“Hurrah for Col. Smith!”
The 1st Maine Cavalry faced annihilation near St. Mary’s Church, Va., on June 24, 1864. About 3 p.m. that afternoon, an overwhelming force of Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton’s rebel troopers
Category: The Honored Few
Match His Record!
Almost a half century after the Civil War, an aged veteran wrote, “I will say to the whole world, match my old commander’s record if you can!” The writer, a
Precarious Position at Brooks’ Ford
On April 27, 1863, the Clark brothers of Sangerville, Maine, strode into Brady’s studio and posed for this portrait. The timing of the impromptu family reunion is noteworthy. A week
He Saved a Comrade Blown Out of an Entrenchment
The Army of the James’ 10th Corps arrived at the Petersburg front on Aug. 26, 1864, to man entrenchments between the Appomattox River and a point near Cemetery Hill. One
“Hold Straight On” at Salem Church
On the battlefield of Salem Church, the 16th New York Infantry held its ground against a larger force of Confederates. But as the fire intensified and the full weight of
The Courage of a Trooper at Trevilian Station
The 10th New York Cavalry found itself in a precarious position along the Virginia Central Railroad near Trevilian Station on June 11, 1864. In the immediate aftermath of a successful
“I Heard a Faint Call That Sounded Thick and Muddy”
Fort Lamar, a roughly M-shaped earthwork bordered by swamps on each side, was a key strategic point for Confederate forces on James Island, S.C. If it fell into enemy hands,
Calmness and Carbines
Observers of a Confederate charge against Union troops during the early morning of Oct. 7, 1864, were in for a surprise. The rebels had just driven them from a position
Planting the Colors on Fort Harrison
Participants in the successful assault by Union forces at Fort Harrison, Va., on Sept. 29, 1864, witnessed a thrilling event. In the moment of victory as a blue wave of
The Capture of Jubal Early’s Headquarters Flag
The procession of cavalry officers and enlisted men that marched into the War Department one morning in March 1865 drew immediate attention. The sunburnt troopers, carrying 17 rebel flags they