The Civil War Monitor

A Zouave at Fredericksburg Experience the Battle of Fredericksburg through the eyes of a soldier in the 5th New York Infantry (Duryea's Zouaves).

The Army of the Potomac suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. Shortly afterward, a New York soldier who survived the fight unscathed wrote about his experiences in a detailed letter to his parents. Read it here: tinyurl.com/ydzvw2ed

The Best Civil War Books of 2025 What were the best Civil War history books published in 2025? A panel of historians offers their picks.

What were the best Civil War history books published in 2025? We asked a panel of historians for their picks and published the results in our Winter issue. Read them here: tinyurl.com/yp7fac2u @uncpress.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social @oxunipress.bsky.social

The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment (2025) A detailed review of "The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment: Free Men Who Fought Slavery" by Maurice Imhoff.

"The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment: Free Men Who Fought Slavery" by Maurice Imhoff is "an accessible account of Michigan’s only African American regiment," writes Greyson Bettendorf. Read more about it here: bit.ly/3Y6n9nO

Régis de Trobriand at Getysburg A reevaluation of French-born Union officer Régis de Trobriand's performance in the fight for the Wheatfield at the Battle of Gettysburg.

In our latest digital history column, West Point Cadet Matthew Clifford uses new evidence and modern technology to re-evaluate French-born Union officer Régis de Trobriand’s performance in the fight for the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Read it here: tinyurl.com/mzfhzsbz

James Longstreet's Confederates attacked Ambrose Burnside's Federals outside Knoxville at Fort Sanders #otd in 1863. The lopsided Union victory (Confederates suffered some 800 casualties to the opponent's 20) prompted Longstreet to end his brief siege of the city.

Happy #Thanksgiving! If your eyes are bigger than your stomach today, know you’re not alone. Even Civil War soldiers were prone to overindulging on the big day, as evidenced by this 1864 Harper’s Weekly cartoon titled “Bellycose appearance of our brave boys after Thanksgiving.”

Conflict and Controversy in the Confederate High Command (2025) A detailed review of "Conflict and Controversy in the Confederate High Command: Davis, Johnston, Hood and the Atlanta Campaign of 1864" by Dennis B. Conklin II.

"Conflict and Controversy in the Confederate High Command: Davis, Johnston, Hood and the Atlanta Campaign of 1864" by Dennis B. Conklin II is "a readable and historiographically informed military history," writes Robert L. Glaze. Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/uaaz5r3c

Extra Voices: Being Wounded Read first-person quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers about their reactions to being wounded on the Civil War battlefield.

In the Voices department of our current (Winter '25) issue we highlight quotes from Union and Confederate soldiers about being wounded in battle. Unfortunately, we didn’t have room to include all that we found. Read those that just missed the cut here: tinyurl.com/r2retymw

The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign (2025) A detailed review of "The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign," edited by Stephen Davis.

"The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign," edited by Stephen Davis, is a book "students of Atlanta or Civil War memory will want to add...to their bookshelves," writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read more about it here: bit.ly/3JW2RKv

#otd in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the best-known orations in American history, the Gettysburg Address. We created a word cloud of the brief but carefully crafted speech; more frequently he used a word, the larger it appears. View it here: bit.ly/3K7W00u

Irish Connections The author's trip to Ireland reveals the country's myriad connections to participants in the American Civil War.

In the latest installment of his "Tales from the Road" column, John Banks writes of his recent trip to Ireland, where he found myriad connections to men who fought on both sides in the Civil War. Read it here: bit.ly/4r1PKIg

The digital version of our Winter '25 issue is now live for subscribers to read at our website: bit.ly/3JJ3U0f. Not yet a subscriber? Fix that here: bit.ly/4aERspr. #civilwarhistory #twitterstorians #history #americancivilwar

Exporting Reconstruction (2024) A detailed review of "Exporting Reconstruction: Ulysses S. Grant and a New Empire of Liberty" by Ryan P. Semmes.

"Exporting Reconstruction: Ulysses S. Grant and a New Empire of Liberty" by Ryan P. Semmes is "part of a growing body of scholarship that broadens the study of Reconstruction beyond the U.S. South," writes Evan C. Rothera. Read more about it here: bit.ly/4nV1f1B @uscpress.bsky.social

We'd like to thank all who have served in our country's armed forces on this #VeteransDay. Shown here: Union vets strike up a tune at the 50th Battle of Gettysburg reunion in 1913.

Civil War Veterans, Part 3 Continue your journey into the lives of Civil War veterans with the third installment of our "Civil War Vetreans" photo essay series.

In advance of Veterans Day, we assembled a variety of photos of former Union and Confederate soldiers as they appeared in the decades after the conflict. View them here: bit.ly/3LSay4J

Episode 6: The Telegraph Historian David Hochfelder discusses the vital and often unseen role of the telegraph during the Civil War.

