Iron Brigader Blog

The Destruction of the Gunboat Indianola

By the winter of 1863, the Mississippi River was in Union hands except for the stretch between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Port Hudson, Louisiana. The Union Navy was busy trying to secure the Mississippi as...

Update on Alonzo Cushing Medal of Honor: June 2012

Two years ago, I wrote about how years long lobbying efforts to award Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing the Congressional Medal of Honor had been successful as the Secretary of the Army had recommended  that Cushing...

The 1st Brigade Band: Civil War Music Historians

I recently attended Evansville, Wisconsin’s  annual Civil War commemoration event. In addition to reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians of 150 years ago, the event also featured the 1st Brigade Band. The band took part in a...

Paula Deen Finds Civil War Ancestors

Celebrity chef, Paula Deen, traced her Georgia roots back to the Civil War on “Who Do You Think You Are” (May 18, 2012). Celebrated for her southern home style cooking as well as her...