In Episode 11 of "The Antietam And Beyond Podcast," author Steven Cowie shares with co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan stories of the profound impact of the Battle of Antietam on civilians in Sharpsburg, Md. Among the stories Cowie tells is of the heartbreaking loss for farmer William Roulette of his 20-month-old daughter, Carrie May, who died of disease more than a month after the battle.  Cowie’s book is the result of 15 years of comprehensive study. He unearthed a trove of previously unused archival accounts and examined scores of primary sources, including letters, diaries, regim ..read more

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It took quite the effort for me to get this far. (Image courtesy Jonathan Perryman)                 Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos On Sunday afternoon, my friend Tony Patton — our excellent Resaca (Ga.) battlefield guide — made the grave error of pointing out to us the gigantic, lonely stump of a “witness tree” in a field where United States troops advanced during the mid-May 1864 fighting. So naturally, “The Irishman” and I had to see up close this marvel of nature. (Cóilín ..read more

Before departing for the rest of his Western Theater trip, Cóilín Ó Coigligh visited Shy's Hill, where John Bell Hood anchored his left flank during the Battle of Nashville.                     Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos Before Irishman Cóilín Ó Coigligh continued his epic three-week journey to other Civil War battlefields in the Western Theater, I gave him an early morning tour of Shy’s Hill — the extreme left flank of the ragged Army of Tennessee’s line during ..read more

In Episode 10 of "The Antietam And Beyond Podcast," Irish historian Damian Shiels joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a fascinating discussion about the famous Irish Brigade that fought on the William Roulette farm and at Bloody Lane during the Battle of Antietam.  Learn more about Irish Brigade commander Thomas Meagher, common soldiers in the unit, the "procession of death" for the Irish in 1864 and much more. Plus, no podcast with an Irish Civil War historian can go without mentioning Major General Patrick Cleburne, the famous Confederate commander who died at the Battle o ..read more

Irishman Cóilín Ó Coigligh (right) bought a copy of my book in Ireland and brought it to Tennessee for me to autograph.                   Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos Only one week into his very own Civil War road trip of a lifetime, Irishman Cóilín Ó Coigligh has put 1,200 miles on his rental car, visited the Shiloh, Corinth, Brices Cross Roads, Vicksburg, Big Black River, Champion Hill and Kennesaw Mountain battlefields and made at least one American friend: me. Over ..read more

William Sherman's sword will be among the items from the general's personal  collection up for auction. (Images courtesy of Fleischer’s Auctions)                 Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos Moments after ending a call with Adam Fleischer — the 30-year-old president of Columbus, Ohio-based Fleischer’s Auctions — I made a beeline to Mrs. B. ”This man in Ohio is auctioning off Gen. William Sherman’s sword and other artifacts,” I said, practically spitting out the words ..read more

During the Battle of Knob Gap on Dec. 26, 1862, United States troops advanced  toward the gap through which Nolensville Pike passes. (CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.)                Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos Following a long bike ride, I crave a history fix, so I park at Wabash Southern Kitchen in Nolensville, Tenn., across the road from the Amish furniture maker, and make my way into an antiques store. Across busy Nolensville Pike, a lonely historical marker tells any visit ..read more

In Episode 9 of "The Antietam And Beyond Podcast," Antietam guide Laura Marfut, a retired U.S. Army colonel, joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a discussion about the fighting in The Bloody Cornfield on the northern end of the battlefield. Learn more about artillery, Iron Brigade officer Rufus Dawes, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood — and, yes, dangling biscuits! Marfut graduated from the U.S. Army War College with a master’s degree in strategic studies. In 2019, she was certified as an Antietam National Battlefield guide. Marfut is also a board member of the Antietam Institute, w ..read more

Oh, deer: The massive cooling tower at the nuclear power plant.                     Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | My YouTube videos Minutes after pulling into quaint Hartsville, Tenn., where Rebel cavalry commander John Hunt Morgan scored a huge victory on Dec. 7, 1862, western Pennsylvania pal Jack and I scored beverages and knowledge at a coffee shop on River Street. Inside, a tall man wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses ambled over to us strangers and engaged in small talk. “You ..read more