Civil War Series

Black Soldiers Made Key Contributions in Civil War, Despite Often Being Under Poor Leaders

Dan Modlin — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:11:27 +0000

WKU professors Jack Thacker and Glenn LaFantasie talk about the contributions of African-American soldiers to the U.S. Civil War effort, and President Lincoln's role in arming former slaves. They also point out that black units were often placed under inexperienced and ineffective white officers.

This is the latest in WKU Public Radio's series of reports on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

WKU Historians Describe the 1863 "Winter of Discontent"

Dan Modlin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:14:31 +0000

150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln had to face a number of challenges as he tried to hold the Union together and as he moved forward with the Emancipation Proclamation. The Union was far from unified in its attempts to bring and end to the Civil War.

WKU Historians Dr. Jack Thacker and Dr. Glenn LaFantasie say the season might best be described as the "winter of discontent." In the next in our series of reports on the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, they describe the difficult situation Lincoln faced.

Historians Reflect on Significance of Battle of Stone's River

Dan Modlin — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:54:29 +0000

The Battle of Stone's River took place in cold, icy conditions on New Year's Eve, 150 years ago. This battle near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was significant for military and political reasons. Dr. Glenn LaFantasie of the WKU Institute for Civil War Studies says President Abraham Lincoln needed a Union victory so he could proceed with the Emancipation Proclamation from a position of strength.

WKU Military Historian Dr. Jack Thacker says soldiers from both sides faced some of the most difficult weather conditions encountered during the Civil War, and that fact was reflected in the high casualties suffered by Confederate and Union troops.

Civil War Historians Reflect on Fredricksburg

Dan Modlin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:53:48 +0000

The Battle of Fredricksburg took place 150 years ago this month in Virginia. This deadly confrontation between Union forces and Confederate soldiers entrenched on a hillside resulted in the deathsof thousands of soldiers, and nearly destroyed the Union's "Irish Brigade." Dr. Glenn La Fantasie of the WKU Institute for Civil War Studies and Military Historian Dr. Jack Thacker of WKU say the Battle of Fredricksburg was marked by some questionable command decisions by Union General Ambrose Burnside.

New Study Raises Civil War Death Toll

Joe Corcoran — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:14:20 +0000

A newly released study has raised the estimated deaths from the Civil War by almost 20 percent. Joe Corcoran speaks with WKU Civil War historians Dr. Glenn LaFantasie and Dr. Jack Thacker.