Book review by Gary Van Kauwenbergh “Drifting to an Unknown Future” is a small paperback book of 100 pages that contains the Civil War letters sent home by James and Samuel Northup of Lodi, Wisconsin. It’s edited by Robert C. Steensma, and published by the Center for Western Studies. James, [ » ]
The Rock Island Arsenal is located on an island in the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. It is now the largest government-owned weapons manufacturer in the United States, and it’s history predates the Civil War. The museum is the second oldest US Army museum still operating. 31 pieces of [ » ]
The First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Gray Frock Coat of Corporal Milton Ewen Research Notes On Friday, March 24, 2006, Scott Frank, Marc Storch and Gary Van Kauwenbergh, met with Wisconsin Veterans Museum Curator of Collections Bill Brewster to examine the frock coat belonging to Corporal Milton Ewen of the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. [ » ]
“Confederates in the Attic”, by Tony Horwitz, published by Random House, Inc. Book Review by Gary Van Kauwenbergh If you want to take a break from reading history, but still want to read about the Civil War, this book is a hoot. This book does have a smattering of history [ » ]
Notes from “If This Is War” Gary Van Kauwenbergh I recently reread Alan Gaff’s book, “If This Is War”, and thought I’d share the notes I made on some items I thought were interesting. When reading the notes, bear in mind this book only covers the period of time when [ » ]
“Four Years with the Iron Brigade” The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Company F, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers. Edited by Lance Herdegen and Sherry Murphy. Da Capo Press. Book review by Gary Van Kauwenbergh. This is the best book of this genre I’ve seen so far. It is neither a [ » ]
Click here to watch a short video on the Underground Railway station located in Milton, WI. There’s a city park across the street is where every year Company K of the Second Wisconsin Infantry Assn, Inc., hosts a School Day event where over a thousand students can visit 25-30 stations [ » ]
“Dug-in” is a bit of a tease, but there are actually 140 rebel soldiers buried in the “Confederate Rest” section of Forrest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin. It is the northern-most Confederate cemetery in the United States. Union forces captured 1156 Confederate enlisted men when they seized Island Number 10 [ » ]
The famous (infamous?) Rebel spy Belle Boyd is buried in Wisconsin, just outside of what was then Killborne, but is now known as Wisconsin Dells. I’ve visited the grave site three times, and each time there have been fresh flags or flowers. Pictured are grandchildren Ben and Leah Van Kauwenbergh. Belle [ » ]
I recently found something very interesting related to the Civil War. I was working on material excavated on a farmstead just East of Springfield and looking at some ball found on the site. One looked unusual but I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was but after I [ » ]