The Civil War Monitor
@cwmonitor.bsky.social
A quarterly magazine featuring originally researched & richly illustrated articles on all aspects of America's greatest conflict.
Learn more at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com
Learn more at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com
William Sherman was born in Lancaster, OH, #otd in 1820. The West Point grad began the conflict in command of a brigade; by war's end, he had succeeded U.S. Grant in command of the war's western theater and overseen devastatingly successful campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas.
February 8, 2026 at 12:56 PM
William Sherman was born in Lancaster, OH, #otd in 1820. The West Point grad began the conflict in command of a brigade; by war's end, he had succeeded U.S. Grant in command of the war's western theater and overseen devastatingly successful campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas.
Union gunboats commanded by Andrew H. Foote bombarded Confederate Fort Henry on the Tennessee River into submission #otd in 1862. The surrender opened the river to Union traffic and set the stage for U.S. Grant's successful advance upon Fort Donelson 12 miles distant.
February 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Union gunboats commanded by Andrew H. Foote bombarded Confederate Fort Henry on the Tennessee River into submission #otd in 1862. The surrender opened the river to Union traffic and set the stage for U.S. Grant's successful advance upon Fort Donelson 12 miles distant.
The ironclad warship USS Monitor launched at Greenpoint, NY, #otd in 1862. Its low profile and large cylindrical gun turret initially earned it the derisive nickname "cheesebox on a raft," yet the innovative vessel quickly helped usher in a new era in naval warfare.
January 30, 2026 at 1:12 PM
The ironclad warship USS Monitor launched at Greenpoint, NY, #otd in 1862. Its low profile and large cylindrical gun turret initially earned it the derisive nickname "cheesebox on a raft," yet the innovative vessel quickly helped usher in a new era in naval warfare.
Edwin M. Stanton was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of War by the Senate #otd in 1862, succeeding Simon Cameron in the position. Stanton would become a key figure in the Lincoln administration, reorganizing the War Department to manage the massive Union war effort.
January 15, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Edwin M. Stanton was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of War by the Senate #otd in 1862, succeeding Simon Cameron in the position. Stanton would become a key figure in the Lincoln administration, reorganizing the War Department to manage the massive Union war effort.
James Longstreet was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, #otd in 1821. After graduating from West Point in 1842, he served in the U.S. Army until 1861, when he resigned his commission to join the Confederate military, in which he rose to the rank of lieutenant general.
January 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
James Longstreet was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, #otd in 1821. After graduating from West Point in 1842, he served in the U.S. Army until 1861, when he resigned his commission to join the Confederate military, in which he rose to the rank of lieutenant general.
The Battle of Stones River concluded #otd in 1863. Braxton Bragg's Confederates attacked enemy positions east of the river but Union artillery inflicted heavy losses; Bragg withdrew the following day. Over 30% of all troops engaged were killed, wounded, or captured/missing.
January 2, 2026 at 2:42 PM
The Battle of Stones River concluded #otd in 1863. Braxton Bragg's Confederates attacked enemy positions east of the river but Union artillery inflicted heavy losses; Bragg withdrew the following day. Over 30% of all troops engaged were killed, wounded, or captured/missing.
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the day. Shown here: Thomas Nast’s depiction of Santa Claus distributing presents to soldiers at a Union army camp, published in Harper’s Weekly in January 1863. #MerryChristmas
December 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the day. Shown here: Thomas Nast’s depiction of Santa Claus distributing presents to soldiers at a Union army camp, published in Harper’s Weekly in January 1863. #MerryChristmas
Still holiday shopping? Consider a 1-year gift subscription—print, digital, or All Access—to the Monitor for the history enthusiast on your list. Your recipient will get an email announcing the gift on the date you choose. Order here: civilwarmonitor.com/subscribe/
December 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Still holiday shopping? Consider a 1-year gift subscription—print, digital, or All Access—to the Monitor for the history enthusiast on your list. Your recipient will get an email announcing the gift on the date you choose. Order here: civilwarmonitor.com/subscribe/
#otd in 1860, members of a secession convention in South Carolina—who had gathered in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election as president—declared the state's withdrawal from the U.S. This Charleston Mercury broadside, published the same day, spread the momentous news.
