John Banks’ Civil War Blog podcast

Kay, a longtime student of the Dec. 15-16, 1864, battle, talks about the role of the U.S, Colored Troops, the fight at Peach Orchard Hill, key remaining battlefield sites and more (38 minutes)

The James Madison University professor talks about his recently released book, “America’s Buried History l Landmines in the Civil War,” his efforts to ban mines and his association with Princess Diana. Length: 48 minutes.

We talk about his 24-year-old web site, which includes thousands of profiles of participants, battle maps and much more.

We talk about the 1862 Allegheny Arsenal explosion, forts in Pittsburgh, human interest stories, Mr. Rogers (!) and whiskey. Always whiskey!

Smeltzer talks about Bull Runnings, a journal of the digitization of a Civil War battle, and his fascination with the First Battle of Bull Run. Smeltzer, from the Pittsburgh area, is a board member of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. (SHAF). Podcast: 45 min.

Wynn, director of interpretation at Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office and Museum, discusses the Washington D.C. museum, Antietam and more. (51 min.)

When rescue workers first arrived at Ford's Theatre after a section of the three-story building collapsed, they were struck by the eerie silence. Then the men began a frenzied search for survivors and the grim task of removing the dead. In all, 23 workers inside the building, including Civil War veterans, died in the June 9, 1893, tragedy. (32 min.)