ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)

Essays from This Era

Title sort image Author sort image Issue sort image
Billy the Barber Shaves Lincoln Steve Inskeep
Salmon Chase Saves the Union Walter Stahr Spring 2024
“With Malice Toward None” Jon Meacham Winter 2023
Lincoln Walks a Tightrope David S. Reynolds Spring 2022
Lincoln's Thoughts on the “Mobocratic Spirit” Bruce Watson February/March 2021
Lincoln Warned About Mobs and Demagogues David S. Reynolds February/March 2021
Lincoln and Presidential Character David S. Reynolds October 2020
Congress Fights the Civil War Fergus M. Bordewich Spring 2020
President Lincoln's Disastrous First Month James M. McPherson Spring 2020
Lincoln's Corrupt War Department Stephen B. Oates February/March 2021
“Let Us Die to Make Men Free” Richard M. Gamble Summer 2019
Lincoln's Boys Joshua Zeitz Spring 2018
The Struggles of Edwin Stanton Walter Stahr Fall 2017
Convention Surprises Edwin S. Grosvenor
"Oh doctor, do what you can!" Edwin S. Grosvenor Summer 2012
Baltimore Riot Spring 2011
Lincoln Inaugurated Spring 2011
A Spirit and Power Far Beyond Its Letter Harold Holzer Summer 2010
A Graceful Exit Jay Winik Winter 2010
“The Tide is Setting Strongly Against Us” Edward L. Ayers Winter 2010
Lincoln As Commander in Chief James M. McPherson Winter 2009
Lincoln’s Home Away from Home Reopens Ann Geracimos Spring/Summer 2008
Showdown at Sumter James M. McPherson Winter 2010
Was Jefferson Davis Captured in a Dress? James L. Swanson Fall 2010
The Imperial Congress Thomas Fleming Fall 2010
America's Oddest Election Harold Holzer Fall 2010
Lincoln’s Plan For Reconstruction James G. Randall | Richard N. Current June 1955
The Boy In The Window Stefan Lorant June 1955
“To Open The Door” Milton S. Eisenhower April 1955
Riding The Circuit With Lincoln Willard King February 1955
The Speech That Made The Man Harold Holzer Winter 2010
Lincoln the Orator Harold Holzer Winter 2009
Lincoln and the Navy Craig L. Symonds Winter 2009
If Lincoln Hadn’t Died... Eric Foner Winter 2009
Lincoln’s Legacy Harold Holzer Winter 2009
Lincoln & Frederick Douglass Stephen Kendrick | Paul Kendrick Winter 2009
Time Machine Frederic D. O'Brien April/May 2007
1832 - Lincoln the Indian Fighter Frederic D. O'Brien April/May 2007
The Gettysburg Gospel Harold Holzer November/December 2006
Resources November/December 2006
The Three Faces of George Washington Frederick E. Allen November/December 2006
The Buyable Past David Lander November/December 2006
History Now November/December 2006
The Madness of Mary Lincoln Jason Emerson June/July 2006
The Other Lincoln Family Home Harold Holzer February/March 2006
America’s Most Famous Letter Jason Emerson February/March 2006
“As Bad As She Could Be” Harold Holzer February/March 2006
The Best Civil War Books Stephen W. Sears November/December 2004
“What is Hell to One Like Me...?” Richard Lawrence Miller August/September 2004
Still A Great Hall After All Harold Holzer April/May 2004
“Your Brave and Early-Fallen Child…” Kevin Baker February/March 2004
The Test of Reconciliation in Terrible Times James M. McPherson November/December 2001
The Trouble With the Bixby Letter Michael Burlingame July/August 1999
How I Met Lincoln Harold Holzer July/August 1999
Is That Lincoln in Phil-del, as He Called It? Harold Holzer February/March 1998
Unlike Clinton's Rich Guests, Lincoln Never Slept in "The Lincoln Bedroom" Harold Holzer July/August 1997
The Return of "The Peacemakers," Minus Lincoln Harold Holzer February/March 1996
The San Patricios James Callaghan November 1995
The Forgotten Triumph of the Paw Paw Richard W. Kaeuper October 1995
Who’s Who? James G. Barber July/August 1995
Westward on the Old Lincoln Highway Philip Langdon April 1995
How Did Lincoln Die? Richard A. R. Fraser, M.d. February/March 1995
Abraham Lincoln Again Geoffrey C. Ward February/March 1995
Clio and the Clintons Carl Sferrazza Anthony December 1994
Tales of a Gettysburg Guide James W. Wensyel April 1994
“A Most Abandoned Hypocrite” Douglas L. Wilson February/March 1994
Dear Mr. Lincoln … Geoffrey C. Ward February/March 1994
The Destruction of Fighting Joe Hooker Gene Smith October 1993
Presidents on Presidents Thomas Fleming November 1992
The Booth Obsession Gene Smith September 1992
