In this episode, we explore the fascinating life of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne, whose story stretches from the green hills of Ireland to the blood-soaked battlefields of Tennessee. Known affectionately as the "Stonewall of the West," Cleburne rose from immigrant pharmacist to one of the Confederacy's most respected and feared commanders. Through vivid storytelling, we retrace his incredible journey—his courageous leadership at Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Ringgold Gap, his bold yet controversial proposal to arm enslaved men, and his tragic final moments at the Battle of Franklin. Join us as we examine the complexity of a general who defied convention, inspired fierce loyalty, and ultimately gave his life for the cause he adopted. Whether you're a seasoned history enthusiast or new to Civil War stories, Patrick Cleburne's life offers a profound glimpse into courage, conviction, and the difficult choices made amid America's deadliest conflict.
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Salt and Fire: The Second Saltville Raid (Saltville Raids, Part 2)
In this gripping second episode of The Saltville Raid, we follow General George Stoneman’s relentless cavalry raid through snowbound Appalachia in December 1864. With brutal efficiency and poetic devastation, Union forces descend upon the Confederate saltworks at Saltville, Virginia—obliterating the South’s last critical supply of salt. Told with immersive detail and haunting firsthand accounts, this episode captures the raid’s tactical brilliance and human cost. From midnight cannonades to courtroom reckonings, witness how one valley’s destruction helped starve a rebellion—and stirred questions that echo long after the smoke cleared.
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The Saltville Massacre (Saltville Raids, Part 1)
In this powerful episode of Stories of the Civil War, host Chris Mowery guides listeners into the heart of a brutal and often overlooked campaign—the Saltville Raid of 1864. What began as a strategic push to cripple the Confederacy’s vital saltworks spiraled into a desperate mountain battle and one of the war’s darkest atrocities. From the high-stakes Union assault led by “Butcher” Burbridge to the grim aftermath known as the Saltville Massacre—where wounded Black cavalrymen were murdered after the fighting ended—this episode blends vivid storytelling, genealogical insight, and firsthand accounts to reveal how a humble mineral became a matter of life, death, and legacy in the war’s final winter. Saltville was more than a target—it was a symbol of survival. And what happened there still echoes through the ridges of Appalachia.
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Mercy Under Fire: The Angel of Marye’s Heights
In December 1862, amidst one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, a young Confederate sergeant named Richard Rowland Kirkland stepped beyond the protection of his lines to bring water and comfort to wounded Union soldiers. Known as the "Angel of Marye’s Heights," Kirkland’s remarkable act of compassion became a symbol of humanity amidst brutal conflict. In this episode, Chris Mowery takes you onto the frozen battlefield of Fredericksburg to meet the man behind the legend. Together, we’ll explore eyewitness accounts, separate historical fact from myth, and discuss why Kirkland’s story still resonates deeply today.
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Black Jack Logan - The Union's Best "Political" General
In this episode of Stories of the Civil War, host Chris Mowery traces the astonishing journey of John Alexander Logan—from fiery Illinois congressman and staunch anti-abolitionist to one of the Union’s most fearless generals and the founder of what we now know as Memorial Day. Follow Logan as he sheds the title “Dirty-Work Logan” earned from enforcing fugitive slave laws, and earns the nickname “Black Jack” on the battlefield. From the blood-soaked fields of Fort Donelson and the flaming rail depots of Jackson to the siege of Vicksburg and the decisive campaign for Atlanta, Logan leads with ferocity, fire, and a black-plumed hat. But this is more than a story of military triumphs. It’s about transformation. Wounded in battle and weathered by war, Logan returns not just as a hero, but as a changed man—one who uses his voice in the U.S. Senate to fight for veterans, advocate for Black soldiers, and help consecrate the national ritual of remembrance. This is the story of how a polarizing political figure became a unifying symbol of memory, honor, and reconciliation. A tale of courage not just on the battlefield—but in the chambers of conscience.
Stories of the Civil War is a narrative‑driven history podcast that brings the tumult, tragedy, and triumph of America’s defining conflict to life—one human‑scale story at a time. Hosted by historian‑researcher Chris Mowery, each episode blends meticulous scholarship with vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling to place you on the smoke‑shrouded battlefields, in the candle‑lit tents, and at the kitchen tables where the war’s fate—and the nation’s future—were decided. Whether you’re a seasoned Civil War enthusiast or discovering this chapter of history for the first time, Stories of the Civil War offers a compelling, immersive journey that honors the voices of ordinary soldiers and civilians while illuminating the grand strategy that shaped the conflict. Subscribe today—no reenactments, no sound effects, just authentic, heartfelt narration that lets the past speak for itself.
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