This Great Contest Afloat (2026)
Book Reviews
The naval theater of the war was essential to the aspirations of both belligerents, argues Neil Chatelain the latest contribution to the Emerging Civil War series.
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
The Keeper of Lost Avenue
Gettysburg
The author spends a day with Gettysburg resident, expert, and icon Dean Schultz, the “keeper of Lost Avenue.”
Episode 7: The Evolution of Military Medicine
Civil War Breakthroughs
Historian Lindsay Rae Smith Privette discusses the wartime evolution in military surgeons’ training, knowledge, and practices.
A Terrible Intimacy (2026)
Book Reviews
Melvin Patrick Ely’s new book is a sharp reminder of the squalid ‘cornerstone’ for which the southern states risked disunion.
Close to Conflict
Sites to See
A new exhibit at the Canadian War Museum explores the ways in which the American Civil War affected Canada.
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.