Portraits of Blue & Grey: The Biographical Civil War Podcast

After the failure on the Peninsula, it appeared that McClellan would lose his command.  But, things changed after the disaster that was Second Manassas, and McClellan was restored over the protests of Lincoln's cabinet.  After the indecisive victory at Antietam, McClellan refused to press his advantage, and President Lincoln determined that the time had come to place the Army of the Potomac under...

George Brinton McClellan left the army at the rank of captain but, upon the start of the Civil War, soon found himself a major general in overall command of all Union operations.  He was called to Washington to restore order after the disaster at First Manassas, and he built the Army of the Potomac into a first-rate fighting force.  But before long, due to his overly cautious nature, the administr...

George McClellan is one of the most oft-criticized figures from the Civil War, but has he been treated fairly?  Our series on "Little Mac" will look at the important contributions McClellan made to the Union war effort but also point out his failures.  In part 1, we examine his childhood, time at West Point and academic prowess, service in Mexico, observatory trip to the Crimean War, and career as...

Following the success at Second Manassas, Stonewall Jackson finally gets the northern invasion for which he has been lobbying since the Civil War began.  The bloody draw at Antietam precedes the quiet Fall of 1862.  Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville bring rebel victories, but the Confederacy pays a high price for the latter - the loss of the Army of Northern Virginia's spiritual leader.  Stonewa...

Part 2 of our series on Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson begins with a review of Jackson's famous Valley Campaign, one of the most famous campaigns of not only the Civil War, but in all of American military history, and a campaign still studied by students of military strategy today.  We then turn to the Seven Days' Battles, where Stonewall had his poorest showing of the war, before concluding with J...

Portraits of Blue & Grey: The Biographical Civil War Podcast examines the lives of the most prominent, interesting, and influential figures of the United States Civil War Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the fourth and final installment of our portrait of Ulysses Grant, we look at Grant's post-war role in Reconstruction, the Grant presidency, and Grant's final years after leaving office.  Email us at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 3 of our portrait of Ulysses Grant sees Grant come to the rescue in Chattanooga before being summoned east for his showdown with Robert E. Lee. Email us with any questions or comments about the show at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grant from Shiloh to Vicksburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Part 1 of our Portrait of U.S. Grant examines Grant's early life, time at West Point and in the Mexican-American War, tough circumstances before the beginning of the Civil War, and the start of his rise to prominence following victories at Belmont and Fts. Henry and Donnelson.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices