LEE STRIKES NORTH
In which we discuss Robert E. Lee’s decision to strike north after Second Manassas, and the great events that awaited the outcome of his invasion of Maryland.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “Confederate Tide Rising: Robert E. Lee and the Making of Southern Strategy, 1861-1862” by Joseph L. Harsh.
“BOYS, McCLELLAN IS BACK IN COMMAND OF THE ARMY AGAIN!”
In which we look at what happened in the aftermath of the Second Battle of Manassas, including Abraham Lincoln’s decision to put George McClellan in command of the merged Union armies in northern Virginia.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “The Quartermaster: Montgomery C. Meigs- Lincoln’s General, Master Builder of the Union Army” by Robert O’Harrow Jr.
SECOND MANASSAS (Part the Fourth)
In which we wrap up our discussion of the Second Battle of Manassas, which took place August 28-30, 1862.
Our book recommendations for this episode are “Second Manassas: Longstreet’s Attack and the Struggle for Chinn Ridge” by Scott C. Patchan and “He Hath Loosed the Fateful Lightning: The Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly) September 1, 1862” by Paul Taylor.
SECOND MANASSAS (Part the Third)
In which we look at some of the action on Saturday, August 30, 1862, the third day of the Second Battle of Manassas.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “Summer Lightning: A Guide to the Second Battle of Manassas” by Matt Spruill III and Matt Spruill IV.
SECOND MANASSAS (Part the Second)
In which we look at the action on the second day of the Second Battle of Manassas (August 29, 1862).
Our book recommendation for this episode is “Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas” by John j. Hennessy.
SECOND MANASSAS (Part the First)
In which we look at the fight at the Brawner Farm, which took place on the evening of August 28, 1862.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “Civil War Infantry Tactics: Training, Combat, and Small-Unit Effectiveness” by Earl J. Hess.
STONEWALL ON THE LOOSE (Part the Second)
In which we look at Stonewall Jackson’s capture of the huge Federal supply depot at Manassas Junction, and his subsequent march to the old battlefield of First Manassas nearby.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “A Self-Made Man: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1849” by Sidney Blumenthal.
JACKSON ON THE LOOSE (Part the First)
In which we continue our march toward Second Manassas, looking at Stonewall Jackson’s movement around John Pope’s right flank.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “The American War: A History of the Civil War Era” by Gary W. Gallagher and Joan Waugh.
STALEMATE ALONG THE RAPPAHANNOCK
In which we continue our march toward Second Manassas by looking at how Robert E. Lee forced John Pope to withdraw from his line along the Rapidan River, but then Lee’s advance stalled in front of Pope’s new position along the Rappahannock.
Our book recommendation for this episode is “The Second Bull Run Campaign: July-August 1862” by David G. Martin.
Hey, everyone! Guess what— the podcast just turned four-years-old! Woo hoo! Alright, that’s enough exclamation points for one post. Well, maybe one more—because we want to say “Thank you!” for listening to the show. Some of you have been with us from the very beginning. And there are even a few of you diehards who have let us know that you listen to each episode more than once. We’re not sure how much that has contributed to the three million-plus total downloads we’re up to right now, or the 150,000 downloads that we’re averaging each month, but we’re pretty sure our parents are only responsible for a few hundred of the total. We’ve shared with some of you that when we were first talking about starting this project, we decided we’d do the Civil War podcast that we ourselves would want to listen to. That meant beginning, not with the first shots at Fort Sumter in April 1861, but with some background to the war. How much background to include was a matter of some debate, but we started out thinking we’d cover the background-stuff in ten episodes and then get to Fort Sumter with Episode #11. Right. We actually spent over thirty episodes on the background to the war and run-up to the first shots at Fort Sumter, so we were a bit off in our original calculations. That’s why we think it’s kind of funny when people ask us how long we think it’ll take us to complete this series, through the Civil War and Reconstruction. We always say: “We have no idea.” But Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we plan on seeing it through to the end.
