In which we continue our discussion of the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6-7, 1862.

In which we continue our discussion of the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6-7, 1862.

In which we continue to set the stage for the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6-7, 1862.

In which we start to set the stage for the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6-7, 1862.

In which we conclude our discussion of the Burnside Expedition, looking at the battle at New Bern (March 13, 1862) and the fall of Fort Macon (April 25, 1862). 

In which we look at the Burnside Expedition's capture of Roanoke Island, North Carolina on February 8, 1862.

In which we conclude our discussion of the world's first battle between two ironclad warships, the USS Monitor & the CSS Virginia, which took place on March 9, 1862.

In which we continue to tell the story of the world's first battle between two ironclad warships, the USS Monitor & the CSS Virginia, which took place on March 9, 1862.

In which we continue to tell the story of the world's first battle between two ironclad warships, the USS Monitor & the CSS Virginia, which took place on March 9, 1862.

In which we start to tell the story of the world's first battle between two ironclad warships, the USS Monitor & the CSS Virginia, which took place on March 9, 1862.

In which we conclude our discussion of the Battle of Pea Ridge, which took place in northwest Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862.

In which we continue our look at the Battle of Pea Ridge, which took place in northwest Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862.

In which we continue our discussion of the events preceding the Battle of Pea Ridge, which took place in northwest Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862.

In which we set the stage for the Battle of Pea Ridge, which took place in northwest Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862.

In which we make a special announcement and share some news about the podcast.

In which we celebrate our one hundreth episode with a music special featuring over twenty songs that were popular during the Civil War.

In which we wrap-up our discussion of Sibley's New Mexico Campaign by looking at the Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 28, 1862).

In which we talk about the Civil War origins of Thanksgiving Day, and share a few things for which we're thankful.

In which we continue our discussion of Sibley's New Mexico Campaign by looking at the Confederates' capture of Albuquerque & Santa Fe, the epic march of the First Colorado to Fort Union, and the engagement at Apache Pass (March 26, 1862).

In which we continue our look at Sibley's New Mexico Campaign by discussing the Battle of Valverde (February 21, 1862).

In which we set the stage for Sibley's New Mexico Campaign by discussing Texas's secession from the Union in February, 1861 and looking at "Baylor's Buffalo Hunt" (May-July, 1861). 

In which we talk a bit about Nathan Bedford Forrest's background and then take a closer look at his escape from Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862.

In which we conclude our discussion of the Battle of Fort Donelson (February 13-16, 1862).

In which we continue our discussion of the Battle of Fort Donelson (February 13-16, 1862).

In which we look at the opening stages of the Battle of Fort Donelson (February 13-16, 1862).

In which we look at the Federal timberclads' dramatic raid up the Tennessee River, and Albert Sidney Johnston's controversial decision to reinforce- but not to fully commit to the defense of- Fort Donelson.

In which we discuss the Battle of Fort Henry, which took place on February 6, 1862.

In which we give the background to Ulysses S. Grant's February, 1862 campaign to capture Forts Henry & Donelson in northern Tennessee.

In which we look at the Battle of Mill Springs, which took place in south-central Kentucky on January 19, 1862.

In which we set the stage for the Battle of Mill Springs, which took place in Kentucky on January 19, 1862.

In which we use a couple of episodes to take a look back at what happened during the first year of the Civil War.

In which we use a couple of episodes to take a look back at what happened during the first year of the Civil War.

In which we continue our discussion of Union and Confederate diplomacy during the Civil War by looking at the Trent Affair, which took the U.S. and Britain to the brink of war.

In which we discuss Union and Confederate foreign relations early in the Civil War, especially the South's use of "King Cotton Diplomacy."

In which we give you a short episode about the life of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston (1803-1862).

In which we give you a short episode about the timberclads & city-class ironclads of the Union's "brown water navy."

In which we discuss (among other things) the Battle of Belmont, which took place on November 7, 1861.

