Hymn of the Republic

In this episode, I examine the two battles that captured Fort Fisher dooming the city of Wilmington and ending the coastal war as well as the Confederate cause only a few months before the end of the war.

In this episode I examine the capture of Mobile Bay by Admiral Farragut in August of 1864. This was the penultimate port that had to be taken in the coastal war by the Union Navy in order to cripple the Confederate blockade runners and hurt the Confederacy in their fight for independence.

In this episode I continue my examination of the siege of Charleston examining various efforts of the Union to capture Fort Sumter and bring horror to the city as well as how both sides brought new weapons into the siege, weapons that would show how warfare would look like in the 20th Century.

In this episode I look at the first three attempts of the Union to capture Charleston and get their revenge on the city. I examine an attempt to take islands off the city, an attempt to use the Navy to blast through the defenses and an attempt by the US Army to capture Battery Wagner on Morris Island.

In this episode, I return to look at what happened in North Carolina after General Burnside went north in the fall of 1862. I then continue to examine that minor theater until the end of the war in the Spring of 1865.

In this episode, I turn my attention west from North Carolina to the banks of the Mississippi River. Here rested New Orleans, the gateway to the mouth of the Mississippi River and it appeared to be a tough nut to crack. As General Grant slowly moved south to fight on the banks of the Tennessee River at Shiloh, the Union Navy decided to come meet him moving north. In their way stood New Orleans, the Big Easy.

In this episode I begin a look at the campaigns of the Union to capture the Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports and help the blockade.  This episode features the spring 1862 North Carolina campaign of General Ambrose Burnside and how he racked up victory after victory before being pulled away at the cusp of ending the war 3 years early.  

In this episode I conclude my look at the Second Battle of Bull Run/Second Manassas showing how a potential Union victory was snatched from the hands of General Pope becoming a very big disaster.

In this episode, I look at the first day of the Second Battle of Bull Run/Second Manassas on August 29. I also look at the ending of the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap and the Battle of Groveton or Brawner’s Farm.

In this episode I look at how General Lee, realizing that the Army of the Potomac was moving to reinforce General Pope and his Army of Virginia did everything in his power to try and attack Pope before McClellan could unite with him, including dividing his smaller army resulting in the Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas

In this episode, I look at the moves of Stonewall Jackson in early August 1862, as he opens a new front for the Army of Northern Virginia and fights the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

In this episode I pause to examine what both sides did in the aftermath of the Seven Days Battles during the month of July 1862.

In this episode, I finally end my look at the Battles of the Seven Days with an examination of the final battle, the Battle of Malvarn Hill.

In this episode, I continue to look at the Battles of the Seven Days. With McClellan deciding to retreat to the James River, the battles of Savage Station, Glendale and White Oak Swamp take place. All are either Confederate defeats or at least inconclusive efforts to capture the Army of the Potomac.

In this episode, I look at the first 3 of the Seven Days Battles.

In this episode I examine the early life of General Robert E. Lee. I then look at some of the things he did when he took command of the army around Richmond which he named the Army of Northern Virginia. Finally I look at the ride that JEB Stuart made around General McClellan from June 12-15, 1862.

In this episode I look at the final year of the war as it releats to the Home Front. I examine the various moves that President Davis made hoping that the war would end in victory for the south. I talk about the various peace movements breaking out in the South and finally I show the end result as Richmond falls in April of 1865.

In this episode we look at the refugee crisis in the South during the war. Throughout the war refugees would crowd the roads, trains, towns, and cities of the south in a futile search for sanctuary from the Union invaders. Thousands of whites fled from the occupying Union troops. At the same time, even larger numbers of African American slaves were uprooted with their white owners or fled for freedom in Union lines. The civilians in the North did not suffer anything like these agonies of invasion and displacement. Few in the north ever saw Confederate troops at their own front door. Few ever saw their homes burned, their food confiscated, their livestock and wagons driven off. For those in the South this was common. Fighting a war that was primarily defensive, the rebellious states had to deal with an aggression on their own territory. And each wave of enemy penetration, as it smashed through farmlands and cities in Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and finally both Carolinas, thousands were compelled to either flee or live under the conquerors.

