The Civil War Monitor
@cwmonitor.bsky.social
A quarterly magazine featuring originally researched & richly illustrated articles on all aspects of America's greatest conflict.
Learn more at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com
Learn more at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com
The Battle of Stones River concluded #otd in 1863. Braxton Bragg's Confederates attacked enemy positions east of the river but Union artillery inflicted heavy losses; Bragg withdrew the following day. Over 30% of all troops engaged were killed, wounded, or captured/missing.
January 2, 2026 at 2:42 PM
The Battle of Stones River concluded #otd in 1863. Braxton Bragg's Confederates attacked enemy positions east of the river but Union artillery inflicted heavy losses; Bragg withdrew the following day. Over 30% of all troops engaged were killed, wounded, or captured/missing.
The Emancipation Proclamation—which declared "all persons held as slaves” in the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free”—took effect #otd in 1863. Its enactment moved artists to salute the document, its effects & President Lincoln. View examples here: bit.ly/3RG6ALT
The Emancipation Proclamation
Discover the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation in the fight for freedom during the Civil War, as told through historical artwork.
bit.ly
January 1, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The Emancipation Proclamation—which declared "all persons held as slaves” in the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free”—took effect #otd in 1863. Its enactment moved artists to salute the document, its effects & President Lincoln. View examples here: bit.ly/3RG6ALT
"I would try and be sentimental in view of New Year’s Eve, but that could hardly be looked for in a man that eats onions." So wrote Union officer William Lusk in a letter home on Dec. 31, 1862. Read his entire thoughts on the turn of the New Year here: tinyurl.com/zn7ev6d5
New Year's Eve in Camp
Read the poignant reflections of Union officer William Thompson Lusk in a letter to his sister written on New Year's Eve 1862.
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December 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"I would try and be sentimental in view of New Year’s Eve, but that could hardly be looked for in a man that eats onions." So wrote Union officer William Lusk in a letter home on Dec. 31, 1862. Read his entire thoughts on the turn of the New Year here: tinyurl.com/zn7ev6d5
In "Union Guerrillas of Civil War Kansas: Jayhawkers and Red Legs," authors Paul A. Thomas and Matt M. Matthews "provide a balanced perspective on their protagonists," writes Riley Sullivan. Read more about the book here: civilwarmonitor.com/union-guerrillas-of-civil-war-kansas-2025/
Union Guerrillas of Civil War Kansas (2025)
A detailed review of "Union Guerrillas of Civil War Kansas: Jayhawkers and Red Legs" by Paul A. Thomas and Matt M. Matthews.
civilwarmonitor.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:23 PM
In "Union Guerrillas of Civil War Kansas: Jayhawkers and Red Legs," authors Paul A. Thomas and Matt M. Matthews "provide a balanced perspective on their protagonists," writes Riley Sullivan. Read more about the book here: civilwarmonitor.com/union-guerrillas-of-civil-war-kansas-2025/
In June 1864, Harper’s Weekly published an unattributed poem about a dog taken in by a Union sergeant. The story would have rung true with countless Civil War soldiers who had “adopted” personal or regimental pets during the conflict. Read it here: tinyurl.com/4fhh3edh
The Dog of the Regiment
Read the poem "The Dog of the Regiment," which tells the tale of a loyal dog adopted by a Union sergeant in the midst of the Civil War.
tinyurl.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
In June 1864, Harper’s Weekly published an unattributed poem about a dog taken in by a Union sergeant. The story would have rung true with countless Civil War soldiers who had “adopted” personal or regimental pets during the conflict. Read it here: tinyurl.com/4fhh3edh
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the day. Shown here: Thomas Nast’s depiction of Santa Claus distributing presents to soldiers at a Union army camp, published in Harper’s Weekly in January 1863. #MerryChristmas
December 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the day. Shown here: Thomas Nast’s depiction of Santa Claus distributing presents to soldiers at a Union army camp, published in Harper’s Weekly in January 1863. #MerryChristmas
"The Devil’s Own Purgatory: The United States Mississippi River Squadron in the Civil War" by Robert Gudmestad "merits a wide readership and the many accolades it is sure to receive," writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read why he thinks so here: tinyurl.com/4nadefx5
The Devil's Own Purgatory (2025)
A detailed review of "The Devil’s Own Purgatory: The United States Mississippi River Squadron in the Civil War" by Robert Gudmestad.
