The Civil War Podcast

The New York Times’ Disunion (which I’ll be referencing a lot less thanks to the stingier paywall limits) examines suicides in the Confederate army, which it seems was more prevalent than in the Union army. Some excellent points are put forth.  (One not suggested was “the cause”; if Emancipation could breathe new life into the Northern [...]

A strict disciplinarian who served during the Mexican-American War and as drillmaster for the Utica, New York, city militia, William Henry Christian certainly had the credentials of an officer. A surveyor and engineer by trade, Christian sought to make his mark in the military and got off to a promising start. As events proved, however, [...]

Disunion discusses how the war was filtered through comedy (mainly of the sarcastic bent) at the time. Abraham Lincoln became the war’s most notorious jester, known for his backcountry yarns and goofy, self-deprecating style. Washington socialites complained that he simply would not stop telling jokes at their dinner parties. His cabinet – stiff, bearded, capable [...]

The New York Times’ Disunion series has a great entry on Cump Sherman and his mental illness. Sherman has long been my favourite Civil War personality, due in large part to his personality, and his personality was hugely determined by his bipolar disorder. Luckily for him – and us – he shared Lincoln’s ability to [...]