In the Season 1 finale of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian David Hochfelder discusses the vital and often unseen role of the telegraph during the Civil War. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: bit.ly/47HM59Q

Lee Besieged (2025) A detailed review of "Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864" by John Horn.

"Lee Besieged: Grant’s Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18-July 1, 1864" by John Horn provides "much of interest" for those interested in an overview of this important operation, writes Keith Altavilla. Read more about it here: bit.ly/49DVGkl

Wartime Voting View illustrations that showcase the voting process on both the homefront and the battlefield during the 1864 presidential election.

It's election day in a handful of states. What was voting like during the Civil War? We compiled illustrations that shed light on the process—on the homefront and in the army—during the vital 1864 presidential election. View them here: bit.ly/3JkYXKW

The Future of Public History Rich Condon ponders the future of public history in today's environment of division and anti-intellectualism.

What's the future hold for public historians? In our latest digital history column, Rich Condon reflects on where things stand—and the challenges going forward—for those on the front lines of historical interpretation. Read it here: bit.ly/4qGcyNA @richcondon.bsky.social

Happy #Halloween! This spooky Harper's Weekly illustration from May 1862 shows Confederate president Jefferson Davis being driven "in the direction of the Last Ditch" by his enthusiastic "new coachman," a skeleton.

Episode 5: Photography Jennifer Raab on the power and importance of Civil War photography, including how the camera shaped how we remember the war today.

In the latest episode of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian Jennifer Raab discusses the power and importance of Civil War photography, including how the camera shaped how we remember the war today. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: tinyurl.com/4r8e8ynf

As Wolves Upon a Sheep Fold (2023) A detailed review of "As Wolves Upon a Sheep Fold: The Civil War Letters of Ohio Surgeon William S. Newton," edited by Aaron D. Purcell.

"As Wolves Upon a Sheep Fold: The Civil War Letters of Ohio Surgeon William S. Newton," ed. by Aaron D. Purcell, offers a "valuable narrative of a family man navigating the challenges and opportunities posed by the U.S. Civil War." Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/5t44dsr3

An Unnamed Hero Revealed Learn about the historic clash between USS Sassacus and CSS Albemarle, featuring the heroism of Union sailor James M. Hobby.

On May 5, 1864, USS Sassacus was one of several Union ships to engage the Confederate ironclad ram Albermarle off the coast of North Carolina. Read the heroic story of James M. Hobby, one of the Union sailors engaged that day, here: tinyurl.com/435kbywn

In the latest episode of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian Scott Huffard talks about how railroads became the engine of the war, transforming everything from logistics to troop movements. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: tinyurl.com/ym4cpu6c

From Ironclads to Admiral (2025) A detailed review of "From Ironclads to Admiral: John Lorimer Worden and Naval Leadership" by John V. Quarstein and Robert L. Worden.

"From Ironclads to Admiral: John Lorimer Worden and Naval Leadership" by John V. Quarstein and Robert L. Worden gives "one of the war’s most famed naval officers...the biography that he deserves," writes Neil P. Chatelain. Read more here: tinyurl.com/3ctzzksb

Eyewitness to Ball's Bluff Discover first-hand accounts of the Battle of Ball's Bluff through the letters of Richard C. Derby, a Union soldier in the 15th Massachusetts Infantry.

After the decisive Union defeat at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, fought #otd 164 years ago, Massachusetts officer Richard Derby wrote home about his harrowing experiences. Read his letters here: bit.ly/4hgleFB

Sir Richard Francis Burton’s American Adventure A look at British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton's 1860 tour of the U.S.—including the West—as the country hurtled toward civil war.

In our latest digital history column, Cecily Zander writes about British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton's 1860 tour of the U.S. as the country hurtled toward civil war. Read it here: bit.ly/3JfYERh

Episode 3: Wartime Industry Nathan Madison talks about the crucial role played by northern and southern industries during the conflict, with a focus on Richmond’s Tredegar Iron Works.

In the latest episode of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian Nathan Madison talks about the crucial role played by northern and southern industries during the conflict. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: bit.ly/4hhIeof

Hero of Fort Sumter (2025) A detailed review of "Hero of Fort Sumter: The Extraordinary Life of Robert Anderson" by Wesley Moody.

"Hero of Fort Sumter: The Extraordinary Life of Robert Anderson" by Wesley Moody offers "a cradle-to-grave account of Anderson’s life and career" that readers "will certainly enjoy," writes Evan C. Rothera. Learn more here: bit.ly/4nc6xFr

A.P. Hill's Confederates engaged Gouverneur Warren's II Corps at Bristoe Station, VA, #otd in 1863. Hill's men suffered nearly three times as many casualties as his opponents in the Union victory. Shown here: a wartime sketch of a Union field hospital after the battle.