first season, The Technological War, focuses on the technologies and concepts that brought the conflict into the modern age. Listen to the trailer for more.
A Brilliant “Boy Major”
Featured
The Gettysburg story of young Confederate artillery officer Joseph White Latimer, known as the “Boy Major.”
Partners in War
Articles
Meet the wives of the American Civil War’s top commanders. A special photo feature.
The Bayonet
Facts and Figures
Affixed over the muzzle of a rifle, the bayonet was undeniably intimidating in appearance. Check out these Civil War bayonet statistics.
The Illustrator
Featured
An exploration of the Civil War illustrations of prolific newspaper artist Thomas Nast.
U.S. Army Surgical Kit
Artifacts
Learn about the surgical conditions faced by U.S. Army surgeons during the Civil War. Find out how advancements in surgical instruments improved medical practices.