Simon Bolivar Buckner was a Confederate general and one of the most unique figures of the Civil War. A West Point graduate from Kentucky, Buckner chose the Confederacy when the war began, even though his personal ties to Grant ran deep. In 1862, Buckner surrendered Fort Donelson to Grant after receiving the famous demand for unconditional surrender, a moment that helped launch Grant’s rise to national fame. After the war, Buckner rebuilt his life in the United States. He served as Governor of Kentucky, promoted reconciliation between North and South, and later ran for Vice President in 1896.

Major General John Schofield was one of the most steady and reliable Union commanders of the Civil War. Rising fast through the ranks, he played key roles in Missouri, the Atlanta Campaign, and the Carolinas, often serving as the calm problem solver between stronger personalities like Sherman and Hood. Known more for discipline and judgment than flashy battlefield heroics, Schofield helped keep Union armies moving when coordination mattered most.

Alexander H. Stephens was one of the most contradictory figures of the Civil War. A longtime U.S. congressman from Georgia, he became Vice President of the Confederacy while openly doubting secession and warning it would end badly.

We cover Stephens’ rise, his infamous Cornerstone Speech, his uneasy role inside the Confederate government, and his unlikely return to Congress and the Georgia governorship after the war. His story exposes the political contradictions at the heart of the Confederacy and the rocky road of Reconstruction.

All three battles of the Chickamauga Campaign ending with one of the bloodiest battles in all of the Civil War.

Discover the story of Edwin Stanton, the hard driving Secretary of War who helped steer the Union to victory. This episode looks at his rise from Ohio lawyer to one of the most powerful men in Washington, his tense early relationship with Lincoln, and how the two became an unstoppable team during the Civil War. We cover Stanton’s reforms, his clashes with generals, his role in shaping Union strategy, and the legacy he left on America long after the war ended.

Three towns. Three massacres. One brutal truth about the Civil War that textbooks like to skip. In this episode, we dive into the darkest side of Confederate guerrilla warfare. The murder sprees, executions, and terror campaigns carried out by men like Bloody Bill Anderson, Champ Ferguson, and William Clarke Quantrill. From the Centralia Massacre to the Saltville killings to the fiery destruction of Lawrence, Kansas, we break down how these raids blurred the line between soldier and outlaw. Brutal tactics, no-quarter orders, and the kind of revenge killing that turned Missouri and Kentucky into the Wild West before the Wild West even existed.

Burning valleys. Empty counties. Armies that didn’t just fight the war… they scorched everything in their path. In this episode, we break down three of the most controversial Union actions of the Civil War. Sheridan’s burning of the Shenandoah Valley, Sherman’s March to the Sea, and General Order No. 11 in Missouri. Brutal campaigns, civilian suffering, and tactics that still spark debate today.

The Fort Pillow massacre stands as one of the darkest moments of the Civil War. After Union forces surrendered on April 12 1864, hundreds of Black Union soldiers and white Tennessean Unionists were shot down by Confederate troops in what eyewitnesses described as a slaughter. Survivors told of men killed while begging for mercy and others executed after laying down their weapons. This episode looks at what happened after the shooting stopped and why Fort Pillow remains one of the most controversial and brutal events of the entire war.

The Sand Creek Massacre was a brutal 1864 attack where Colorado soldiers raided a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village, killing over 230 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly. Despite flying a white flag of truce, the village was destroyed. The massacre sparked national outrage, fueled decades of conflict, and remains one of the most tragic betrayals in American history.

Stand Watie was the only Native American Confederate Brigadier General and the last of all Confederate Generals to surrender. From the Cherokee Nation to Civil War battlefields, his story mixes loyalty, rebellion, and survival in a divided America.

Philip Sheridan was one of the key figures who helped turn the tide of the American Civil War. Known for his relentless drive and signature cry of “Ride, Sheridan, ride!”, he played crucial roles in major campaigns like the Shenandoah Valley and Appomattox, where his cavalry cut off Lee’s final escape. But Sheridan’s story doesn’t end with the war. From Reconstruction to his controversial campaigns against Native American tribes, his legacy remains one of the most complex in American military history.

Brave, charming, and scandalous, Earl Van Dorn was one of the Civil War’s most daring commanders and one of its most controversial. From bold cavalry raids to the affair that led to his shocking death, this is the story of the man behind the legend.

Discover the powerful story behind the Emancipation Proclamation — the historic document that forever changed the course of American history. Signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, it declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate-held territories and transformed the Civil War into a fight for liberty and equality.

Henry Halleck was one of the Union’s top generals during the Civil War — a brilliant organizer and strategist known as “Old Brains.” Though often criticized for his caution, Halleck played a key role behind the scenes, shaping the Union Army’s structure and helping guide its path to victory.

Discover the story of Confederate General John Bell Hood, one of the most daring and controversial commanders of the American Civil War. Known for his aggressive tactics and fearless fighting spirit, Hood rose quickly through the ranks, but his leadership came with heavy costs. From his service at Gettysburg and Chickamauga to his devastating campaigns in Atlanta and Franklin, Hood’s career is filled with both bold triumphs and tragic defeats. Learn about his life, legacy, and the lasting impact of his command during one of the most turbulent times in American history.

Major General John F. Reynolds was one of the Union Army’s most respected leaders in the Civil War. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he served with distinction in the Mexican-American War before rising to prominence during campaigns like Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

At Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Reynolds made the crucial decision to commit Union forces, securing the ground for what became the war’s turning point. He was killed early in the battle, but his leadership and sacrifice left a lasting legacy.

Discover the life, career, and legacy of General John Reynolds—a soldier remembered for courage, duty, and devotion to his country.

John C. Breckinridge was one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in American history. Born in Kentucky in 1821, he became the youngest Vice President of the United States at just 36. In 1860, he ran for president as the Southern Democratic candidate, but the nation soon fractured with Lincoln’s election and the Civil War. Breckinridge joined the Confederacy, rising to general and later serving as its last Secretary of War. After fleeing into exile, he eventually returned home to Kentucky, where he lived out his final years away from politics.

Winfield Scott was one of America’s most legendary generals, serving longer than any other in U.S. history. His career stretched from the War of 1812 through the Mexican-American War and into the Civil War. Known as “Old Fuss and Feathers,” Scott’s leadership, strategies, and influence shaped the U.S. Army for generations.

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Thomas C. Hindman was a Confederate general, politician, and fiery orator whose bold leadership made him both influential and controversial. From his rise in Arkansas politics to commanding troops in the Western Theater during the Civil War, Hindman’s career was marked by ambition, conflict, and controversy. His life came to a violent end, leaving behind a legacy as one of the Confederacy’s most aggressive—and divisive—figures.

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Discover the remarkable life of General George H. Thomas, the “Rock of Chickamauga.” From his Virginia roots to his rise as one of the Union’s most dependable commanders, Thomas stood firm in battle and in loyalty during the Civil War. Learn how his steady leadership, decisive victories, and unwavering dedication shaped history—yet left him one of the most underrated generals of his time.

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