Portraits of Blue & Grey: The Biographical Civil War Podcast
Recorded History Podcast Network
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Portraits of Blue & Grey, hosted by Christopher Moore, is a biographical Civil War podcast that examines the lives of the most prominent, interesting, and influential figures of the United States Civil War Era.
Available episodes
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Jul 3, 2023
Civil War Espionage - Union Spies 2
This is the second half of our look at Union intelligence operations and spies during the American Civil War. This episode finishes up the discussion of Col. George Sharpe's Bureau of Military Information and the big influence Col. Sharpe had on intelligence during and after the war. We then introduce several charismatic Union spies--including Richmond socialite Elizabeth Van Lew, former slave Mary Bowser, actress Pauline Cushman, and Canadian master of disguise Sarah Edmonds. We also meet "the Tsar of the Underground"--counter-intelligence specialist Lafayette Baker--and explore his role in the Lincoln assassination.
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Jun 11, 2023
Civil War Espionage (Part 1 - Union Spies)
This episode explores Civil War espionage, starting with the intelligence operation and spies on the Union side. Allan Pinkerton, Kate Warne, Timothy Webster, and Col. George Sharpe feature prominently in this episode. A follow-up episode will be out soon finishing up our look at Union spies with figures like Elizabeth Van Lew, Lafayette Baker, Mary Richards Bowser, Pauline Cushman, and Sarah Emma Edmonds.
A future show will discuss Civil War spies on the Confederate side.
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Jan 22, 2023
The Red River Campaign - Part 3
The third (and final) episode of our series on the Red River Campaign finishes up the action in Louisiana. We look at the Union withdrawal, an unorthodox cavalry-vs-navy battle at Blair's Landing, the Camden Expedition, and some nifty impromptu dam-building by a Wisconsin engineer named Lt. Col. Joseph Bailey.
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Jan 9, 2023
The Red River Campaign - Part 2
Part 2 of the Red River Campaign explores the Battle of Mansfield and follow-up Battle of Pleasant Hill--which proved to be the pivotal confrontations of the campaign. Then, we digress into some Civil War trivia.
Look for Part 3, which will wrap up the series, in the near future.
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Nov 13, 2022
The Red River Campaign - Part 1
Part 1 of our Red River Campaign episode explores the dichotomy between political generals and hard-nosed professional soldiers before surveying American Civil War action in Louisiana. We also get to meet Union General (and former Speaker of the House) Nathaniel Banks and U.S. Navy hero Admiral David Dixon Porter--along with Rebel Generals Richard Taylor and Kirby Smith.
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May 1, 2022
The New Mexico Campaign: Good Intentions, Bad Logistics, Ugly Results
Portraits of Blue & Grey makes its triumphant return with a look at the New Mexico Campaign's good intentions, bad logistics, and ugly results. While we're at it, we'll explore civil war in Ol' Mexico, Napoleon III's imperialist opportunism, and figure out how a Habsburg archduke briefly became Emperor of Mexico.
"General Sibley. He looks dead." I definitely should have re-watched the movie before recording the episode.
If you have questions or comments about the show, you can reach us at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening!
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Aug 13, 2021
The St. Albans Raid (Guest-Starring Jesse James)
In this episode, we start with what was supposed to be a short discussion of the James Gang--particularly their involvement in the Missouri guerilla fighting. Then, we look at one of the most unusual happenings of the Civil War: the Confederate raid on the sleepy town of St. Albans, Vermont. As Civil War raids go, though, the St. Albans Raid stands out. And not so much because of the setting but because the purpose of the raid was good, ol' fashioned bank robbery.
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May 4, 2021
The Dahlgren Affair and the 1864 Union Raid on Richmond
By early 1864, POW populations in Civil War prison camps had exploded, and conditions in the camps were abysmal. In an attempt to liberate captured Union soldiers held at nearby Belle Isle prison, Gen. Judson Kilpatrick and Col. Ulric Dahlgren plan a daring raid on Richmond. When the raid doesn't go as planned, suspected ulterior objectives lead to the Dahlgren Affair -- one of the most enduring controversies of the Civil War.
Historians still debate whether the Dahlgren Affair was a sinister, under-handed plot or a U.S. Civil War version of a false-flag operation. The truth remains a mystery, but we'll do our best to get to the bottom of it in this episode of Portraits of Blue & Grey.
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Apr 6, 2021
Raiders of the Lost Cause; Part B
Part B takes us through the end of the short life of rebel cavalier Jeb Stuart. Then, Chambersburg meets its unfortunate fate, courtesy of Jubal Early.
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Mar 27, 2021
Raiders of the Lost Cause; Part A
For the most part, towns north of the Mason-Dixon line sustained a lot less damage during the Civil War than their counterparts down South. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, though, may be the single most glaring exception. Jeb Stuart paid a visit in 1862 and was a fairly polite guest, as military occupiers go--even taking the time to sign the guestbook at the small town's most high-brow hotel. But when Jubal Early's men came calling two years later, the stay was much less cordial.