tinyurl.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
"The Devil’s Own Purgatory: The United States Mississippi River Squadron in the Civil War" by Robert Gudmestad "merits a wide readership and the many accolades it is sure to receive," writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read why he thinks so here: tinyurl.com/4nadefx5
In 1862, a Wisconsin newspaper published an article titled “What to Send to Soldiers," a sarcastic piece that poked fun at people who were reportedly shipping impractical items to friends and loved ones the front. Read it here: tinyurl.com/53t7934z
Impractical Packages from Home
In 1862, a Wisconsin newspaper poked fun at people who sent impractical care packages to family and friends in the Union army.
tinyurl.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
In 1862, a Wisconsin newspaper published an article titled “What to Send to Soldiers," a sarcastic piece that poked fun at people who were reportedly shipping impractical items to friends and loved ones the front. Read it here: tinyurl.com/53t7934z
Still holiday shopping? Consider a 1-year gift subscription—print, digital, or All Access—to the Monitor for the history enthusiast on your list. Your recipient will get an email announcing the gift on the date you choose. Order here: civilwarmonitor.com/subscribe/
December 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Still holiday shopping? Consider a 1-year gift subscription—print, digital, or All Access—to the Monitor for the history enthusiast on your list. Your recipient will get an email announcing the gift on the date you choose. Order here: civilwarmonitor.com/subscribe/
#otd in 1860, members of a secession convention in South Carolina—who had gathered in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election as president—declared the state's withdrawal from the U.S. This Charleston Mercury broadside, published the same day, spread the momentous news.
December 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
#otd in 1860, members of a secession convention in South Carolina—who had gathered in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election as president—declared the state's withdrawal from the U.S. This Charleston Mercury broadside, published the same day, spread the momentous news.
"The Second Manassas Campaign" edited by Caroline E. Janney and Kathryn J. Shively is a collection of "nine splendid essays" on a "chronically understudied" campaign, writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/5n6nvt44 @uncpress.bsky.social
The Second Manassas Campaign (2025)
A detailed review of "The Second Manassas Campaign" edited by Caroline E. Janney and Kathryn J. Shively.
tinyurl.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"The Second Manassas Campaign" edited by Caroline E. Janney and Kathryn J. Shively is a collection of "nine splendid essays" on a "chronically understudied" campaign, writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/5n6nvt44 @uncpress.bsky.social
In the latest installment of his "Science and War" digital history column, Scott Hippensteel writes about acoustic shadows and the impact they had on Civil War battlefields. Read it here: tinyurl.com/ywpccs2s
A Costly Science
How the military decisions made during a number of Civil War battles were critically influenced by the presence of acoustic shadows.
tinyurl.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
In the latest installment of his "Science and War" digital history column, Scott Hippensteel writes about acoustic shadows and the impact they had on Civil War battlefields. Read it here: tinyurl.com/ywpccs2s
"War Fought and Felt: The Emotional Motivations of Confederate Soldiers" by Joshua R. Shiver "raises new areas and new questions for historians to explore," writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/ebay337t @lsupress.bsky.social
War Fought and Felt (2025)
A detailed review of "War Fought and Felt: The Emotional Motivations of Confederate Soldiers" by Joshua R. Shiver.
tinyurl.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"War Fought and Felt: The Emotional Motivations of Confederate Soldiers" by Joshua R. Shiver "raises new areas and new questions for historians to explore," writes Brian Matthew Jordan. Read more about it here: tinyurl.com/ebay337t @lsupress.bsky.social
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
A Zouave at Fredericksburg
Experience the Battle of Fredericksburg through the eyes of a soldier in the 5th New York Infantry (Duryea's Zouaves).
tinyurl.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
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
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 Best Civil War Books of 2025
What were the best Civil War history books published in 2025? A panel of historians offers their picks.
tinyurl.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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: 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
The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment (2025)
A detailed review of "The 1st Michigan Colored Regiment: Free Men Who Fought Slavery" by Maurice Imhoff.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
"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
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
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.
tinyurl.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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.
November 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
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.”
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
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: 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
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.
tinyurl.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
"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
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
Extra Voices: Being Wounded
Read first-person quotes by Union and Confederate soldiers about their reactions to being wounded on the Civil War battlefield.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
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," 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
The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign (2025)
A detailed review of "The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign," edited by Stephen Davis.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"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
November 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
#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
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
Irish Connections
The author's trip to Ireland reveals the country's myriad connections to participants in the American Civil War.
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November 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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
November 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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