Love Found and Lost
By Kevin D. Canberg In 1861, happenstance brought together young Carrie Deppen and her soldier love, George W. Ladd. And, 154 years later, a chance discovery has reunited them. On
Category: 2015 Autumn
“Glory to Stand Upon Some Lofty Pinnacle”
By Katharina Schlichtherle On the evening of May 31, 1862, the men of the 4th North Carolina State Troops who remained standing, after their baptism of fire in the battle
Armed to the Teeth? The Use of Prop Weapons in Civil War Studio Photography
By Katelyn Brown Few people would dispute the accepted fact that battlefield photographers of the Civil War sometimes included props—even human beings—in their photographs. Alexander Gardner famously moved corpses in
A Member of King’s Mountain Military School
A second lieutenant poses with his sword and plumed dress cap adorned with the letters KMMS—the King’s Mountain Military School. Established at Yorkville, S.C., in 1855, the institution was designed
Mistaken Identity? Early Use of Photographic Evidence in Two Court-Martial Case for Desertion
By Elena Colón-Marrero State identification cards did not exist in 19th-century America. As a consequence, proving a person’s identity could require creativity and innovation. Two court-martial cases that arose at
America’s Champion Aeronaut in the Civil War
By Sarah Hopkins Panic struck the crew of the steamer Mary Stewart on July 20, 1857, as they gazed into the stormy sky, believing they saw a comet careening towards
From the “Star” to the “Shenandoah”
By Ronald S. Coddington The sturdy paddle wheels of the Star of the West beat rhythmically against the waters of the Atlantic, as she steamed into Charleston Harbor. Packed with
Cap Insignia: Topping It Off
By Michael J. McAfee The U.S. Army Regulations of 1861 were very specific on what trim should be placed on the 1858 forage cap. Section #1493 specified “yellow metal letters
Union Soldiers
A bewhiskered Union artilleryman brandishes a .36 caliber Model 1862 Colt Police Revolver. The hammer is pulled back, though his finger rests only on the trigger guard. The Stars and
Tintype Stares and Regal Airs
By Isidora Stankovic “Dear sister,” “Dear father,” “Dear brother,” “Dear son,” reverberate throughout the thousands of letters left behind by men who served in the American Civil War. When writing