TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Category: 150 Years Ago in the Civil War

  • The Killing of Uncle John Sedgwick – 150 years ago today

    One hundred and fifty years ago today the bloody battle of the Wilderness was over and the even bloodier battle of Spotsylvania Court House just beginning. One of those who fell this day was was the commander of the Union Sixth Corps, Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick. Here’s an article that I wrote about the incident […]

  • The Battle of Ft. Harrison: Richard S. Ewell’s Previously Unpublished Account

    Lt. General Richard S. Ewell is well-known among students of the early was battles, perhaps being most famous for his decision not to attack the Union position on Cemetery Hill on the evening of July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg.  Ewell’s performance at Gettysburg, in the Fall of 1863 and in the Overland Campaign caused General […]

  • Savas Beatie and the Siege of Petersburg

    I was recently emailing back and forth with John Horn, author of several Civil War books on the Siege of Petersburg, and he let me know that he is working with Savas Beatie to produce an updated version of his look at the Siege of Petersburg’s Fourth Offensive in 1864.  The original, The Petersburg Campaign: […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses: Synopses, Orders of Battle, Strengths, Casualties, and Maps, June 9 – July 14, 1863

    The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses: Synopses, Orders of Battle, Strengths, Casualties, and Maps, June 9 – July 14, 1863 by J. David Petruzzi and Steven Stanley Product Details Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: Savas Beatie (April 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1611210801 ISBN-13: 978-1611210804 “Oh goody!” was my reaction on receiving this book.  I confess […]

  • America in 1913, 50 Years after the War

    1913 The celebration of the 100th Birthday of a local community started me thinking about what America was like as the 50th anniversary of the War Between the States occurred.  This paper is a very quick look at America during the 50th anniversary of the events of 1863. Woodrow Wilson is President, the first Southerner […]

  • Two Views of Gettysburg Town

    With the Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Gettysburg almost on us I thought I’d post a couple of contemporary views of the town. As most of you know the Confederates swept through the town on July 1, driving the Federals before them and capturing large numbers of them. The Federals, however, held Cemetery Hill just […]

  • 150 Years Ago, June 1863

    150 Years Ago June 1863   The war is entering its’ third summer with no end in sight.  Some people in the North are questioning both the possibility of victory and what value victory would have.  The Washington Richmond front monopolizes people’s attention.  Robert E. Lee seems invincible going from victory to victory. Chancellorsville is […]