The Conversion of Harry Truman William E. Leuchtenburg November 1991
John Wilkes Booth’s Other Victim Richard Sloan February/March 1991
“Most Americans Don’t Know What Lincoln Really Represents” William E. Leuchtenburg December 1990
The Fires of Norfolk Ivan Musicant March 1990
A War That Never Goes Away James M. McPherson March 1990
A. Lincoln, Writer Geoffrey C. Ward September/October 1989
The House at Eighth and Jackson Geoffrey C. Ward April 1989
How We Got Lincoln Peter Andrews November 1988
God’s Chosen Instrument Stephen W. Sears July/August 1988
Lincoln Fiction & Fact Arthur Schlesinger Jr. December 1987
101 More Things Every College Graduate Should Know About American History John A. Garraty December 1987
A Few Parchment Pages Two Hundred Years Later Richard B. Morris May/June 1987
An Epitaph For Mr. Lincoln H. Wayne Morgan February/March 1987
I Love Washington David McCullough April/May 1986
101 Things Every College Graduate Should Know about American History John A. Garraty December 1986
History Still Matters Bill Moyers December 1985
Matters Of Fact Geoffrey C. Ward August/September 1984
Targets Of Opportunity Geoffrey C. Ward April/May 1984
Where Have All The Great Men Gone? Richard D. Brown February/March 1984
“If I Had Another Face, Do You Think I'd Wear This One?” Harold Holzer February/March 1983
The Plot To Steal Lincoln’s Body Peggy Robertson April/May 1982
Lincoln’s Life Preserver Charles B. Strozier February/March 1982
Two Cheers For Optimism Robert Bendiner December 1982
Lincoln’s Lost Love Letters Don E. Fehrenbacher February/March 1981
Five Minutes To Freedom December 1981
The Slaves Freed Stephen B. Oates December 1980
America: Experiment or Destiny? Arthur Schlesinger Jr. June 1977
Say Who’s That Tall, Homely Feller In The Stovepipe Hat? February 1977
Mallet, Chisel, And Curls Lee Roderick February 1976
Mrs. Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper Lynne Cheney October 1975
Garibaldi And Lincoln Herbert Mitgang October 1975
Pistols For Two … Coffee For One James R. Webb February 1975
The Miracle That Saved The Union Scarritt Adams December 1975
Lincoln As Poet October 1974
The Lincoln Highway Joe McCarthy June 1974
The Relief Of Fort Pickens James Cooley February 1974
As Well As The Art Of Diplomacy, There Are Also The Arts Of Diplomacy Virginia Cardwell Purdy February 1974
The Vice President Flees William C. Davis October 1973
Lincoln Saves A Reformer Curtis Dahl October 1972
“Better For Us To Be Separated” Michael Harwood December 1972
Another Assassination, Another Widow, Another Embattled Book Marion Wefer August 1967
An American In Paris Stephen Hess February 1967
“There I Grew Up” William E. Wilson October 1966
ASSASSINATION! Philip B. Kunhardt Jr. April 1965
Journey’s End: 1865 Walter Havighurst February 1962
Faces From The Past—IV Richard M. Ketchum October 1961
Lincoln Takes Charge Allan Nevins October 1960
New York’s Bloodiest Week Lawrence Lader June 1959
He Did Hold Lincoln’s Hat Allan Nevins February 1959
Our Two Greatest Presidents Clinton Rossiter February 1959
Lincoln’s Second Inauguration Philip Van Doren Stern February 1958
Ghosts In The White House Claude M. Fuess December 1958
The Unknown Conspirator Philip Van Doren Stern February 1957
Bruce Catton Recalls the Emotional 1913 Reunion at Gettysburg Bruce Catton Fall 2024
Longstreet’s Dramatic Change of Heart Elizabeth R. Varon
Billy the Barber Shaves Lincoln Steve Inskeep
Salmon Chase Saves the Union Walter Stahr Spring 2024
Did Johnny Come Marching Home With PTSD? David O. Stewart May 2023
Antietam, America's Bloodiest Day Justin Martin September 2022
Massacre at Fort Pillow Fergus M. Bordewich November/December 2021
Wrapped in Glory: Black Troops of the Civil War Douglas R. Egerton Spring 2021
Juneteenth! Bruce Watson June 2020
Confederates in Congress: Heritage or Hate?    Edwin S. Grosvenor June 2020
Confederates Honored by the U.S. Army Edwin S. Grosvenor | Chase Brush June 2020
Congress Fights the Civil War Fergus M. Bordewich Spring 2020
President Lincoln's Disastrous First Month James M. McPherson Spring 2020
The Frémonts Open the West Steve Inskeep Winter 2020
Corruption and Treason in the Buchanan Cabinet Michael F. Holt February/March 2021
Lincoln's Corrupt War Department Stephen B. Oates February/March 2021
