We often hear why the Civil War was fought. Professors and reporters and “very important” folks tell us.And with great conviction they tell us!But you rarely hear from these scholars about why the man in uniform was fighting. Seems the soldier is simply forgotten.I usually write about a person. Sometimes about an event, but I […]
Many know Confederate cavalrymen like J.E.B. Stuart, or the fierce Nathan Bedford Forrest. But Robert E. Lee believed that Confederate General Wheeler (who later served as a Major General in the U.S. Army) was one of his two best Cavalry officers.Wheeler graduated from West Point (ironically, his lowest marks were in Cavalry Tactics). His nickname […]
General Dwight Eisenhower retired with five stars on his shoulders. He was the Supreme Allied Commander of World War II. Later, he became the President of the United States. In 1960, Leon Scott wrote Eisenhower a letter. It began: Dear Mr. President: At the Republication Convention I heard you mention that you have the pictures of four (4) […]
That photo is of David Eammons Johnston, only 17 when he joined up with Company D of the Virginia Seventh Regiment. After the war, Johnston wrote a book. He explains: “The chief motive which inspires this undertaking is to give some meager idea of the Confederate soldier in the ranks, and of his individual deeds of heroism, […]
December, 1863, near Dalton, Georgia. The Rebels are on top of Rocky Face Ridge, taking fire from cannons below. “Hold on, boys,” says a sharpshooter, “I’ll stop that racket.” His rifle cracks. Sure enough, things get quiet. But not for long. Soon, “the valley below is full of blue coats.” Private Sam Watkins’ Company H is ordered to […]
Have you ever wondered whether folks outside the United States ask us for Confederate flags? In fact, we do get a lot of requests for them. Canada is probably the top destination outside the States, but you might be surprised how many we ship to Scandinavia, Switzerland, Japan and Australia. Some of our customers send us photos. […]
Time for another tale of Private Sam Watkins. General Bragg ordered Sam’s First Tennessee Regiment to rearguard duty. It was not much fun: “You don’t move more than ten feet at furthest before you have to halt…. You haven’t time to sit down a moment before you are ordered to move on again. And the Yankees dash […]
There were many Confederate officers who went on to serve in the U.S. Army after the Civil War. One such officer was Thomas Rosser, a very successful cavalry commander.Thomas Rosser and George Custer had been roommates at West Point. Custer called Rosser “Tex,” and Custer was “Fanny.” (Custer’s long, blond hair also earned him the […]
In school we learned about the Monitor and the Merrimac. But the Merrimac was not its name when it battled the Monitor. It was actually Confederate Ship Virginia, and was never defeated in battle. Its Union nickname was “Rebel Monster.”Virginia did start her life as the wood-hulled Merrimak (yes, with a k, historians misspelled it). […]
The day was overcast, winds blowing hard as the Warships neared each other. The War of 1812 between Britain and America had just begun. The USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere were now enemies. Captain Hull was in command of the Constitution, and we have his report. “The Gallant crew gave three cheers” when Hull ordered the […]