December 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
#otd in 1860, members of a secession convention in South Carolina—who had gathered in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election as president—declared the state's withdrawal from the U.S. This Charleston Mercury broadside, published the same day, spread the momentous news.
James Longstreet's Confederates attacked Ambrose Burnside's Federals outside Knoxville at Fort Sanders #otd in 1863. The lopsided Union victory (Confederates suffered some 800 casualties to the opponent's 20) prompted Longstreet to end his brief siege of the city.
November 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
James Longstreet's Confederates attacked Ambrose Burnside's Federals outside Knoxville at Fort Sanders #otd in 1863. The lopsided Union victory (Confederates suffered some 800 casualties to the opponent's 20) prompted Longstreet to end his brief siege of the city.
Happy #Thanksgiving! If your eyes are bigger than your stomach today, know you’re not alone. Even Civil War soldiers were prone to overindulging on the big day, as evidenced by this 1864 Harper’s Weekly cartoon titled “Bellycose appearance of our brave boys after Thanksgiving.”
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Happy #Thanksgiving! If your eyes are bigger than your stomach today, know you’re not alone. Even Civil War soldiers were prone to overindulging on the big day, as evidenced by this 1864 Harper’s Weekly cartoon titled “Bellycose appearance of our brave boys after Thanksgiving.”
#otd in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the best-known orations in American history, the Gettysburg Address. We created a word cloud of the brief but carefully crafted speech; more frequently he used a word, the larger it appears. View it here: bit.ly/3K7W00u
November 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
#otd in 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the best-known orations in American history, the Gettysburg Address. We created a word cloud of the brief but carefully crafted speech; more frequently he used a word, the larger it appears. View it here: bit.ly/3K7W00u
The digital version of our Winter '25 issue is now live for subscribers to read at our website: bit.ly/3JJ3U0f. Not yet a subscriber? Fix that here: bit.ly/4aERspr. #civilwarhistory #twitterstorians #history #americancivilwar
November 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The digital version of our Winter '25 issue is now live for subscribers to read at our website: bit.ly/3JJ3U0f. Not yet a subscriber? Fix that here: bit.ly/4aERspr. #civilwarhistory #twitterstorians #history #americancivilwar
We'd like to thank all who have served in our country's armed forces on this #VeteransDay. Shown here: Union vets strike up a tune at the 50th Battle of Gettysburg reunion in 1913.
November 11, 2025 at 1:32 PM
We'd like to thank all who have served in our country's armed forces on this #VeteransDay. Shown here: Union vets strike up a tune at the 50th Battle of Gettysburg reunion in 1913.
Happy #Halloween! This spooky Harper's Weekly illustration from May 1862 shows Confederate president Jefferson Davis being driven "in the direction of the Last Ditch" by his enthusiastic "new coachman," a skeleton.
October 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Happy #Halloween! This spooky Harper's Weekly illustration from May 1862 shows Confederate president Jefferson Davis being driven "in the direction of the Last Ditch" by his enthusiastic "new coachman," a skeleton.
In the latest episode of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian Scott Huffard talks about how railroads became the engine of the war, transforming everything from logistics to troop movements. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: tinyurl.com/ym4cpu6c
October 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
In the latest episode of our podcast "Civil War Breakthroughs," historian Scott Huffard talks about how railroads became the engine of the war, transforming everything from logistics to troop movements. Sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans (suvcw.org). Listen here: tinyurl.com/ym4cpu6c
A.P. Hill's Confederates engaged Gouverneur Warren's II Corps at Bristoe Station, VA, #otd in 1863. Hill's men suffered nearly three times as many casualties as his opponents in the Union victory. Shown here: a wartime sketch of a Union field hospital after the battle.
