8 Presidents who actually saw combat in a big way
American Presidents are civilians by design, some with little or no military experience at all – and are unlikely to ever serve in a combat role while in office (unless they’re in office while al…
What happens when you hit an RV with a Civil War mortar
After reading the headline of this article, you might be thinking, “why?” We think it’s better to start with, “what?”
In this case, “what” is a replica of the “Roaring Meg,” a mortar used in the English Civil War in …
This is what other countries thought about the US Civil War
It may seem weird that another country would just show up to war to have a look, but it used to be a fairly common activity, one the United Nations still practices. A military observer is a diplomatic representative of sorts, used by one government …
5 of the most over-hyped military commanders in American history
These generals may be legends — or seen as awesome commanders — but did they really live up to all their hype?
Under closer examination, there might be some instances where the shine isn’t so bright. We’re about to shatter some lon…
Here is how a Civil War cannon tore infantry apart
When you think of artillery, you’re probably thinking of something like the M777-towed 155mm howitzer or the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled gun. But in the Civil War, artillery was very different.
Back then, a gun wasn’t described by how…
Here’s what it would look like if a modern Army fought the Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest in American history with over 7,000 soldiers killed in three days of fighting.
(A single civilian, Mary Virginia Wade, was also killed.)
But if the modern military fought the battle…
How the Civil War changed Santa
Ask any kindergartener what Santa looks like, and they’ll probably tell you he has a red suit, a big, round belly and a long, white beard. The classic Christmas song…
5 video games that let you play actual military missions
Military games are awesome. They often have lots of explosions and gunplay, and the best ones take some care to honestly represent military life, imposing a moral cost for decisions or making you feel the loss of comrades in fighting. But it’s alwa…
The Confederates may have lost the Civil War due to one inept officer
The beginning of the end for the Confederate States of America didn’t come at the capture of Richmond or even the fields of Gettysburg. It came from the west, where…
Today in military history: Siege of Knoxville begins
On Nov. 17, 1863, Confederate General James Longstreet laid siege to the city of Knoxville, Tennessee. In the fall of 1863, Union Major General Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville where a…