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The Deadly Halloween Candy of 1858
As Halloween approaches, tales of poisoned candy often seem like urban legends—but in 1858, a real-life candy horror unfolded in Bradford, Yorkshire, leaving over 200 people gravely ill and claiming the lives of 20 others. This tragedy, known as the Bradford Humbug...
Teaching the Civil War through AI-Generated Music with Suno AI
Music can be a powerful tool for connecting students to historical events, making complex ideas more accessible and engaging. With Suno AI, an innovative music generator platform, educators have the opportunity to blend creativity and history by allowing students to...
General Reynolds and Kate Hewett
A Secret Civil War Engagement At the time that he was killed during the first day of the battle, John Reynolds was secretly engaged to a woman by the name of Kate Hewett. His family did not even know about Kate. But when Reynolds' body was returned home to Lancaster,...
Major Sullivan Ballou and the Letter to His Wife Sarah
On July 14th, 1861, Major Sullivan Ballou wrote a letter to his wife Sarah at home in Rhode Island one week before he fought and died in the First Battle of Bull Run. Sullivan Ballou was born to Hiram and Emeline Ballou, a distinguished Huguenot...
AL Coble Rock Carving in Gettysburg
Finding rock carvings is a great way to explore the Gettysburg Battlefield. One of my favorites is the AL Coble rock carving in the area of Spangler's Spring. AL Coble was 20-year-old Augustus L. Coble of Company E of the 1st North Carolina...
The Civil War in Color
As many of you know, I love to colorize original Civil War era photographs as a way to relax. I call them my "adult coloring books." I have also created two tutorial videos so you can learn to create your own colorizations. Learn to colorize Civil War...
Civil War in Color Series – Secret Service Officers
During the first two days of fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee's Confederate forces attacked General George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac. Shortly after nightfall on the second day, General Meade assembled a Council of War at the home of...
Abraham Lincoln for President – August 8 1860
On Wednesday, August 8, 1860, the Illinois Republicans hold an immense rally to celebrate Lincoln's nomination in Springfield. Thousands of people attend and a giant morning procession passes Lincoln's residence which he reviews from his doorway. In the afternoon...