On the anniversary of Joseph Workman's death during the Civil War, I'm remembering the Wiconisco native who joined the 96th Pennsylvania in 1861. Wounded at South Mountain and captured at Spotsylvania, he succumbed to his wounds in Confederate-controlled Richmond. His weathered monument in Calvary United Methodist Cemetery is a reminder to remember the young man who died for his country. Read the full story.
In this Monday Dispatch, I'm revisiting my transformative 2015 internship at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park - where battlefield interpretation, the Charleston massacre, and rising Confederate flag debates reshaped my career. Discover how that summer defined my career path and the future of Civil War memory. Read the full reflection.
Maurus Oestreich, a German immigrant turned Union soldier, endured unimaginable carnage at the “Bloody Angle.” Witness how the relentless violence of May 1864 left an indelible mark on the 96th Pennsylvania—and how Oestreich’s memories captured the true cost of war. Read the full story.
On May 12, 1864, Henry Keiser and the 96th Pennsylvania stormed enemy earthworks in a downpour at the infamous “Bloody Angle,” firing over 160 rounds through mud and chaos. Learn how this Dauphin County soldier endured one of the Civil War’s most brutal encounters. Read the full story.
Step into May 1864 through the eyes of Henry Keiser, a Pennsylvania corporal facing brutal combat during the Civil War. This short student documentary brings his vivid diary to life, revealing the raw realities of the Civil War in a way you won’t forget. Read the full story and watch the video.
On May 21, 1864, newspaper readers across Schuylkill County saw hundreds of names listed of those wounded and killed in combat in Virginia.
Josiah and Franklin Workman were killed at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 10, 1864.
In 1865, Union soldiers began their triumphant return to Schuylkill County. Their future, however, was uncertain.
Private Anthony Wade died in an accidental shooting near Cold Harbor, Virginia in June 1864.
Captain Edwin L. Severn lost his right arm at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 10, 1864.