The Distant Drums Podcast

In this episode, we welcome back Author Benjamin Cwayna to talk about the negative stigma often associated with A.P. Hill and one of his division commanders Richard Anderson. Ben takes us on a deep dive into the Confederate attack on July 2nd, 1863 and what Longstreet's plan really was.

In this episode, we explore the story of the 58th Alabama as the see their first major combat at one of the bloodiest battles fought during the American Civil War. How will they fare?

The 27th Connecticut was a 9 month regiment that served in the Army of the Potomac from October 1862 – July 27, 1863. Although their service was brief, this regiment saw some of the most intense combat the Civil War had to offer. In this episode we learn about their brief history, where they saw their first combat and then we will follow in their footsteps as they make their way through Gettysburg's bloody Wheatfield.

In its nine months of service, the Regiment lost 533 men who were killed, wounded, captured, and died of disease out of 829 enrolled.

In this episode we chat with Mr. Matthew VanAcker who is the Director & Curator for "Save the Flags"  which is a Michigan-based nonprofit program that supports the preservation and display of the state's historic battle flags from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. We learn a little about Matt and the process of preserving these cherished pieces.

Regimental Battle flags were the heart and soul of a regiment. Every regiment carried a national flag and a regimental flag. The flags were a powerful symbol of a regiment's identity, fostering a sense of pride and unity among the soldiers who fought under it. Defending the flag was considered a matter of honor, and many soldiers would sacrifice their lives to prevent its capture by the enemy. 

To see the flags and Learn more visit the link below

https://www.mscbattleflags.org/

Author and Lawyer Ben Cwayna joins us on the podcast to talk about his recent book "The Invincible Twelfth: The 12th South Carolina Infantry". We will also chat about Civil War reenacting, Ben's primary sources for his book, and of course Ben's favorite battlefield.

In this episode, Andrew and James discuss what Civil War Battlefields have become their favorites and why. They will also discuss what regiment is their favorite to study!

Get to know the minds behind the Distant Drums Podcast. We will also discuss what our focus will be and what to expect in future episodes!