"Adios, Cuba, para siempre!" - The story of a Cuban-born veteran of the Civil War
With the close of 2019's National Hispanic Heritage Month, we examine the career of Federico Fernandez Cavada - a Cuban-born veteran of...
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Pennsylvania in the Civil War
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Rich Condon
- Oct 16, 2019
"A brave but misguided philanthropist" - The Pittsburgh Daily Post reflects on John Brown
Nearly a month had passed by the time the Pittsburgh Daily Post weighed in on the hot topic of John Brown's ill-fated raid at the United...
Jake Wynn
- Oct 16, 2019
National honors to Rebel dead? - A blistering letter about Confederate graves at Antietam
In 1868, the representative of Westmoreland County in Congress spoke out in favor of excluding Confederate war dead from national cemeteries
Jake Wynn
- Sep 28, 2019
A Pennsylvania Congressman launched the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868
John Covode represented Westmoreland County in the House of Representatives. He launched the first presidential impeachment in US history.
Rich Condon
- Sep 27, 2019
William Scroggins - Barber in Allegheny City and veteran of the US Navy in the Civil War
Rich Condon recently stopped by the grave of an African American US Navy veteran in an abandoned cemetery near Pittsburgh.
Kendrick Gibbs
- Sep 25, 2019
The 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry at Hanover Court House, VA
In the summer of 1863, the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry took part in raids that disrupted Confederate communication and supplies in Virginia.
Codie Eash
- Sep 20, 2019
George Washington Williams and the National African American Civil War Memorial that wasn't built
More than 36,000 African American soldiers died during the Civil War, yet no national monument memorialized their sacrifice until 1998.
Guest Contributor
- Sep 17, 2019
“In the very maelstrom of the battle” – 132nd Pennsylvania Infantry at Antietam
The 132nd Pennsylvania received its baptism by fire during the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862.
Kendrick Gibbs
- Sep 17, 2019
Hurried to eternity - The bodies of two York County soldiers returned home after Antietam
In the wake of the Battle of Antietam, families of the those killed-in-action sought to bring their loved ones home for burial.
Codie Eash
- Sep 14, 2019
“God only knows what he'll do” - Andrew Curtin, A.K. McClure, and Thaddeus Stevens before Antietam
Codie Eash looks at politics in Pennsylvania during the chaos of early September 1862.
Jake Wynn
- Sep 6, 2019
Governor Andrew Curtin's response to Confederate invasion threat - September 1862
In September 1862, Confederate forces crossed the Potomac River and became a dangerous threat to Andrew Curtin's Pennsylvania.
Guest Contributor
- Sep 1, 2019
"No traitor blood lurks in my veins" - George Washington Woodward's Civil War
George Washington Woodward ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Pennsylvania during the darkest year of the Civil War.
Jake Wynn
- Aug 29, 2019
James A. Beaver - The Civil War namesake of Penn State's football stadium
Pennsylvania's largest sports venue is named for a Civil War veteran who was wounded four times and lost a leg during his service.
Codie Eash
- Aug 25, 2019
“Into a Perfect Steel-Trap” – Frederick Douglass and John Brown at Chambersburg
In the months before his ill-fated raid on the Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, John Brown met with Frederick Douglass in Pennsylvania.
Guest Contributor
- Aug 17, 2019
"Principles, Not Men" - Dr. Andrew Bedford's "Inflexible Democracy"
Guest contributor EJ Murphy looks at the politics surrounding black voting rights in antebellum Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Rich Condon
- Aug 16, 2019
"A vigorous defense" - Pittsburgh's forgotten Civil War fortifications
In 1863, authorities began construction on a series of fortifications defending Pittsburgh from possible Confederate invasion.
Kendrick Gibbs
- Aug 9, 2019
Letter from the Battle of Cedar Mountain - 46th Pennsylvania
A newspaper correspondent in the 46th Pennsylvania described his fight on August 9, 1862 at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.
Kendrick Gibbs
- Jul 26, 2019
A "Wildcat" in Libby Prison - Letters from Stephen Sartwell's POW Experience
A Jefferson County native wrote to his wife about his time as a prisoner-of-war and how he felt to finally be free.
Jake Wynn
- Jul 23, 2019
"The destructiveness of war" - The Altoona Tribune's visit to the Antietam battlefield
In the days after the Battle of Antietam, a team of Pennsylvania journalists arrived on the battlefield to report on what they saw.
Jake Wynn
- Jul 20, 2019
Pennsylvania at Antietam - Recap of livestreams from July 2019
Contributors to PennCivilWar and colleagues gathered at Antietam National Battlefield to discuss the role played by Pennsylvanians.
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