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Lt. Col. David Miles' Escape from Libby Prison (and his recapture, use as a...
Libby Prison in Richmond, 1865 (Source)In this post, I republish an exciting account of David Miles' eleven months in Southern prisons that Miles gave to the editors of the Daily Evening Express upon...
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A Locomotive Built in Lancaster -- The 2-10-0 "Bee" in 1867
Photograph of the "Bee" locomotive, built at Norris Locomotive Works in Lancaster, 1867One of the joys of Civil War research is that any day artifacts can pop up on Ebay and send you on diverse and...
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Horse and Buggy CDV from Gap, Pa
CDV of Horse and Buggy by W. H. Heiss taken in Gap, Pennsylvania (vws)CDV BackmarkFor the second time in a week, an interesting transportation-related photograph from Lancaster County appeared on Ebay....
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The Grand Welcome Home
On the evening of March 5, 1864, any soldiers of the 79th Pennsylvania who reenlisted as veterans were relieved of picket duty near Tyner's Station, about ten miles east of Chattanooga. Early the next...
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Death and the Civil War
"The Soldier's grave" (HW, 11/5/1861)Over at Civil War Memory, Kevin Levin comments on a recent article, "The Great Exaggeration: Death and the Civil War," by Nicholas Marshall in the Journal of Civil...
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Photos from Perryville
Back in May, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, where on one afternoon in October 1862 the 79th Pennsylvania played a key role in saving the Union...
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Killed at Perryville
Detail of tombstone of Capt. Samuel J. Boone, Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church, Quarryville, PAThirty-seven officers and men of the 79th Pennsylvania died at the Battle of Perryville on October 8,...
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Church Records Speak -- Lancaster's Slaveholders, "Elmer Ellsworth ___", 79th...
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster(From Memorial Volume, 1861)While it may seem that the Civil War has been studied from virtually every angle, one important but largely missing perspective is the...
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'Set Your House in Order for Death': A Pastor's Letter to a Soldier
Envelope for Letter from Frederick and Rebecca Conrad to Lieut. Peter A. Filbert(Sold on Ebay in 2006)While Civil War soldiers' private letters are a scarce resource that we treasure for the factual...
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Better Know an Officer -- Lieut. Henry Ransing
Detail of Sword Presented to Lieut. Henry Ransing (Sold on Heritage Auctions in 2014)Lieut. Henry Ransing(79th PA Officers Oval)Name: Henry RansingBirth: September 15, 1838 (Holland)Occupation:...
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On the Road to Bentonville
Header of 3/25/1865 Daily Evening Express to accompany Lieut. Marshall's letterLieut. James H. Marshall(79th PA Officers Oval)While I lack the time now for an in-depth series of posts, I would like to...
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"The Young Christian Soldier" -- A Eulogy for Corp. Samuel Roth, 103rd PA
Cemetery at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Prospect, Butler County, PennsylvaniaSamuel Roth's grave is at the center of the picture and marked by an American flag.Original gravestone ofCorp. Samuel RothA...
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Interpretation Beyond the Battlefield and the 'Mass Customization' of History
Intersection of Queen St. and King St., Lancaster, Pennsylvaniawith Soldiers and Sailors Monument (dedicated in 1874)Over at the excellent To the Sound of Gunsand Civil War Memoryblogs, the subject of...
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With the Pennsylvania Reserves at Camp Wayne, June 1861
Mathew Brady image of camp of 1st Pennsylvania Reserves, June 1863. As seen in the center background of the image, the soldiers' June 1861 fascination with leaning on each other (recorded in the...
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Ebay Find: Two USCTs Send Pay Home to Quaker Farmer in Gap
Adams Express Company Cash Envelope from Isaac Parker to Joshua Brinton (Ebay)Reverse of Envelope from Isaac Parker to Joshua Brinton (Ebay) Adams Express Company Cash Envelope from Henry Harley to...
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The Story Behind a Gravestone in Lancaster Cemetery
Gravestone of Jacob and Elizabeth Gemperling, Lancaster CemeteryLocal artist J. Augustus Beck sculpted the wreath in 1854. Gravestones provide one of the most accessible and intimate connections to the...
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Genoa (NY) at War: Researching my new hometown
Almost two years ago my career took me to the Finger Lakes region of New York, and I moved to a beautiful house from the 1850s in the small hamlet of Genoa, New York. While I maintain a deep interest...
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The 79th Pennsylvania's 1st Reunion in 1877
On the morning of October 8, 1877 -- the fifteenth anniversary of the Battle of Perryville -- the veterans of the 79th Pennsylvania assembled for the first time since the war's end. Colonel Hambright...
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Newly Discovered Stereoview of West King Street
Stereoview of West King Street. Likely by B. Frank Saylor in 1866 or 1867.Sold on Ebay in 2018.A few months ago an intriguing photograph of a Lancaster street scene sold on Ebay. The photo shows West...
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Book Published on The Camp Kettle and 100th Pennsylvania
The Camp KettleLibrary of CongressCongratulations to long-time friend and talented genealogist Gary Hawbaker on publishing a book containing on the Camp Kettle newspaper published by the 100th...
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A Stereoview of Woodward Hill Cemetery
Stereoview of Woodward Hill Cemetery by William Gill, c. 1866Dennis Collection, New York Public LibraryOn Sunday, June 9, 2019, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will hold a tour of Woodward Hill Cemetery...
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"Bride of a Month" -- The Tragic Death of Emma Greenwald
Gravestone of Emma Greenwald in Woodward Hill CemeteryAs you travel on the path that winds through Woodward Hill Cemetery, a particular phrase on a tombstone will likely stand out to you in the...
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The Rev. Charles A. Baer's Civil War
The Rev. Charles Alfred BaerFrom album of Lutheran pastors in thearchive of LTS PhiladelphiaWhile the Civil War has been thoroughly documented through lenses such as regiments, battles, and cities, how...
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More Info on Binkley's Mill Covered Bridge
Self-described covered bridge buff Thomas Kipphorn found an old blog post of mine with stereoviews (below) by William Gill showing Binkley's Mill and Bridge on the New Holland Pike where it crosses...
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FOUND: A Father-Son Photo with Lt. Col. John H. Duchman
CDV of Lt. Col. John H. Duchman and Lt. Jacob S. Duchman (presumed)Photo by Harmany & Eberman, Lancaster (vws collection) In honor of Father's Day, I'm happy to share a photograph of a father-son...
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