In which we set the stage for the Battle of Belmont (Nov. 7, 1861) by discussing Kentucky's neutrality early in the Civil War, and how the Confederate move to seize Columbus, KY pushed the Bluegrass State off the fence and into the Union camp.

In which we continue with our look at Ulysses S. Grant's life story, bringing him up to speed with the podcast timeline.

In which we set out to tell Ulysses S. Grant's life story and bring it up to speed with the point where we find ourselves on the podcast timeline- November, 1861.

In which we discuss the Port Royal Experiment on the South Carolina Sea Islands, which many people considered a dress rehearsal for the South's postwar reconstruction.

In which we set the stage for a discussion of the Port Royal Experiment, which took place on South Carolina's Sea Islands and which many people view as a "rehearsal for reconstruction."

In which we look at the Battle of Port Royal Sound, South Carolina (November 7, 1861).

In which we continue our discussion of the ordeal of Brigadier General Charles P. Stone.

In which we discuss the persecution of Brigadier General Charles Stone by the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.

In which we look at the Battle of Ball's Bluff (October 21, 1861).

In which we discuss George B. McClellan's arrival in Washington in July of 1861, and his taking command of the defeated & demoralized force that would become the Union's famed Army of the Potomac.

In which we look at Robert E. Lee's Cheat Mountain campaign in western Virginia in September, 1861.

In which we discuss the Blockade Board, Confederate privateers, and the capture of Hatteras Island by a Federal joint army-navy task force in August, 1861.

In which we look at John C. Fremont's tenure as commander of the Federal's Western Department in 1861 and see how troubled Missouri proved to be his downfall.

In which we discuss the successful siege of Lexington by Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard in September, 1861.

In which we cover the action at the Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861).

In which we discuss the activities and maneuvering of both sides prior to the Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861) in southwest Missouri.

In which we continue our look at the mayhem that broke out in Missouri at the start of the Civil War.  In this episode we cover the 'Battle of Carthage,' and set the stage for the Battle of Wilson's Creek.

In which we look at the mayhem that broke out in Missouri at the start of the Civil War.

In which we discuss Chief Justice Roger Taney's dramatic challenge to Abraham Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

In which we continue our discussion of medical issues affecting Civil War soldiers.  In this episode we look at what happened to a soldier after he was wounded on the battlefield.

In which we look at medical aspects of the Civil War.  In this episode we focus on diseases, which killed many many more Civil War soldiers than did wounds.

In which we take a quick look at the story behind the Confederacy's famous battle flag, and also the history behind each of the Confederate States of America's three national flags.

In which we conclude our discussion of the First Battle of Manassas (July 21, 1861), looking at the Federal army's retreat and the failure of the Confederates to pursue, and then we offer some final thoughts on the war's first major battle.

In which we continue with our discussion of the First Battle of Manassas (July 21, 1861), looking at the fight for Henry Hill, and then we move over to the action at Chinn Ridge.

In which we continue with our discussion of the First Battle of Manassas (July 21, 1861), looking at the start of the pivotal fight for Henry Hill. Plus, we see how Stonewall Jackson got his famous nickname.

In which we continue with our discussion of the First Battle of Manassas (July 21, 1861), looking at how McDowell failed to maintain the initiative after he seized Matthews Hill, and as a result the Confederates had time to forge a defensive line on Henry Hill.

In which we cover the start of the First Battle of Manassas (July 21, 1861)- including the Federals' flanking march to Sudley Ford and the fight for Matthews Hill.

In which we cover the affair at Blackburn's Ford on July 18, 1861. Plus, we look at McDowell's decision to change his plan and attempt to turn the Confederate left flank. 

In which we look at the start of the campaign that culminates with the First Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861.

In which we set the stage for the beginning of the campaign that culminates with the First Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861.

In which we look at why Northern & Southern men signed up to fight at the beginning of the Civil War.

In which we look at the importance of horses & mules to Civil War armies. Plus, we talk about Robert E Lee's horse- Traveller.