October 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
A.P. Hill's Confederates engaged Gouverneur Warren's II Corps at Bristoe Station, VA, #otd in 1863. Hill's men suffered nearly three times as many casualties as his opponents in the Union victory. Shown here: a wartime sketch of a Union field hospital after the battle.
#otd in 1864, Union forces turned back a Confederate attack at Allatoona Pass, GA, the first major engagement of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Shown here is artist Thure de Thulstrup's depiction of the fighting.
October 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
#otd in 1864, Union forces turned back a Confederate attack at Allatoona Pass, GA, the first major engagement of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Shown here is artist Thure de Thulstrup's depiction of the fighting.
The Second Battle of Corinth, MS, began #otd in 1862. The 2-day engagement for control of the key rail junction at Corinth resulted in a victory for William Rosecrans' Union force. Shown here is a sketch of Confederate soldiers killed during the fighting.
October 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Second Battle of Corinth, MS, began #otd in 1862. The 2-day engagement for control of the key rail junction at Corinth resulted in a victory for William Rosecrans' Union force. Shown here is a sketch of Confederate soldiers killed during the fighting.
Today's a busy day in Civil War history: #otd in 1862, Union forces were victorious at the Battle of Iuka, MS; in 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga (depicted here in an Alfred Waud sketch) opened; and in 1864, Phil Sheridan defeated Jubal Early's Confederates at Third Winchester.
September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Today's a busy day in Civil War history: #otd in 1862, Union forces were victorious at the Battle of Iuka, MS; in 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga (depicted here in an Alfred Waud sketch) opened; and in 1864, Phil Sheridan defeated Jubal Early's Confederates at Third Winchester.
A copy of S.O. 191, R.E. Lee's operational plans for his invasion of Maryland, was found by Union troops #otd in 1862. We recently chatted with historian D. Scott Hartwig about the significance of the discovery. Listen here: civilwarmonitor.com/podcast/episode-7-mcclellan-and-so191/
September 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A copy of S.O. 191, R.E. Lee's operational plans for his invasion of Maryland, was found by Union troops #otd in 1862. We recently chatted with historian D. Scott Hartwig about the significance of the discovery. Listen here: civilwarmonitor.com/podcast/episode-7-mcclellan-and-so191/
Joshua L. Chamberlain, who led the 20th Maine Infantry at Gettysburg, was born #otd in 1828. Learn about his performance during the fight for Little Round Top in our recent discussion with Licensed Battlefield Guide Jessie Wheedleton: civilwarmonitor.com/podcast/episode-4-chamberlain-at-gettysburg/
September 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Joshua L. Chamberlain, who led the 20th Maine Infantry at Gettysburg, was born #otd in 1828. Learn about his performance during the fight for Little Round Top in our recent discussion with Licensed Battlefield Guide Jessie Wheedleton: civilwarmonitor.com/podcast/episode-4-chamberlain-at-gettysburg/
Days after the fall of Atlanta, W.T. Sherman ordered civilians out of the city. "I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove," he wrote CSA general John B. Hood #otd in 1864. "Atlanta is no place for families or non-combatants."
September 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Days after the fall of Atlanta, W.T. Sherman ordered civilians out of the city. "I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove," he wrote CSA general John B. Hood #otd in 1864. "Atlanta is no place for families or non-combatants."
#otd in 1864, John Hunt Morgan—brother-in-law to fellow Confederate general A.P. Hill—was shot and killed while trying to escape from Union soldiers who had rousted him at the house where he had spent the night in Greenville, Tennessee.
September 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
#otd in 1864, John Hunt Morgan—brother-in-law to fellow Confederate general A.P. Hill—was shot and killed while trying to escape from Union soldiers who had rousted him at the house where he had spent the night in Greenville, Tennessee.
The Fall '25 issue of the Monitor goes on sale today! You can learn more about it—or order a copy—at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com/issue/fall-2... #CivilWar
September 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The Fall '25 issue of the Monitor goes on sale today! You can learn more about it—or order a copy—at our website: www.civilwarmonitor.com/issue/fall-2... #CivilWar