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Emerging Civil War

Emerging Civil Waremergingcivilwar.com
Get fresh perspectives and great insights on America’s defining event from the historians at Emerging Civil War. Co-hosted by Chris Mackowski and a revolving cadre of ECW’s contributors, the Emerging Civil War Podcast taps into an award-winning lineup of historians from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a wide variety of interests. Listen to the Emerging Civil War Podcast and be part of the conversation. We'll see you online and on the battlefield.
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Episodes

The Cities of War: Portland, Maine (with Ryan Quint)

As we prepare for the upcoming 11th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium at Stevenson Ridge, focusing this year on "The Cities of War," Emerging Civil War's Ryan Quint shares a pair of stories from wartime Portland, Maine: the battle of Portland Harbor and the Great Portland Fire. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ t...

Jul 08, 202553 min

Reconsidering John Pemberton (with Morgan Gates)

While Confederate Lt. Gen. John Pemberton was certainly not one of the Civil War's "great" commanders, he's often misunderstood. Morgan Gates, licensed battlefield guide at Vicksburg National Military Park, joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast with a closer look at a man who's too often too quickly dismissed. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochu...

Jul 01, 20251 hr 7 min

The Great Partnership (with Dr. Christian Keller)

Dr. Christian Keller, author of "The Great Partnership," joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about the relationship between Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and how that reverberated through the Army of Northern Virginia's high command before, during, and after the Gettysburg Campaign. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civi...

Jun 24, 20251 hr

Emerson and Lincoln (with Richard Smith)

The poet and the president—two of the most famous men of their age. Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Historian Richard Smith joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast from Concord, Massachusetts, to talk about the meeting of the two orator/writers. Plus, we'll learn about the many other Civil War connections to one of America's most literary communities. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more tha...

Jun 17, 20251 hr 5 min

A Grand Opening Squandered (with Sean Michael Chick)

Sean Michael Chick, author of "A Grand Opening Squandered," talks about the battle of Petersburg. The battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, often gets lumped in with the nine-month siege, but Sean argues that it deserves closer attention than it has traditionally received. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to st...

Jun 10, 20251 hr 5 min

Great Britain in the American Civil War (with Mike Somerville and Christopher Brice)

What did the Royal Army and Navy look like at the time of the American Civil War? If they had joined the war, what kind of impact would they have been able to make? Mike Somerville and Dr. Christopher Brice discuss the context surrounding one of the most-asked "What if" questions of the Civil War. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civi...

Jun 03, 20251 hr 13 min

"Glorious Courage: John Pelham" (with Sarah Kay Bierle)

Sarah Kay Bierle returns to the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about her new biography, "Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War."This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today.

May 27, 20251 hr

A Conversation with Historian Sam Flowers

Meet Sam Flowers, the newest member of Emerging Civil War. He joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion that includes troops from North Carolina, Civil War statues in the U.S. Capitol, the Overland Campaign, the X-Men (yes, that’s right!), and more.This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org⁠ to start ...

May 20, 202545 min

History of the Bentonville Battlefield (with Derrick Brown)

Derrick Brown, operations manager of Bentonville State Historic Site, joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about his book about the history of the battlefield, "Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site."This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today....

May 13, 20251 hr 9 min

Teaching Civil War history (with Dr. Phil Payne)

Dr. Phil Payne, chair of the history department at St. Bonaventure University, invited Emerging Civil War's Chris Mackowski to team teach a course on the Civil War for the Spring 2025 semester. In this episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast, they talk about their experience together in the classroom. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ...

May 06, 202551 min

America 250: Lexington & Concord (with Rob Orrison)

Rob Orrison from ECW's sister-site, Emerging Revolutionary War, joins the ECW Podcast to talk about the start of the America 250 celebration in Lexington and Concord. Rob recaps ECW's round-the-clock coverage and talks about the events that sparked the American Revolution. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org⁠ to start ...

Apr 29, 202550 min

Feeding Lee's Army of Northern Virginia (with Michael Hardy)

An army fights on its stomach. Historian Michael C. Hardy joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to explain the ins and outs of feeding the Confederacy's most prominent army, how that differed from other armies, and how those challenges changed over time. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠civilwartrails.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to start planning you...

Apr 22, 202555 min

The Siege of Spanish Fort (with Paul Brueske)

"Digging all night and fighting all day"—that's how one participant described the 1865 siege of Spanish Fort just outside Mobile, Alabama. We'll talk with Paul Brueske, author of a book about the siege. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠civilwartrails.org⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠to start planning your trip today....

Apr 15, 20251 hr 9 min

Appomattox 160, Part 02 (with Thomas Jessee and Curt Fields)

The second of a two-part conversation with living historians Thomas Jessee and Curt Fields, who portray R.E. Lee and U.S. Grant and respectively. They'll walk us through the experiences of both generals on the road to Appomattox Court House. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠ ⁠civilwartrails.org⁠ ⁠ ⁠to start planning your trip today....