“Let Us Die to Make Men Free” Richard M. Gamble Summer 2019
The Importance of Mill Springs Jack Hurst Winter 2019
Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Heart Touched By Fire Ronald Collins Spring 2019
Lincoln's Boys Joshua Zeitz Spring 2018
The Struggles of Edwin Stanton Walter Stahr Fall 2017
Bruce Catton's America Edwin S. Grosvenor September 2023
Grant Splits Dixie Jack Hurst Summer 2017
High Stakes at Antietam Stephen W. Sears Summer 2012
Bruce Catton David W. Blight Spring 2012
From Civil War to Civil Rights Henry Louis Gates Jr. Summer 2010
Battle of Ball's Bluff Fall 2011
Cherokee Loyalties Fall 2011
African Americans In Combat Fall 2011
About The Civil War Spring 2011
General Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan Spring 2011
Baltimore Riot Spring 2011
Fort Sumter Falls Spring 2011
Why the Civil War Still Matters James M. McPherson Spring 2011
In the Defense of the Republic James Oliver Horton Summer 2010
A Spirit and Power Far Beyond Its Letter Harold Holzer Summer 2010
The South’s Mighty Gamble On King Cotton Gene Dattel Summer 2010
A Graceful Exit Jay Winik Winter 2010
The Last Confederate Prison The Editors Fall 2010
The First To Secede James W. Loewen Winter 2011
Three Years with Grant Benjamin P. Thomas | Sylvanus Cadwallader October 1955
The Blockade That Failed Daniel O’flaherty August 1955
Lincoln’s Plan For Reconstruction James G. Randall | Richard N. Current June 1955
If Lincoln Hadn’t Died... Eric Foner Winter 2009
What Happened At Fort Pillow? Andrew S. Ward August/September 2005
Trading Up John Steele Gordon August/September 2005
“Ride With The Devil” April/May 2005
Bringing Camels to the Southwest in 1855 Frederic D. O'Brien February/March 2005
General Longstreet and the Lost Cause Stephen W. Sears February/March 2005
The Best Civil War Books Stephen W. Sears November/December 2004
The Ten Best Civil War Films Bruce Chadwick August/September 2004
The Tariff of Abominations Frederic D. O'Brien November/December 2003
The Blood on the Photo April/May 2003
The Race Riots in Manhattan in 1863 Kevin Baker March 2003
Creating the Ultimate Civil War Resource Dennis K. Berman July/August 2001
Secrets Of The ‘hunley’ April 2001
Frederick, Maryland: A Civil War Crossroads September 2000
Alternatives to That Odious Flag? Kevin Baker July/August 2000
Gettysburg, 1862 James M. McPherson September 1999
Caning Senator Sumner Nearly to Death in the Senate Kevin Baker September 1999
War Correspondent Nancy Caldwell Sorel May/June 1999
Civil War General Stephen W. Sears May/June 1999
Following Georgia's Antebellum Trail April 1999
Jillian’s Story Richard F. Snow February/March 1999
Richmond’s Black Heroes The Editors September 1998
The Consequences of the Skirmish at Lewis Farm Alfred W. Crosby July/August 1998
Stonewall Jackson’s Deadly Calm Robert K. Krick December 1996
The New Civil War Richard F. Snow October 1996
Civil War Essays May/June 1996
Civil War Women May/June 1996
Our Civil War Cd-rom Richard F. Snow February/March 1996
Editors’ Choice February/March 1996
A Rebel Remembers Geoffrey C. Ward November 1995
Lee’s Last Stand Frederic D. O'Brien October 1995
Screen Rights Richard F. Snow September 1995
The Selling of Libby Prison William B. Meyer November 1994
The Warfare State Bruce D. Porter July/August 1994
Build-down T. A. Heppenheimer December 1993
Dr. Lauderdale Goes to War Geoffrey C. Ward December 1993
Hero of the 20th Geoffrey C. Ward November 1992
Disenthralling Ourselves Geoffrey C. Ward April 1992
All for the Union Geoffrey C. Ward May/June 1991
Financial Folklore John Steele Gordon February/March 1991
The Civil War In Review May/June 1990
Lee’s Greatest Victory Robert K. Krick March 1990
The Rock of Chickamauga Peter Andrews March 1990
A War That Never Goes Away James M. McPherson March 1990
Paying for the War John Steele Gordon March 1990
A. Lincoln, Writer Geoffrey C. Ward September/October 1989
The Civil War’s Greatest Scoop James Weeks July/August 1989
The Children of Gettysburg Elizabeth Daniels May/June 1989
The Terrible Price of Freedom Stephen W. Sears April 1989
The South’s Inner Civil War Eric Foner March 1989
God’s Chosen Instrument Stephen W. Sears July/August 1988
“We Will Not Do Duty Any Longer for Seven Dollars per Month” Otto Friedrich February 1988
