By John Coski
Historian

By Robert Hancock
Senior Curator & Director of Collections

What is it?

By John Coski
Historian

By John Coski
Historian

The most popular subjects of sketches by Civil War soldiers were their camps – no doubt a product of the amount of time they spent in those camps. Highlighted here are two such sketches from the Museum’s collections: a simple pencil and ink sketch of a simple camp at Neil’s Dam, Virginia, 1861, by Pvt. Kennedy Palmer of Company H, 13th Virginia Infantry, and a more elaborate sketch of the more elaborate winter quarters of an artillery battalion in Albemarle County, Virginia, 1863-1864.

This blog series features lesser-known stories from the Civil War era.

By Liz Ale
Visitor Engagement Associate

By Michael C. Hardy
Historian 

Michael C. Hardy is the 2010 North Carolina Historian of the Year. He specializes in writing about North Carolina and Civil War history. You can learn more about him by checking out his web page at: michaelchardy.com

He probably started off as a Confederate soldier, deserted, joined the Union army, and even had a fort named for him. But when it comes to the life of William W. Rollins, plenty of questions remain.

By Robert Hancock
Senior Curator and Director of Collections

Today we might call President Jefferson Davis a micro-manager. He took interest in a variety of aspects in the running of the war which probably could have been left to subordinates. On the mantel of his home office we find two prototype artillery projectiles. These wooden models (the actual projectiles were made of iron) were the type that served as patterns in the government’s Patent Office.

By Jodi Frederiksen
Collections Manager

The Battle of First Manassas, fought on July 21, 1861, was the first major battle of the Civil War.  Many of the experiences of soldiers on that day are lost to history.  However, when Major Robert Harris donated these field glasses to the museum in 1893, he wrote of his experience:

April 2d 1893

Fort McRee, Pensacola Harbor

By Leo Rohr
Marketing Manager

Whether you subscribe to superstition or not, Friday the 13th has entered our popular culture as a harbinger of bad luck (and bad movies). Eight Fridays fell on the 13th during the American Civil War. Some saw major battles, others mere skirmishes. But were these days host to specific instances of bad luck? Anyone who was wounded in the fighting or who lost a loved one might have thought so. See for yourself as we recap each day. (follow the links to learn more about that day's events or see related artifacts from our collection)

By John Coski
Historian

Most modern Americans anticipate eagerly the end of the winter and the coming of spring. Imagine how much more you would celebrate the coming of spring if you had spent the winter as a soldier in camp or on campaign.