Apr 08, 20251 hr 4 min

Appomattox 160, Part 01 (with Curt Fields and Thomas Jessee)

The first of a two-part conversation with living historians Curt Fields and Thomas Jessee, who portray U.S. Grant and R.E. Lee, respectively. They'll discuss their insights about Grant and Lee and their own work at portraying the two generals. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ ⁠to start planning your trip today....

Apr 01, 202558 min

In the Wake of Fort Donelson (with Greg Biggs)

Everything the Confederates did in the West after the fall of Fort Donelson was an attempt to reverse the results of Donelson. Join historian Greg Biggs for a look at the strategic situation before and after. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today....

Mar 25, 20251 hr 19 min

Dread Danger (with Lesley Gordon)

What can two regiments tell us about cowardice in the Civil War? Join Dr. Lesley Gordon for a discussion about her new book Dread Danger and a look into the experiences of the 11th New York and the 2nd Texas. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org⁠ to start planning your trip today....

Mar 18, 20251 hr 5 min

A Conversation with Jennifer Murray

Dr. Jennifer Murray is the incoming director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at Shepherd University. She joins us to talk about her plans for her new job, her background at Gettysburg, and her upcoming biography of Union General George Gordon Meade. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to s...

Mar 11, 202553 min

Bentonville 160th (with Anna Kulcsar)

It's Women's History Month, and we kick things off with Anna Kulcsar, education specialist at Bentonville Historic Site, who talks with Emerging Civil War's Chris Mackowski about plans for the 160th anniversary of the battle. Anna also shares her favorite stories from Bentonville, as well as the story of her own journey as a public historian. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites a...

Mar 04, 202548 min

Fort Pickens: Where the Civil War ALMOST Started (with Neil Chatelain)

Emerging Civil War's Chris Mackowski and Neil Chatelain talk about Fort Pickens in Pensacola, where the Civil War ALMOST started. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to start planning your trip today.

Feb 25, 202550 min

An Unholy Traffic (with Robert Colby)

Dr. Robert K. D. Colby joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about slave trading in the Civil War and his recent book, “Unholy Traffic.” This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to start planning your trip today.

Feb 18, 202558 min

Talking Civil War Talk Radio (with Gerry Prokopowicz)

Gerry Prokopowicz, host of Civil War Talk Radio, brings his smooth radio voice to the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about his 20+ years of interviewing some of the top luminaries in the field. Prokopowicz began podcasting in 2004--before "podcasting" was even a thing!This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to start plan...

Feb 11, 202550 minSeason 2025Ep. 202

The Civil War and the Law 101 (with Kevin Donovan)

Join Emerging Civil War's Kevin Donovan at the intersection of Civil War history and law. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to start planning your trip today.

Feb 04, 202543 min

Narrating a Tempest (with Bob Neufeld)

Bob Neufeld has narrated a number of Emerging Civil War books. His latest is "A Tempest of Iron and Lead: Spotsylvania Court House, May 8–21, 1864" by Chris Mackowski. Go behind the scenes with Bob as he talks about the art of audiobook narration. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today....

Jan 28, 202528 min

The 1864 Project (with John Heckman)

The Tattooed Historian, John Heckman, discusses "The 1864 Project," a podcast series he spearheaded for Civil War Monitor magazine looking at the many complicated events of 1864. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today. And you can check out The 1864 project online at Civil War Monitor ....

Jan 21, 202545 min

1865's Biggest Events (panel discussion)

What were the biggest events of 1865? As we enter the 160th anniversary year, Emerging Civil War asked historians Chris Kolakowski, Ryan Quint, and Angela Zombeck to share their thoughts on the year of decision. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to start planning your trip today....

Jan 14, 202559 min

Revisiting a State Divided (with Tonya McQuade)

Emerging Civil War's Tonya McQuade visited Missouri to promote her recent book, A State Divided , and while there, had the chance to explore the legacy of some of the state's most notorious guerrilla actions. Learn about the war in Andrew County; Centralia; and Lawrence, Kansas. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠ civilwartrails.org ⁠ to...

Jan 07, 202547 min

Hell by the Acre: Stones River (with Dan Masters)

The battle of Stones River saw the highest percentage of casualties in any major battle of the Civil War. Author Dan Masters joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about his new Stones River campaign study, "Hell by the Acre." This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠civilwartrails.org⁠ to start planning your trip today....

Dec 31, 202456 min

Civil War Christmas Stories from Emerging Civil War

We asked some of Emerging Civil War's contributors to share some of their favorite holiday-related stories from the Civil War era. Join us around ECW's "digital fireplace" for tales from the front line and the homefront. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails , the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at civilwartrails.org to start planning your trip today....

Dec 24, 202451 min

George H. Thomas (with Conrad Bibens)

"The Best General of the Civil War"--a bold statement by any measure. Author Conrad Bibens joins the Emerging Civil War Podcast to talk about his assertion. This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world’s largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠civilwartrails.org⁠ to start planning your trip today.

Dec 17, 202446 min
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