One of the most recognizable components of the Civil War soldier’s uniform to the modern observer is the hat; whether it’s the tall, brimmed hat associated with officers, the slouch cap of the private, or the exotic fez associated with the Zouave regiments, the hats worn by those who fought in the Civil War are [...]

No one was shocked when the nascent Confederate States of America made the decision to locate their capitol in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia’s storied history gave her an importance both to the Union and to the Confederacy; as far as the South was concerned, Virginia was the figurehead of the South, and thusly it was [...]

One of the most recognizable names of the American Civil War, the Battle of Bull Run was one of the first major battles of the Civil War. However, there were actually two battles of Bull Run; the first took place in 1861, the second in 1862.
The first Battle of Bull Run was fought on [...]

What’s the difference between an admiral and a general? What’s the difference between an enlisted and a commissioned officer? If you’ve ever found yourself confused when military rank when reading about the Civil War, then you are not alone - the intricacies of military rank, especially as they apply to as many different [...]

While a woman’s place was certainly considered to be the home during the Victorian era, many women defied this tradition during the American Civil War, leaving their homes and sometimes even their hometowns to do what they could for the war effort.
One of the most common roles that women took on during the Civil [...]

Monuments to fallen Civil War soldiers began appearing almost as soon as the first casualties fell. Throughout the country, north and south, states, towns, and even families began constructing monuments to their fallen soldiers, individuals and entire regiments. Whether on the town square or in a local cemetery, these monuments allowed grieving members of [...]

Antiques from the Civil War era are among the most valuable on the American antique market. If you think you have an item in your home that belongs to the Civil War era, then get thee to Antiques Roadshow and fast- you’ve probably got a small fortune in your attic!
The market for Civil War [...]

A strange sort of nostalgia for the Civil War sprang up almost as soon as the war was over. Traveling circuses and other attractions began displaying artifacts associated with the war almost immediately; however, these public displays were only a part of the nation’s desire to memorialize the war. The Victorian tendency towards [...]

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Mark Twain
Statistics are notoriously unreliable, and in no instance are statistics more unreliable than those that exist about the Civil War. Historians often quibble about statistics that exist regarding the Civil War, and it’s no wonder – while records were kept during the [...]

The American Civil War changed almost every aspect of life for both soldiers and civilians. Both Union and Confederate states experienced inflation and shortages of goods. The way that people paid for items changed, as well.
One of the first effects of the war that civilians both North and South felt was the absence [...]