Civil War Photo Sleuth: An Update
By Kurt Luther Last August, we launched Civil War Photo Sleuth (CWPS), a free website that brings together community expertise and face recognition technology to identify unknown Civil War soldier
Category: 2019 Spring
“Fateful April 6”
In February 1905, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution to return 74 captured Confederate flags stored in the War Department in Washington, D.C. According to a news report, the
Red-Whiskered Artillery Genius: New York’s Capt. Jacob Roemer
By Mike Fitzpatrick Jacob Roemer suffered seven wounds and injuries in the line of duty during more than three years of active service. The number perhaps comes as no surprise,
Two New Ventures
When I came into possession of MI in 2013, one of my first orders of business was to establish a presence on social media. Regular posts include sharing images, stories,
No Mustaches or Imperials Allowed
Sporting a beard and a hint of a smile, this naval 1st assistant engineer dresses in an 1852 regulation uniform. The general order, dated March 8, 1852, provides detailed guidelines
The Refreshingly Honest James Benton on Death, Disease and Life
Civil War letters are the ultimate first draft of the conflict’s history. These intimate writings, packed with news and rumor from the front lines and a longing for home and
Freedmen Teacher, Overland Campaign Nurse
A pall of gloom and uncertainty darkened Washington, D.C., as accounts of horrific fighting in Virginia trickled into the city in early May 1864. But as citizens across the capital
Rare Images of a Field Photography Studio, a Soldier Post Mortem, and More
In the midst of death we are in life is a fitting way to describe this image of a young soldier resting a hand on a fawn. Was the soldier
A New Look at Old Abe’s Color Guard: Researchers combine classic and cutting-edge techniques to reexamine the identities of soldiers in an iconic image
By Tyler Phillips, Kenneth E. Byrd and Xukai Zou One of the best-known images of the Civil War is that of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Color Guard with its live
Requiescat in Pace: Memorial photographs of the Civil War
By Richard Leisenring Jr. After the death of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth in 1861, patriotic Northerners eager to remember his martyrdom purchased a huge number of cartes de visite featuring