The New Sherman Letters Joseph H. Ewing July/August 1987
Enlisted for Life Hiller B. Zobel June/July 1986
Longwood: The Untimely Octagon Roger G. Kennedy October/November 1985
The First News Blackout Stephen W. Sears June/july 1985
Death March June/july 1985
Images of Disorder and Early Sorrow Geoffrey C. Ward February/March 1985
Military Medicine October/November 1984
A Confederate Odyssey Charles C. Hemming December 1984
The New View Of Reconstruction Eric Foner October/November 1983
Painting The Southland June/july 1983
Hell And The Survivor October/November 1982
Captain Newcomb And The Frail Sisterhood June/july 1982
The Best Girl Scout Of The Mall Martha Saxton June/july 1982
American Characters Richard F. Snow April/May 1982
Old Ring April/May 1982
Between The Battles February/March 1982
A Postage Stamp History Of The U.S. In The Twentieth Century Judson Mead December 1982
Shadows Of The Storm June/July 1981
Making History Bernard A. Weisberger April/May 1981
A Bulwark Against Mighty Woes February/March 1981
“Rocked in the Cradle of Consternation” Reverend Henry M. Turner October/November 1980
War Correspondent, 1864: The Sketchbooks Of James E. Taylor Oliver Jensen August/September 1980
Belle Boyd Richard F. Snow February/March 1980
The Slaves Freed Stephen B. Oates December 1980
The Sinister Corps Of William O. Bourne June/July 1979
A Gallant Company February/March 1979
Four Brothers In Blue, Or Sunshine And Shadows Of The War Of The Rebellion Barbara Klaw February/March 1979
Gunboat War At Vicksburg Daniel F. Kemp August/September 1978
The Day The Civil War Ended Bruce Catton June/July 1978
From Atlanta To The Sea James Royal Ladd December 1978
Ethics & Armaments Bruce Catton August 1977
The Great Locomotive Chase Stephen W. Sears December 1977
The Siege Of Vicksburg Richard Wheeler June 1976
Garibaldi And Lincoln Herbert Mitgang October 1975
The Miracle That Saved The Union Scarritt Adams December 1975
The Relief Of Fort Pickens James Cooley February 1974
Surgeon Thompson’s Separate Peace Allan L. Damon December 1974
Stars And Bars And … Flags That Never Flew October 1973
The Vice President Flees William C. Davis October 1973
The Burning Of Chambersburg Liva Baker August 1973
The End Of The Alabama Norman C. Delaney April 1972
“We Are Going To Do Away With These Boys …” Pete Daniel April 1972
“New York Is Worth Twenty Richmonds” Nat Brandt October 1971
The Old Vets Robert Merrill Dewey April 1971
Of Noble Warriors And Maidens Chaste Irene M. Patten April 1971
Asa Smith Leaves The War Bruce Catton February 1971
The Miracle On Missionary Ridge Bruce Catton February 1969
The Trial Of John Brown Thomas Fleming August 1967
“Mother, I Do Not Hate To Die” James Cameron Phifer February 1967
The Army Of The Cumberland: A Panorama Show By William B. T. Travis Bruce Catton December 1967
On Writing About The Civil War Bruce Catton April 1966
Mississippi: The Past That Has Not Died Walter Lord June 1965
TALE OF A TABLE Mary A. Benjamin April 1965
A Civil, And Sometimes Uncivil, War Bruce Catton October 1964
Heritage Of The War Bruce Catton December 1963
“Bull Run” Russell Joseph L. Gardner June 1962
Lincoln Takes Charge Allan Nevins October 1960
The Bloodiest Man In American History Albert Castel October 1960
“See Those Men! They Have No Flag!” October 1960
There Was Another South Carl N. Degler August 1960
Narrative Of An Escape From A Rebel Prison Camp Morris C. Foote June 1960
A Royal Welcome For The Russian Navy Marshall B. Davidson June 1960
Grant At Shiloh Bruce Catton February 1960
New York’s Bloodiest Week Lawrence Lader June 1959
Crisis At The Antietam Bruce Catton August 1958
“Tonight For Freedom” Saunders Redding June 1958
Classmates Divided Mary Elizabeth Sergent February 1958
Lincoln’s Second Inauguration Philip Van Doren Stern February 1958
Two Civil War Letters October 1957
"I Fired The First Gun And Thus Commenced The Great Battle” S. Dana Greene June 1957
The Peaceable Ambassadors Arnold Whitridge April 1957
Hayfoot, Strawfoot! Bruce Catton April 1957
The Needless Conflict Allan Nevins August 1956
Legend Of The South Cornelia Barrett Ligion June 1956
The River Houses Clarence John Laughlin June 1956
What They Did There Bruce Catton December 1954