In this episode I look at the Confederate Home Front and all the discontent that happened during the war from beginning to end. Many in the South felt that they were fighting a rich mans war and a poor mans fight. I look at conscription, desertion, riots and various acts of violence that plagued the Confederacy throughout the war.

Changes in the south came gradually. At first after the war broke out everything was still the same in the small towns, in the fields, and on the large plantations. Yet life was soon changed by the war. Not only were planters affected but Southerners in all walks of life saw their cultural institutions and social traditions turned upside down. Poets and writers who were inspired by patriotic themes flourished as never before. Yet at the same time schools closed as there were not enough teachers and universities closed as there were not enough students. Clergyman turned from Gods work and instead use their pulpits to preach a fiery appeal of propaganda for the Confederate cause. Through all of the war the class lines that had divided the south before the war gave way and women suddenly found themselves rising to levels of responsibility they had never even dreamed of.

In this episode I look at the problems that the Confederate Government faced. These problems came from the poor leadership of the Confederate Congress and President Jefferson Davis. The episode also discusses how there was some industry growth which is examined.

In this episode we finish the Valley Campaign of Stonewall Jackson. We look at actions of President Lincoln trying to trap Stonewall Jackson. We then look at the Battles of Grant's Farm, Cross Keys and Port Republic.

In this episode I examine the way in which General Stonewall Jackson was finally able to get more troops than the Union Army due to mistakes made by the Lincoln Administration. Jackson uses his new army and makes moves that helps him win victories at the Battle of Front Royal and then the Battle of Winchester.

In this episode I look at the moves that Jackson made in April and early May of 1862. I examine some of the command issues he had to deal with and look at his excellent staff picks that would help him for the rest of his career. I finally look at the moves Jackson made that ended up in the Battle of McDowell and the first real victory for the Confederacy in the Valley Campaign.

In this episode I look at the winter of 1861 and spring of 1862 in the Shenandoah Valley. I look at the various problems that General Stonewall Jackson had to deal with in getting his army ready and why he came up with the Valley campaign. I then look at the first few actions he took all of which ended up in the First Battle of Kernstown.

In this episode I look at Stonewall Jackson, one of the greatest generals of the Civil War in my opinion on either side. I look at his background and what made him tick as well as moves he made in the opening days of the Civil War.

In this episode I look at the minor battle of Hanover Court House as well as the first major battle of the Spring/Summer 1862 in the East which was the Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks. I look at the battle in each phase and talk about where things went right for each side and where they went wrong.

In this episode I explore the days after the fall of Yorktown. I look at the Battle of Williamsburg, the battle of Norfolk, and finally the Battle of Drewey's Bluff. Then we finally get to Richmond so close that the Union troops were able to set their watches to the chimes of the churches in the city. Here McClellan heard more bad news, here he divided his army, and here he decided finally to get on with the final goal.

In this episode I look at the various issues that General McClellan had to deal with as he started off on his grand plan to invade Richmond by the back door. I look at the 1st month of the Peninsula Campaign as the Union Army started up that historical area only to be stopped by Yorktown. I also look at the various ways in which the Confederates did their best to stop the Union Army from an easy victory before finally deciding to make this the priority of the Confederacy on the Eastern Front in the late spring of 1862.

In this episode I look at the winter of 1861 from both President Lincoln's perspective and President Davis's. I look at what they had to deal with from President Lincoln dealing with McClellan as well as the Joint Committee on the Conduct of War and President Davis dealing with General Johnston and his plans to withdrawal. Finally I look at plans that both men had to deal with to start the spring of 1862 with in the eastern campaign and how both were strong and both were weak.

In this episode I look at the Battle of Ball's Bluff which occured in the fall of 1861. I examine the battle and the mistakes made by the Union troops. Afterwards I look at the blame game that was played by General McClellan and others.

In this episode I examine the life of George B. McClellan from his birth to his appointment to the post of general in charge of the army around Washington. I look at how he restored discipline, how he worked to make good defenses for the capital, and how he built up and trained his army. I look as well at some of his most colorful officers. I look at his overestimate of enemy troops thanks to Allen Pinkerton and finally I look at the hatred between him and General Winfield Scott.

