TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Category: Campaigns & Battles

  • How a phantom Longstreet spooked Shields

    When reading about the the Valley Campaign of 1862  I have chuckled at how Gen. James Shields over-reacted to a non-existent threat.  Yet recently I wondered if there was something more to it.  I haven’t been able to find answers to all my questions, but what I have learned seems interesting. On June 7th, 1862 […]

  • How Sherman Won Lookout Mountain

    Yes, you read the title right.  I am going to put forth an alternative argument about the capture of Lookout Mountain. While the dramatic story of Hooker’s advance around the face of the mountain might be well known, I think the cause and effect is not. On the morning of November 23rd the Confederates had […]

  • The Red Legged Devils of the 14th New York

    THE RED LEGGED DEVILS OF THE 14th NEW YORK Here is an excerpt from the History of the 14th Regiment. When revile sounded the morning of July 1st the regiment awakened to a blood red sunrise, the prophecy of a hot summer day.  At 7 A. M. an aide galloped hurriedly to Colonel Fowler’s tent […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Maps of Antietam by Brad Gottfried

    Gottfried, Bradley M. The Maps of Antietam: An Atlas of the Antietam (Sharpsburg) Campaign, September 2-20, 1862. (Savas Beatie: June 2012). 360 pages, 124 full color, full page maps), bibliography, endnotes, index. ISBN: 978-1-611210-86-6 $39.95 (Hardcover). WOW.  I’ve never started a review with that word, but I’ll write it again.  WOW.  The Maps of Antietam: […]

  • Guns of the Second Iowa & Hackleman’s Brigade

    Some time ago I put up a post asking about the rifles carried by the Second Iowa, and now I finally have an answer thanks to Bill Adams, who kindly looked it up for the Corinth battle. 52nd Illinois – Enfield Rifle .577 cal. 2nd Iowa – M1842 rifled musket .69 cal. 7th Iowa – […]

  • The Battle of the Crater: 148 Years Ago Today

    The Battle of the Crater, arguably the most famous battle of the Siege of Petersburg, occurred on this date 148 years ago, on July 30, 1864.  For further information on the battle of the Crater, as well as numerous first person accounts, see my Battle of the Crater page at the Siege of Petersburg Online. […]

  • Kearny vs. McClellan: Frustration on the Peninsula

    Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of guest posts by Greg Quinion.  In addition to being an avid history reader and world traveler, Greg works as a freelance travel and history writer and Information Analyst in Washington DC.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, […]