On Great Fields: Leaders of the American Civil War

In this Episode, we learn more about Grant's early years before the war, and we complete the desperate fighting in the battle for Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River.

We continue the story of the Shiloh battle on the banks of the Tennessee River on April 6th, 1862. Sherman and Grant form a partnership which will change the course of the war.

In this episode, we begin the battle of Shiloh, which was a turning point in Grant's life and the lives of all Americans. Also, we begin a discussion of Grant's early life and experiences at the US Military Academy.

We conclude the Fort Donelson battle in the episode, which represents the first major victory of the war for the Union army. Grant captured an entire Confederate army for the first time and came to be know as "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. 

In this episode we discuss the fallout from Fort Henry and Begin the Fort Donelson Battle.

This is an announcement of two upcoming changes to the podcast.

In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of Belmont and the first big battle of his career, Fort Henry.  Before this, we cover Grant's relationship with his wife Julia as well as Henry Halleck. And we discuss a topic that plagued his time in the deep South, the illicit cotton trade and corruption in the war dept.     

In this episode, we begin our exploration into U. S. Grant's life starting when he assumed command of the 21st Illinois Regiment in June 1861. We will cover his early camp life experiences, his command at Cairo IL, and the capture of Paducah KY. We end with his first battle in Belmont, MO against Leonidas Polk and Gideon Pillow. 

In this final episode of the Stonewall Jackson series, we briefly cover the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. Then we spend most of our time on Jackson's and Lee's masterpiece at Chancellorsville. Stonewall Jackson's career ended the same way it began: With a rebel yell and a complete rout of the enemy. 

This episode covers Jackson's taking of the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction and the Battle of Second Bull Run. Then we finish with the Battle of Chantilly. Some believe this was Jackson's masterpiece, others believe it was Chancellorsville. You be the judge.

In this episode, we discuss Jackson's time at the WestPoint military academy. Then we resume where we left off after the valley campaign with Jackson joining Lee's forces to defend the confederate capital in the Seven Days Battles. After this, we find Jackson again being sent off to destroy Nathaniel Banks's federals at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, just before Second Manassas (aka Second Bull Run...

In this episode, we conclude Jackson's spectacular valley campaign. First, his army will somehow escape from the danger of a well-sprung trap set by President Lincoln, then he will proceed to defeat two much larger Union armies in detail. By the end of the campaign he is likely the most famous person in the world.

Jackson continues his Valley Campaign with smashing victories over Union General Nathaniel Banks at Front Royal and Winchester. President Lincoln and all of Washington are terrified Jackson might invade the US capital. 

In this episode we discuss Jackson's background and early life in Jackson's Mill Virginia. Also, we explore Jackson's loves and losses before the Civil War.

Jackson begins his Valley Campaign in earnest and his partnership with Robert E Lee also begins. Jackson fools the federals into thinking he has left the Valley for good and then attacks Fremont's vanguard force in the Battle of McDowell. 

In this episode we begin our discussion of Jackson's famous valley campaign. Jackson rewrites the rules of war during the Romney expedition, pushing his men to physical extremes none of them thought possible. Then Jackson shows his gall and audacity at Kernstown by attacking a much larger union force in a tactical defeat that turned into a strategic victory.

In this episode we explore Jackson's pre-war life as professor of Science and Artillery at Virginia Military Institute. We also learn more about Jackson's idiosyncratic behavior and especially his insistence to never quit and never give up, ever. We also discuss a significant incident involving Jackson and his post commander during his time in the antebellum Army. 

In this episode we discuss Thomas J Jackson's entry into Richmond with his VMI cadets following Virginia succession. He had no commission and no command until he was finally made a Colonel and ordered to take command at Harpers Ferry. Soon he and his brigade got their first combat experience at Falling Waters. Then Jackson achieved fame and the legendary status at the first battle at Bull Run (aka...

In the episode we conclude our discussion of General Thomas. He oversaw the cavalry operations of the South and Southeast at the end of the war and his men captured Jefferson Davis. We also discuss his various roles and contributions after the war and his passing on March 28, 1970. Many of his contemporaries compared him to George Washington and Bruce Catton called him perhaps the best general of...

In this episode we discuss the Battle of Nashville, which has been called one of the two best battles ever fought by an army. Union General George H. Thomas waited until the time was right, and then annihilated John Bell Hood's Confederate Army of Tennessee on Dec 15 and 16 1864. 

In this episode we discuss General Thomas's role in the Battle of Atlanta and the capture of the city. We also cover the Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin, and begin to discuss the Battle of Nashville, which will result in the most complete destruction of any army during the Civil War. 

In this episode we discuss General Thomas's role in the Atlanta campaign. We begin by discussing the aftermath of the Chattanooga campaign and end with the Battle of Peachtree Creek just outside Atlanta. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland played a pivotal role, pushing J E Johnston's army from Dalton Georgia to Atlanta where Johnston was replaced by John B Hood. 

In this episode we conclude the Chickamauga battle and discuss the Chattanooga Campaign including the battles of Tunnel Hill, Missionary Ridge, and "The Battle Above the Clouds."

In this 2nd episode of George Thomas' life, we complete the battle of Stones River. We also cover the Army of the Cumberland's masterful maneuvers around the Confederate army of Tennessee, flanking them out of Tullahoma and Chattanooga. This ends up in the massive and chaotic battle of Chickamauga, where George Thomas received the nickname, "Rock of Chickamauga."

In this episode we begin our discussion of General George Henry Thomas including the Battles of Mill Springs and Stones River. We also discuss his early years and the impact of Nat Turner's slave revolt on Thomas and his family.