ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CONFEDERATE SIGNAL CORPS IN CHARLESTON   By: Mike Thomas   The Signal Corps in Charleston was well-led, highly energetic, and gained the complete confidence of area commanders. They were composed chiefly of young Privates detached from infantry, artillery, and cavalry commands and trained as Signal Operators. Their work allowed area commanders to communicate with each other at crucial times reliably. The thousands sent reports and orders each month by t

A YANKEE GENERAL’S NOT SO NEW IDEA   By: Mike Thomas   The War For Southern Independence brought about the development of several forms of innovative vessels of war on both sides. Confederate innovations were ironclads, spar-torpedo boats, and the submarine H.L. Hunley. The primary Union contribution to this list was the Monitor class warship. Almost certainly, the most far-fetched concept for a vessel from either side in the entire war was designed by Union Major-General Joh

A YANKEE GENERAL’S FIXATION   By: Mike Thomas   April 1861 found then-Captain John G. Foster as one of the U.S. officers at Fort Sumter when surrendered to Confederate forces. Foster returned to Charleston in May 1864 as a Major-General in command of U.S. troops around Charleston but under strict orders to assume a defensive posture. The U.S. War Department felt it would require “60,000 men three months to take Charleston,” and its resources were expected to be stretched in s

We’re all familiar with “the Thanksgiving story,” complete with pilgrims, Indians, and a feast. That’s nice, but what about the holiday that we celebrate each November – how did that officially recognized observance come to be? J. Stephen Conn at The Confederate Digest tells us what the Northern history books neglect to point out. This is from a post on Confederate Digest:   During the Thanksgiving season, we often hear that the first national Thanksgiving Proclamation was gi

UNRAVELING A HIDDEN STORY   By Michael Thomas   A soldier’s Compiled Service Record can provide a wealth of information on a man’s service experiences, but all too often leaves a researcher with more questions than answers. A prime example of this is found in the service record of Private William B. Morrow of Company G, 2nd SC Cavalry. Morrow, a native of Greenwood SC, was mustered into Confederate service at age 25 in April 1862. His records show he was wounded and captured

Battery Wagner, on Morris Island, earned eternal fame for its heroic resistance against Union forces in the summer of 1863. It stopped two heavy as-saults and endured 59 days of terrible shelling from land and sea before Confederate troops were forced to abandon the position. Few, however, know of Lt. Col. Thomas M. Wagner (1825- 1862) for whom it was named. Wagner was a native Charlestonian, a former state senator, and a railroad executive. He entered state service as a Lieu