In which we discuss the decision to declare runaway slaves "contraband of war," and then we look at the Battle of Big Bethel which took place on June 10, 1861.

In which we cover the third Civil War combat arm: the artillery.

In which we give some book and other recommendations for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln giving Gettysburg Address.

In which we look at another one of the three Civil War combat arms: the cavalry.

In which we conclude our discussion of Civil War infantry.

In which we discuss the principal shoulder arm used by Union & Confederate infantrymen during the Civil War: the rifle-musket.

In which we use several episodes to talk about the three combat arms of the Civil War- the infantry, cavalry, & artillery.

In which we start off with a short bio of George McClellan, and then get to the continuation of the action in northwest Virginia with the Battle of Rich Mountain (July 11, 1861).

In which we look at the clash between Union & Confederate forces at Fairfax Court House in northeast Virginia on June 1, 1861... and the Union surprise attack at Philippi in northwest Virginia on June 3. 

In which we look at the fate that befell Arlington, the mansion and estate that was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family before the start of the Civil War.

In which we discuss the Confederate and Union war aims & strategy at the beginning of the Civil War. Plus, we look at the Union's move in May 1861 to seize Alexandria, Virginia- just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

In which we use this episode to give a short biography of Robert E Lee's life, up to April 1861 when he resigned his commision in the U.S. Army and took command of Virginia's military forces.

In which we discuss the April 19, 1861 proclamation by which Abraham Lincoln declared a blockade of the Confederacy. And we also look at the Confederate seizure of the important Gosport navy yard a few days later.

In which we wrap up our discussion of the dark days in April 1861 when Washington, DC was cut off from the North and in danger from Confederate invasion. 

In which we relate the events in the dark days of April 1861, when Washington DC was cut off from the loyal states of the North.

In which we talk about Abraham Lincoln's April 15th call for 75,000 militia to suppress the rebellion, and the subsequent secession of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, & North Carolina.

In which we discuss the bombardment of Sumter by the Confederate artillery batteries, and then the fort's evacuation by Major Robert Anderson & his men on April 14, 1861. Before the conclusion of the episode, we also tackle the questions: "What caused secession?" and "What caused the war?"

In which we discuss Lincoln's relief expedition to Fort Sumter, the Confederate government's decision to reduce the fort, and the opening shot of the bombardment on April 12, 1861. 

In which we continue our discussion of the escalating crisis over the possession of Fort Sumter.

In which we look at Abraham Lincoln's inaugural journey from Illinois to Washington, D.C. and then his inauguration as the sixteenth President of the United States on March 4, 1861. 

In which we continue our discussion of the events surrounding the growing crisis over the possession of Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor.

In which we discuss the dramatic events surrounding the growing crisis over the possession of Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor.

In which we look at how Abraham Lincoln used the time between his election victory and his inauguration as president to build his celebrated "team of rivals."

In which we head back north of the Mason-Dixon Line to see what was going on with Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois and with the powers-that-be in Washington, D.C. during the steady escalation of the secession crisis.

In which we continue the biographical sketch of Jefferson Davis's life in order to bring him up to speed with where we are on the podcast timeline, the year 1861. We end this episode by taking a look at the formation of the Confederate cabinet.

In which we use a special two-part biography of Jefferson Davis to bring his life up to speed with where we currently are on the podcast timeline, the year 1861.

In which we take a look at some of the major differences between North & South on the eve of the Civil War.

In which we discuss the birth of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama in February 1861.

In which we continue our discussion by asking if the southern states had a right to secede, or if secession was rebellion. Then, we look at the message the secession commissioners spread throughout the South in late 1860/early 1861. Our book recommendation for this episode is "Apostles of Disunion" by Charles B. Dew.

In which we look at how seven southern states withdrew from the Union between Abraham Lincoln's election and his inauguration.  We answer the question: What was behind the secession of these states?

In which we discuss the reasons behind the collapse of the Democratic Party, the resulting four-way contest for the presidency, and Abraham Lincoln's victory on Election Day, November 6, 1860.