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Civil War Letters of Henry H. Twining

January 22nd, 2012 | Add a Comment

Civil War Letters of Henry H. Twining

On April 9, 1865, just hours after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant and for all practical purposes ended the Civil War, the Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment charged across a hellish field of abatis, snarled debris, and ravines loaded with landmines. Their target was Fort Blakely, Alabama. A needless assault (20,000 against less than 2,000) that took only minutes to complete, cost the Eleventh Wisconsin 61 casualties, and ordered by … Read entire article »

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12 Miles from Richmond Soldier’s Letter

12 Miles from Richmond Soldier’s Letter

Another letter we were not able to ID the soldier and also a good letter: In Camp twelve miles from Richmond May 25 Dear Mother, I last wrote from West Point. I mentioned this so you may know whether you received all. The papers probably keep you better posted concerning our movement than is possible for me to do as I can know but … Read entire article »

Iowa Wife Writes Soldier Husband

Iowa Wife Writes Soldier Husband

We were not able to enter this into the database without a soldier ID, but it is an interesting letter from home to a soldier from his wife. Dear Husband, I mailed a letter to you the morn before I received yours of the 24th but I was so bothered with the baby and the neighbors running in that I did not … Read entire article »

Confederate Soldiers during the Gettysburg Champaign, we “made the inhabitants feel the horrors of war”

Confederate Soldiers during the Gettysburg Champaign, we “made the inhabitants feel the horrors of war”

Charles J.C. Hutson was with the South Carolina 1st Infantry serving with Major General William Pender of Hill’s Corps, and as they entered Pennsylvania, they traveled on the Turnpike towards Harrisburg. Listening to Hutson describe the march, one would think the Confederates were doing an early version of Sherman’s March: We entered Penn. with as fine an army as was ever … Read entire article »

Letters Home from the Front, Christmas 1862, Such is the Fate of War

Letters Home from the Front, Christmas 1862, Such is the Fate of War

Christmas was often a time of reflection for Civil War soldiers as their hearts and minds fixated on past and more joyous times. In spirit of the Holiday we here at Soldier Studies wanted to share with you some touching letters dealing with Christmas. Samuel J. Bradlee took pen in hand on Christmas Day (1864) and wrote home to his … Read entire article »

The Charge of the Heavy Artillery

The Charge of the Heavy Artillery

[This is one of more thoughtful and provoking reflections by a soldier concerning a battle that I have ever come across while curator for Soldier Studies. This account was published in the "Main Bugle" (January, 1894.) a short lived quarterly publication depicting the exploits and histories of various Maine regiments. The 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Regiment took part in one … Read entire article »

The Civil War Monitor

The Civil War Monitor

The Civil War Monitor is a new publication which recently released its second issue. Their current issue lineup includes: Custer and the End of Innocence In little more than a decade, George Armstrong Custer—the “Boy General of the Golden Lock”—went from Civil War darling to Little Bighorn pariah. What went wrong? By Glenn W. LaFantasie Black Men in Blue A series of images highlights the … Read entire article »

…the hopes of liberty which they had kept alive…

…the hopes of liberty which they had kept alive…

On July 7, 1862 a fierce but small battle took place near Bayou Cache River in eastern Arkansas. During the fight the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers was called into action to help sustain a charge that resulted in the Confederates fleeing from the battlefield. The regiment hisorian noted the arrival after the battle of Contraband, who he described as … Read entire article »

Video: A letter sent from a man on the front lines to his wife back home

A letter sent from a man on the front lines to his wife back home. … Read entire article »

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