This week, I take a look at a couple of letters from soldiers in 1861, who knew what the war was really about.

SOURCES:

Chandra Manning. What This Cruel War Was Over Soldiers, Slavery and the Civil War. (New York: Vintage Books, 2007)

Kentucky just wanted to remain neutral. But Leonidas Polk, the Battling Bishop, had other ideas.

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, but there were a couple of other Acts that proceeded this. What were they and were they effective?

Today is a short look at the 79th New York Militia and the very short mutiny they had.

The first battle to happen west of the Mississippi happens and who is the victor?

Wars are expensive to finance. How did both sides pay to finance the Civil War? A brief intro into the financial side of the war.

Who is U.S. Grant? Not many people had heard of him until February of 1862. Who is he and what did he do before the war?

What was McClellan's plans for prosecuting the war? Did he have any or was he making it up as he went?

In July 1861, Lincoln called on George B. McClellan to come to Washington and train the troops. What were his thoughts as he took this assignment?

Sources:

The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan edited by Stephen W. Sears.

Who is Thomas Jackson? How did he become one of the great Confederate Generals and a part of the Trinity of Lost Cause heroes?