The Distant Drums Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by Civil War historian and author Dan Masters for a deep dive into one of the war’s most hard-fought engagements: the Battle of Stones River. Fought at the close of 1862, Stones River proved pivotal for control of Middle Tennessee and for the morale of the Union Army of the Cumberland. Our conversation centers on Dan’s acclaimed book, Hell by the Acre, which brings th...

🎬 Civil War on the Silver Screen 🎬 In this episode of The Distant Drums Podcast , we’re joined by historian, author, and Reel History co-creator Dr. Jared Frederick for a deep dive into how the American Civil War has been portrayed in film—from early 20th-century silent movies to modern productions through 2025. Together, we explore how Civil War films reflect the eras in which they were made, t...

We are joined by by Emerging Civil War's Chris Mackowski as he takes us on an overview of the Battle of Fredericksburg. From the initial plan till the last shots, Chris breaks things down so you and I can better understand this Union defeat. Chris will even debunk a thing or two associated with the battle along the way!

Author Benjamin Cwayna is back on the podcast and we are diving into an overlooked portion of the Fredericksburg battlefield. Ben takes us on a deep dive of the fighting that took place on the Confederate Right flank. We also learn about some of the turmoil between General Stonewall Jackson and some of his lower ranking officers.

Join the Distant Drums crew as we welcome Ben Flowerday from the Liberty Rifles. Ben takes us on a deep dive into the Uniforms worn by The Army of Northern Virginia. From how they were distributed to what the soldiers actually wore Ben doesn't miss a detail in this episode!

On today's show we welcome guest Aaron Siever from Aaron Civil War Travels LLC. Aaron Siever grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and since he was a child he has been interested in the American Civil War. Aaron has extensive knowledge of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and today we learn why this area was so important and we also learn about a handful of personal stories that witnesse...

Join us as we get the privilege to chat with the esteemed Historian Gary Gallagher. Gary is known for his extensive work and publications specializing in the history of the American Civil War. In this episode we learn about what got Gary interested in the American Civil War, what myths drive him crazy and we also learn about what he thinks was the true turning point in the war.

James and Andrew dive into the lives of two young and promising Artillery officers that would both have their lives cut short due to the Gettysburg campaign. We explore their lives before Gettysburg and their actions during this awful battle.

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...

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 Bat...

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.

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!

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!