The American Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-65), was an event that tore America apart and still affects America even today. The war was fought between the federal government of the United States and 11 Southern states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina) that were asserting their right to secede from the Union. The war was also fought over the issue of slavery, trade, tariffs and states' rights. In 1865 the Civil War...

Officers of Company G - 93rd Indiana Infantry
Researching the Officers of Company G
My great-great-grandfather joined the 93rd Indiana Infantry, Company G during the Civil War. I was curious about the officers that he served under and applied my librarian skills to researching the topic. Here's what I was able to find. Eventually I hope to have enough about Abraham Bates Tower and his Civil War experience to write a book about his life. This and other web pages on Squidoo document my discoveries. Unknown Union Officer 1860s. by Photoblog Browse Vintage civil war pictures P...

Important Documents of the Civil War
Prints, Posters and Videos of Civil War Documents and Speeches
We've all heard of the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and other vital documents from the Civil War. If we had to recall the exact content or the impact of these writings on the events of that time, we would probably be embarrassed at how little we really know of them. To remedy that, I'm providing a selection of these Civil War documents and videos that read them aloud and give background information on why they are important. You can even get prints or posters of these wr...

Women's Civil War Diaries
Women's Diaries Online Give Insight into the Civil War
I'm researching the lives of my Civil War ancestors, Abraham Bates Tower and his wife, Nancy Angeline, I was delighted that he had a pocket diary that was passed down in the family. How wonderful it would be to have a diary for his wife too. This made me wonder about other women of the Civil War era and what their diaries would tell us about their lives and the effect of the war on women and children. Fortunately there are some women's diaries published in book form and some that can be read...

What Was in the Civil War Soldier's Backpack?
The Essential Belongings of a Civil War Soldier
My great-great grandfather marched many miles in the Civil War. He was an infantryman with the 93rd Indiana Volunteers. On his back, he carried all the essentials for a soldier in the field. His pack contained his blanket, tent, plate, cup, and personal items. I wanted to find out what would be in the typical Civil War soldier's back pack. Some videos explain the gear needed by a soldier and one can still buy such things as a reproduction of a Civil War canteen. If you have a Civil War ances...