A Confederate scout is on a mission this day. James Bruton Gambrell (1841-1921) is a captain in the Confederate Army, commanding a squadron of scouts in General Robert E. Lee‘s Army of Northern Virginia. Some remember Gambrell, as a Confederate scout, as firing the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg. War is the fodder…
As reported by today’s New York Times, Henry Ward Beecher has recently toured England, speaking about the American Civil War and the temperance movement. Invited to speak to Britain’s National Temperance League, his speech included a story about a Baptist church. This distinguished advocate of temperance and freedom [Beecher] having consented to meet the members…
Today William S. Christian (1830-1910) of Virginia–physician, Baptist layman and veteran military officer–is promoted to Colonel in (and commander of) the 55th Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Confederates States Army. His promotion comes on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg, a battle that changes Christian’s life and stamps the imprint of the war upon…