By Ronald S. Coddington The declaration of war against Mexico in May 1846 ignited an explosion of recruiting for volunteer military organizations across the 28 United States. Men from all
By Richard Leisenring, Jr., adapted from his forthcoming book Elmira. The name is as recognizable to any novice Civil War historian as Gettysburg, Appomattox, or Andersonville. Over the years, books
By Dave Batalo and Hunter Lesser Basking in the glow of victory after the Battle of Rich Mountain, Maj. Gen. George McClellan eyed hundreds of forlorn Confederate prisoners. One group
By Ronald S. Coddington Norman Delaney enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation on May 25, 1952. The 20-year-old, full-time college student and army reservist also worked part-time and commanded his
By Ronald S. Coddington In the autumn of 1864, with the war in its desperate final stages, a 17-year-old Alabama farm boy accompanied a neighbor returning to his regiment along
By Charles T. Joyce Visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park encounter stone sentinels of all shapes and sizes. One of them, an austere granite marker on the north side
Introduction by Austin Sundstrom, with images from his Uncle Karl’s collection Some of my earliest memories of my uncle, Karl Sundstrom, revolve around visiting his house in the town just
The sight of a man missing an arm or leg rarely occurred before the Civil War, observed a newspaper editorial in the Confederate capital during the waning days of the
By Ronald S. Coddington, with images from the Dave Batalo Collection High anxiety consumed Lt. Col. Lewis Minor Coleman at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862. As fierce
By Sidney Dreese Nothing mattered more to Sarah “Sallie” Chamberlin than to live a useful life. A fire burned in her patriotic heart, and she was both anxious and determined
