General John B. Gordon on the Cause of the Civil War
Life on the Civil War Research Trail
•
8m 28s
In his 1904 memoirs, Confederate Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon looked back on what caused the Civil War. The former Georgia governor and U.S. senator, helped undermine Reconstruction, and championed the fight against civil rights. Here's his thoughts.
Up Next in Life on the Civil War Research Trail
-
“Sweep Away Its Damning Shame”: A Wou...
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Chamberlin of the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry suffered two wounds during the war. An abolitionist and college graduate, he survived his injuries and went on to become a prolific writer, including this poetic tribute to the citizen soldiers who fought to end slavery.
-
A POW Recounts His Interrogation by J...
From his quarters at Libby Prison, Chaplain Louis Napoléon Boudrye of the 5th New York Cavalry recounted his journey from Gettysburg to Richmond and the characters he met along the way, including JEB Stuart. Here's Boudrye's story.
-
First Encounter With John Burns at Ge...
During a lull in the fighting on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Bucktails of the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry were both humored and inspired by the old man wearing a blue swallowtail coat and carrying a musket. This account is from one who was there—Lt. Col. Thomas Chamberlin.