Civil War Archives

‘Taps’ Did Not Originate the Way Viral Facebook Post Claims

A post from 2014 about the supposed origins of the military melody known as "Taps"...

The Origins of ‘Taps’

An old rumor tells of how the "Taps" military bugle song supposedly originated from a...

Mississippi Flag Ordered Out of Park Near Statue of Liberty

The Mississippi flag includes the Confederate battle emblem in the upper left corner.

Did Robert Smalls Steal a Confederate Ship to Rescue Himself and Others from Slavery?

A meme accurately recounts the life of a man born into slavery who stole a...

Lincoln and Lee’s Views on Slavery

A meme widely circulated in the wake of a controversy over Confederate memorials does not...

We’re Still Fighting, More Than 150 Years After Appomattox

Did 620,000 die in a noble quest to save the union? Or was the “War...

We’re Still Fighting, More Than 150 Years After Appomattox

Was the “War Between the States” a gallant crusade to limit federal power, with slavery...

Did Congress Designate Confederate Soldiers as United States Veterans?

Debates over monuments led to a rumor that Confederate soldiers are legally considered veterans of...

The Post-Civil War Lives of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis

A Tumblr post mischaracterizes the two Confederate leaders' positions after the Civil War.

Civil War Lessons Often Depend on Where the Classroom Is

Civil War lessons often depend on the classroom, with schools presenting accounts of the conflict...

Donald Trump Praises Colonel Sanders for His Service in the Civil War?

A satirical web site reported that Trump called KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders "a tremendous...

Did a Trump Golf Course Commemorate a Civil War Battle That Never Happened?

A historically inaccurate plaque on a Trump-owned golf course commemorates a Civil War battle along...