Grant’s Valuable Lesson
Commanders
How an early war incident in Missouri helped shape the future general-in-chief of the Union armies
A New Look at America’s Greatest Conflict
Current Issue
The Survivor
Vol. 16, No. 1
The exceptional luck of a Vermont soldier on the long and bloody road to Appomattox
Recent Posts
The Old Alcalde (2026)
Book Reviews
An exhaustive biography of an “unlikely” fire-eater who was perhaps the principal author of Texas’s secession ordinance.
Episode 15: Gettysburg Battlefield Guides
Civil War Curious
Garry Adelman discusses the life of a Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide and the questions he’s most frequently asked by visitors.
Drowning the Anaconda
The Front Line
How a string of mild hurricane seasons during the Civil War aided the Union navy’s blockading operations.
Gettysburg Postcards (2026)
Book Reviews
A handsome and handy reference volume that will repay anyone interested in the Gettysburg battlefield’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.
