During his time in office, President James K. Polk — a firm believer in the idea of “Manifest Destiny” — oversaw the most significant territorial expansion in the history of the United States. The expansion was largely achieved through three events: Collectively, these events led to the United States gaining control over the future states … Read more
Who was Henry “Harry” Heth? General Henry “Harry” Heth was born on December 16, 1825, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. After graduating from West Point in 1847, he served in the U.S. Army until joining the Confederate States Army at the onset of the Civil War. Heth quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a Major … Read more
Maryland Campaign Summary The Maryland Campaign of 1862 was Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North. Lee was motivated by the need for supplies and the chance to reduce Northern support for the war. Lee divided his army, but Union soldiers found a copy of his plans, and General George B. McClellan … Read more
Who was Civil War officer Richard S. Ewell? When the Civil War began, Richard Ewell resigned from his commission in the United States Army on May 7, 1861, and joined the Virginia Provincial Army as a cavalry colonel. By June 17, Ewell received a commission as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. Ewell took … Read more
Who was General Sir Henry Clinton? General Henry Clinton was a British soldier and General during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). He arrived in Boston in 1775, after the war started, and was named Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in North America in 1778, replacing William Howe. He successfully held the North under British control … Read more
Who was Civil War General Samuel Wylie Crawford? When the Civil War began, Samuel Crawford was serving as Fort Sumter’s medical officer. When Southern forces fired on the fort, Colonel Robert Anderson gave Crawford permission to man one of the fort’s batteries to return fire on the Confederate forces. One month after the fort fell, … Read more
Who Was William Wing Loring? William Wing Loring was an American soldier who lived from 1818 to 1886. He is notable for his service in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War, his brief career as a lawyer and Florida politician, and as a Confederate general during the American Civil War. When the War Between … Read more
Who Was Fitzhugh Lee? Fitzhugh Lee was an American soldier and politician who lived from 1835 to 1905. He is notable for his service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, as well as his later career as a politician and diplomat. Lee was born in Virginia and attended the United States Military … Read more
Who Was Daniel Harvey Hill? Daniel Harvey Hill was an American educator, author, and Confederate general who lived from 1821 to 1889. He is notable for his service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and his contributions to military strategy and education. When the Civil War began, Hill joined the Confederate Army … Read more
Who Was Bushrod Johnson? Bushrod Johnson was an American soldier and educator who lived from 1817 to 1880. He is notable for his service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Johnson graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1840 and served in the Second Seminole War and the … Read more
Who Was Robert Hatton? Robert Hatton was an American politician and lawyer who lived from 1826 to 1862. He is notable for his service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, as well as his political career in Tennessee. Hatton began his career as a lawyer and served in the Tennessee State Legislature before … Read more
Who Was William J. Hardee? William Hardee was an American military officer who lived from 1815 to 1873. He is notable for his service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and for his contributions to the development of military tactics and strategy. Hardee graduated from the United States Military Academy and served … Read more
Who Was Robert S. Garnett, Jr.? Robert Selden Garnett, Jr. was an American military officer who lived from 1819 to 1861. He was a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and is notable for being the first general officer killed in the war. Garnett graduated from the United States Military Academy … Read more
Who Was John B. Floyd? John Buchanan Floyd was an American politician and military officer who served as the Governor of Virginia, and a United States Congressman. In 1860, U.S. President James Buchanan ordered Floyd to resign as the Secretary of War after officials investigated him for transferring arms and ammunition to Southern states prior … Read more
Who was Patrick Cleburne? Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was one of the Confederacy’s leading general officers in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Cleburne entered the Civil War as a private in the Arkansas militia, but by 1862 he had risen to the rank of major general in the Confederate Army. He … Read more
Battle of Chantilly Summary The Battle of Chantilly was fought on September 1, 1862, between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, following the Second Battle of Bull Run. The battle was part of General Robert E. Lee’s offensive against the Union Army and ended in a tactical draw. The Union … Read more
Second Battle of Bull Run Summary The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought from August 28 to August 30, 1862, between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The battle started with the Battle of Brawner’s Farm between Union … Read more
Battle of Brawner’s Farm Summary The Battle of Brawner’s Farm was fought on August 28, 1862, between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, and was part of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s offensive against Union General John Pope’s Army of Virginia. The battle was fought between Union General Rufus King’s … Read more
First Battle of Rappahannock Station Summary The First Battle of Rappahannock Station was fought from August 22 to August 25, 1862, between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. It was a series of minor skirmishes that took place along the Rappahannock River at several locations, producing casualties totaling around 225 … Read more
Battle of Cedar Mountain Summary The Battle of Cedar Mountain took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, and was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. It was the opening battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign. The Union Army of Virginia, commanded by Major General Nathaniel … Read more