In this episode I continue to look at the Battle of Shiloh. I look at the death of Albert Sidney Johnson followed by the Confederates finally capturing the Hornet's Nest. I then look at the ways in which Grant and Buell managed to get another defense line set up. That night a horror fell along the battlefield but the next morning the Union managed to snatch victory from the hands of defeat and chase the Confederates from the battlefield. Finally I look at the aftermath of the battle and the ways in which the north and south would be forever changed.

In this episode I begin to examine the Battle of Shiloh, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. I look at the run up to the battle and how each side put out their troops. I then look at the first few hours of the battle on April 6 and how it looked like the Union was on the verge of defeat.

In this episode I concentrate on the two early victories in the West by the Union of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862. I look at each battle and then examine how this victory propelled the career of Ulysses. S. Grant and lost for the Confederacy most of Tennessee along with Kentucky.

In this episode I finish my look at Missouri and General Fremont then start to look at the career of Ulysses S. Grant as well as his first major battle the Battle of Belmont. I look at General Albert Sidney Johnston and his moves. I then turn to look at the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads before talking about the most venerable point for Johnston the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Finally I look at how he wanted those points defended by constructing Fort Henry and Fort Donleson.

In this episode I turn from the Atlantic to the Western Theater looking at the struggle for Kentucky and Missouri. I examine the personalities involved in the beginning of the war and I look at the Battle of Carthage and the Battle of Wilson's Creek. I look at the personalities of several of the most colorful men to fight and lead the war in the West and I look at why the West was both important and different from the East.

In this episode I look at the career of Raphael Semmes and his most famous ship the CSS Alabama one of the most effective of the CSA Commerce Raiders during the Civil War. The CSS Alabama was one of the most feared ships of its time in the 20 months that it was at sea sinking at least 40 ships during that time. The captain Raphael Semmes also was in charge earlier in the war of the CSS Sumter and he sunk about 20 ships in his career with this ship. I also look at some of the other commerce raiders during the war which can be seen as perhaps the best effective weapon of the Confederacy in the North Atlantic Theater.

In this episode I turn to Europe especially the actions of James Bulloch as he attempts to buy or build ships that can be used to break the Union blockade. I look at some of the issues that almost cause war between Great Britain and the US as well during the American Civil War.

In this episode we examine the blockade runners looking at the exciting life of those who did run the blockade and how it worked. We also look at life on board a blockader and how much of this was dreary with only a bit of excitement from time to time.

In this episode I look at the Battle of Hampton Roads and the fight between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia

In this episode I examine the navies of both the United States and the Confederate States and talk about the beginning strategies they both had in the war in 1861.

In this episode I look at the afternoon phase of the battle of First Bull Run and how the Yankees took a victory and managed to throw it all away losing the battle and almost losing their army.

In this episode I look at the run up to the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861 and the plans both sides had for that battle. I then look at the morning phase of the battle itself.

In this episode I examine the beginning stages that led to the first major battle of the war the First Battle of Bull Run or First Manassas. I look at the life of Colonel Thomas Jackson and Brigadier General Joseph Johnston. Then I look at the bumbling first steps of the campaign made by the Union Army and the Battle of Blackburn's Ford

In this episode I look at the early battles of June and July 1861 which saw some minor victories for both sides. I look first of all at the Battle of Big Bethel which pitted General Butler against future CSA Generals John Bankhead Magruder and Daniel Harvey Hill. I then turn to the western part of Virginia and look at the campaign of General George B. McClellan to invade and eventually seize that part of Virginia forming the future state of West Virginia.

In this episode I look at the early strategy of General Scott as well as talk about the ways in which the way was going to be fought or at least the plan of it being fought. I examine the way the armies were made up and I talk about the early army commanders on both sides.

In this episode I look at the advantages that the north had compared to the south and vice versa as well as looking at the places where both sides did not have any advantage.

In this episode I look at the few weeks after the fall of Fort Sumter examining what both the North and the South did. I look at Jefferson Davis's background and Robert E. Lee's background as well. I talk about the first blood being spilled in Baltimore on April 19 and the way that the Lincoln government reacted.

In this episode I look at the final weeks of peace as Lincoln tried to avoid war and then I look closely at the Battle of Fort Sumter, the first battle of the war which took place April 12-13, 1861.

In this episode I look at the crisis over Fort Sumter in the late fall, winter and spring of 1860-1861 as well as how the Confederacy was formed and what the US did about the issue of the forts down south.