The legendary Terry’s Texas Rangers is named for the man who formed the unit, Benjamin Franklin Terry. The group’s official name was the 8th Texas Cavalry. Every man who joined had to bring a shotgun or rifle, Colt revolver, and a Bowie knife (this was Texas, after all). They pinned a five-pointed star, the one […]
It is always inspiring to hear stories of about the courage of soldiers during battle. George Bravard was a flag bearer serving the 1st Texas infantry regiment during the Civil War. Confederate Colonel Philip A. Work, the commander of this famous “Ragged Old First,” pointed to a rise in the distance and said, “Follow the […]
The Federals from the start of the Civil War wanted to defeat the Confederacy by blocking access to southern ports for supplies and exporting cotton for revenue. In response, the Confederacy began building a fleet of ships “clothed in iron panels” to make them resistant to enemy cannon fire. These “ ironclads”, also armed with […]
Holt Collier was an amazing young man. He was only 14 and working on Howell Hinds’ plantation in Mississippi when the Civil War broke out. Holt was already an expert horseman and experienced sharpshooter who could hold his own. In fact, he shot his first bear at age ten. As Hinds was about to set […]
Confederate Sam Watkins of Company H, 1st Tennessee Regiment, had a lot of stories to tell about the happenings on and off the battlefield during the Civil War. You probably have read one of them in one a recent email or blog “Halt! Who Goes There?” and blog about how he spent hours in a […]
Both Union and Confederates had excellent sharpshooters during the Civil War. The North had an advantage because the very fine Sharps rifle was produced in Connecticut. But the favored weapon of the Rebel sharpshooters was the British-made Whitworth, known as the most accurate rifle in the world. (See picture below.) Union General Sedgwick would to […]
Most of the Civil War battles happened in states other than Florida. Of the 16,000 Floridians who fought, all but about 2,000 joined the Confederate ranks. Those who didn’t want to fight for either side, hid out in the woods and swamps to avoid being drafted. Nearly 5,000 Floridian soldiers were killed during the war. […]
After secession the new Confederate States of America had to build an identity all its own. A symbol of secession, the Bonnie Blue Flag, pictured above, was the first but unofficial flag of the CSA. It was also time to reject the national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” and other songs like “Hail Columbia,” and […]
The Rebel Yell – What did it sound like? It’s been over 150 years since the Civil War ended, and the Rebel Yell is always a curious topic of conversation. No one really knows what it sounded like, since there are no audio recordings of actual battles. But it’s the stuff legends are made of, […]
Jesse James was one of America’s most notorious outlaws. He hailed from the rough and tumble state of Missouri, the twelfth state to join the Confederacy. The region he came from was known as little Dixie because Southerners had settled there. You could say that Jesse’s role model for some of his behavior may have […]
The 1st Tennessee Regiment was camped near Corinth, Mississippi. The men of Company H were getting tired of being shot at, and losing their buddies. Private Sam Watson explained, “…our men were being picked off by sharpshooters, and a great many were killed. No one could tell where the shots were coming from, but at […]
There was one day of battle during the Civil War that stands out at the bloodiest day of all. It happened on September 7, 1862. The North called it the Battle of Antietum, the South called it it the Battle of Sharpsburg. The Texans had just been through months of fierce fighting at Seven Pines, […]
