“Whiskey has cost me my own life” | An interview with John Lanahan of the 46th Pennsylvania

Lanahan grave at Frederick Maryland Civil War

A haunting interview from 1861 reveals Private John Lanahan’s remorse after fatally shooting Major Arnold Lewis in a whiskey-fueled rage. Discover how an Irish immigrant’s fleeting moment of violence led to a shocking public execution – and a cautionary tale for other Civil War soldiers. Read the full story.