The Civil War

By National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Society & Culture Arts History Visual Arts

What's The Civil War about?

Videos, gallery talks, and lectures commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. For more on the National Portrait Gallery, see http://npg.si.edu

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The Civil War episodes:

12.30.2014
William Tecumseh Sherman, Portrait in a Minute
The National Portrait Gallery's Warren Perry discusses an 1866 painting of William Tecumseh Sherman by George Peter Alexander Healy. "War is war and not popularity-seeking." With these words to his Confederate opponent at Atlanta, General William T. Sherman suggested the attitude...
03.19.2014
Benjamin Butler, Portrait in a Minute
The National Portrait Gallery's Warren Perry discusses an 1863 sculpture of Benjamin Butler by Edward Augustus Brackett,. Benjamin Franklin Butler was a Democratic politician in military garb fighting a Republican war, and he sorely tried the patience of Lincoln and his...
07.02.2013
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Portrait in a Minute
NPG writer Warren Perry discusses Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, best known for leading a bayonet charge down Little Round Top during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Recorded at NPG, June 21, 2013.
05.09.2013
Jefferson Davis, Portrait in a Minute
NPG historian David C. Ward discusses Jefferson Davis. While traveling in the United States in 1849, English-born artist George L. Saunders painted this miniature of the future president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. At the time, Davis was a senator...
05.07.2013
Stonewall Jackson, Portrait in a Minute
NPG historian David C. Ward discusses Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. At the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861, the unrelenting vigor with which Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jackson held his position inspired a general nearby to rally his troops with...
04.25.2013
Portrait of John Pelham, Confederate artillery officer
Photography curator Frank Goodyear discusses an 1858 portrait of John Pelham by Mathew Brady. Frank Goodyear was interviewed by the National Portrait Gallery's Warren Perry in September 2011. John Pelham (1838 - 1863, born Benton County, Alabama) was within...
12.17.2012
The Battle of Fredericksburg, Civil War
The NPG's Warren Perry visits the Fredericksburg National Military Park and discusses the Battle of Fredericksburg, which took placed on December 13, 1862. Filmed in December 2012. For more on the battle, see the NPG's blog at: http://face2face.si.edu/my_weblog/2012/12/the-battle-of-fredericksburg-part-i-burnside-and-the-road-to-richmond.html
05.17.2012
Walt Whitman and the Patent Office Building, Civil War
Used as a hospital during the Civil War, the Patent Office Building (now home to the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum) holds a rich history -- Walt Whitman spent time there with soldiers recovering from their wounds....
03.07.2012
1862: The Rise of Ulysses S. Grant
Warren Perry, of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses Grant's victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, both in northwest Tennessee. Filmed in February, 2012.
10.11.2011
Portrait of George Custer as a student at West Point
Frank Goodyear, associate curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, discusses an ambrotype portrait of George A. Custer taken during his days as a student at West Point.
09.30.2011
Munson's Hill: Battlefield Trickery in the Civil War
Warren Perry, of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses Munson's Hill and the battlefield trickery employed by JEB Stuart in September 1861.
08.16.2011
The First Battle of Manassas
Warren Perry, of the National Portrait Gallery, visits Manassas National Battlefield and discusses the battle that took place on July 21, 1861.
07.06.2011
"The Death of Ellsworth" Civil War exhibition
Jim Barber, historian at NPG discusses the exhibiton "The Death of Ellsworth"
06.15.2011
Varina H. Davis portrait, Face-to-Face talk
Margaret Vining, National Museum of American History curator in Military History, talks about Varina H. Davis (1826-1906), first lady of the Confederacy. Recorded March 24, 2011. Image: Varina Howell Davis / John Wood Dodge / Watercolor on ivory, 1849 /...
05.09.2011
William T. Sherman portrait, Face-to-Face talk
