When Civil War generals are discussed, most often they are Grant and Lee. But of course both sides had able and noteworthy commanders. One of the most revered on the Confederate side is Stonewall Jackson. S.C. Gwynne has written a very readable history of Jackson, and joins us here in part one to talk about the very peculiar and fascinating man. His importance to Lee is best illustrated in an anecdote. Upon hearing that Jackson had lost a limb in battle, Lee wrote to him: You are better off than I am , for while you have lost your left, I have lost my right arm.

Karen Abbott, also a historian (and one who wrote an eyebrow-raising account of the Everleigh Club in Chicago), joins us in part two to talk about another group of strong women with her book, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. As you may have gleaned from the title, Abbott chronicles the wartime lives of four very remarkable women, all of whom played important and fascinating roles on both sides of the conflict.

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