Trevor Plante, chief of Reference at the National Archives, talks about Union General William T. Sherman (1820-1891) Recorded at NPG, April 28, 2011. Image: William Tecumseh Sherman, / George Peter Alexander Healy / Oil on canvas, 1866 / National Portrait...
05.03.2011
Adam Goodheart, author talk
"1861: The Civil War Awakening" discussion by author Adam Goodheart. Historian, journalist, and travel writer Adam Goodheart discusses his new book "1861: The Civil War Awakening," a gripping account of the early days of the Civil War. Goodheart is director...
04.12.2011
Ambrose Burnside and the 1st RI at Camp Sprague (near Washington, D.C.), 1861
Frank Goodyear, associate curator of photography at the National Portrait Gallery discusses an 1861 photograph of Ambrose Burnside and the Rhode Island 1st Volunteer Infantry, taken at Camp Sprague (near Washington, D.C.) by an unidentified photographer. Goodyear was interviewed by...
04.01.2011
Lincoln's Life Masks
David C. Ward, historian at the National Portrait Gallery, discusses Abraham Lincoln's life masks. These works, by Leonard Volk and Clark Mills, are on view in the "Americas Presidents" exhibition. Interview by Warren Perry, National Portrait Gallery. Recorded March 3,...
04.01.2011
Lincoln's Beard - Why Did He Grow It?
Abraham Lincoln grew beard after he became president in 1861. David C. Ward, historian at the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the reasons that Lincoln changed his appearance. Interview by Warren Perry, recorded March 3, 2011. Interview by Warren Perry, National...
06.02.2010
Stonewall Jackson portrait, Face-to-Face talk
David Ward, historian at NPG, discusses Stonewall Jackson. At the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861, the unrelenting vigor with which Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jackson held his position inspired a general nearby to rally his troops with the...
05.03.2010
Lecture by James McPherson, Civil War Historian
Acclaimed Civil War historian James M. McPherson delivered the first talk of the 2010 "American Pictures" Series before an enthusiastic audience at the Smithsonian. The series, a co-production of Washington College, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Portrait...
04.01.2009
Mary Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln portrait, Face-to-Face talk
Erin Carlson Mast, curator at Lincoln's Cottage, discusses Mary Todd Lincoln. It is difficult to know the character of the Lincolns' relationship. When Lincoln wed Mary Todd in 1842, he married into a well-established Illinois family. Mary was strong-willed, capricious,...
12.15.2008
Abraham Lincoln portrait, Face-to-Face talk
David Ward, historian at NPG, discusses Lincoln, and a selection of portraits in the exhibition "One Life: The Mask of Lincoln."Every Thursday evening, the National Portrait Gallery presents "Face-to-Face," a talk about selected portraits on view in the gallery. As...
11.04.2008
"One Life: The Mask of Lincoln" exhibition - interview with David Ward, NPG historian
David Ward, historian at NPG, discusses "One Life: The Mask of Lincoln." Interview by Warren Perry. In the two-hundredth year since his birth, Abraham Lincoln remains as much a puzzle as he was to his contemporaries. "One Life: The Mask...

What's The Civil War about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Civil War episodes:

William Tecumseh Sherman, Portrait in a Minute

Benjamin Butler, Portrait in a Minute

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Portrait in a Minute

Jefferson Davis, Portrait in a Minute

Stonewall Jackson, Portrait in a Minute

Portrait of John Pelham, Confederate artillery officer

The Battle of Fredericksburg, Civil War

Walt Whitman and the Patent Office Building, Civil War

1862: The Rise of Ulysses S. Grant

Portrait of George Custer as a student at West Point

Munson's Hill: Battlefield Trickery in the Civil War

The First Battle of Manassas

"The Death of Ellsworth" Civil War exhibition

Varina H. Davis portrait, Face-to-Face talk

William T. Sherman portrait, Face-to-Face talk

Adam Goodheart, author talk

Ambrose Burnside and the 1st RI at Camp Sprague (near Washington, D.C.), 1861

Lincoln's Life Masks

Lincoln's Beard - Why Did He Grow It?

Stonewall Jackson portrait, Face-to-Face talk

Lecture by James McPherson, Civil War Historian

Mary Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln portrait, Face-to-Face talk

Abraham Lincoln portrait, Face-to-Face talk

"One Life: The Mask of Lincoln" exhibition - interview with David Ward, NPG historian