In Part A of Raiders of the Lost Cause, we get acquainted with James Ewell Brown ("JEB") Stuart--one of the war's most colorful figures. Then, we follow Stuart through his 1862 Chambersburg visit. In Part B (coming soon!), we'll take a look at the experience of poor Chambersburg, PA, for the remainder of the way.
The next few episodes will focus on famous, interesting, and entertaining raids of the Civil War. Look for future shows on (in no particular order) Grierson's Raid, the Dahlgren Affair, the St. Albans Raid, and maybe something on the sinking of the CSS Albemarle.
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Dec 23, 2020
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Part 4
Part 4 of our series on Nathan Bedford Forrest picks back up with Forrest continuing to frustrate William T. Sherman and the series of Union cavaliers dispatched to neutralize him. As Union might becomes overwhelming, Confederate armies are forced to surrender, and the danger of Forrest assuming the role of guerilla leader looms large. Instead, he tries to quietly slip back into the life of a planter and businessman. Along the way, Forrest dips his toes into post-war politics and becomes the first "Grand Wizard" of the Ku Klux Klan.
You can reach Portraits of Blue & Grey at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com with questions or comments about the show.
Thanks for listening!
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Sep 7, 2020
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Part 3
"His eyes, usually mild in their expression, were blazing with the intense glare of a panther’s springing upon its prey....So fierce did his passion become that he was almost equally dangerous to friend or foe.."
--Major David Kelly, C.S.A.
Part 3 recounts two confrontations with fellow Confederates. First, the killing of Lt. Andrew Gould by his commanding officer, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Though probably self-defense, the incident underscores the centrality of violence in the life of the famed cavalry general. Chickamauga follows, and then Forrest lets Braxton Bragg know how he really feels about him.
The episode concludes with the infamous 'Massacre at Ft. Pillow.' In between, we take a look at Okolona, one of Forrest's most impressive victories.
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May 10, 2020
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Part 2
In Spring, 1862, Nathan Bedford Forrest's military acumen began to reveal itself, as he became a thorn in the side of Union operations in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Part 2 includes Forrest's impressive display of physical courage at Fallen Timbers, a chaotic escape at Parker's Crossroads, and a story of equine heroism at Thompson's Station--before concluding with an in-depth look at the April, 1863, Union mule raid led by Col. Abel Streight and opposed by Forrest's Confederate cavalry.
If you have questions or comments about the show, you can reach us at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com.
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Apr 5, 2020
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Part 1
Nathan Bedford Forrest was perhaps the most despised, though begrudgingly respected, Confederate military leader. After growing up poor on the frontier, Forrest ascended the ranks of Southern society and had amassed considerable wealth by the time the Civil War began in 1861. Although he was involved in numerous business ventures, the bulk of his fortune was derived from the slave trade. When the war began, Forrest's value to the Southern cause was immediately apparent--initially as a recruiter and then as a battlefield commander. In Part 1, we examine Forrest's early life, business ventures, and introduction to military life.
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Jan 1, 2020
Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, Pt. 4
Sherman's famous March to the Sea is one of the most well-known and noteworthy campaigns of the U.S. Civil War and probably contributed more than anything else to the hatred of Sherman that flourished in the South for 100 years after the war. After capturing Savannah, Sherman turned north, headed for Columbia, SC. Where Savannah survived occupation relatively unscathed, Columbia would not be so lucky. By the time Sherman reunited with Grant, the war was all but over, with only some relatively light mop-up duty left on the agenda.
Sherman played little to no role in Reconstruction, instead moving out west to focus on the Transcontinental Railroad and Indian Wars while in his new position as General of the Army.
If you'd like to reach out to the show, email us at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks as always for listening, and I hope you enjoy Part 4 of our Portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman.
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Aug 26, 2019
Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, Pt. 3
After Shiloh, Sherman got the opportunity to try his hand in civic administration as the military governor of Memphis. And it was from Memphis that he embarked on a mission, with good friend U.S. Grant, to solve the riddle that was Vicksburg. After months of frustration, Vicksburg fell in July, 1863. The Sherman - Grant team's next test, which they passed with flying colors, was to save the Army of the Cumberland besieged at Chattanooga. Now commanding Union forces in the West, Sherman then set off on a perilous campaign deep into the heart of Dixie, as he tried to capture Atlanta - and save President Lincoln's hopes for reelection in the process.
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Jun 3, 2019
Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, Pt. 2
Part 2 of our look at the life of William Tecumseh Sherman begins with Col. Sherman commanding NY volunteers at Manassas. The battle goes poorly for the Union, but Sherman shows strong, earning a promotion to Brigadier and a transfer to Kentucky to serve as second in command to Gen. Robert Anderson. Anderson's health problems leave Sherman in charge in Kentucky, and the resulting stress leads to mental health struggles for Sherman. The press, which Sherman already detests, piles on, and Sherman reaches his lowest point in the war. After a brief leave of absence, Sherman is assigned to serve under soon-to-be rising star Ulysses Grant, beginning a mutually rewarding friendship. After taking Forts Henry and Donelson, Grant and Sherman move to confront the newly consolidated rebel western forces near Corinth, Mississippi. A surprise counter-offensive climaxes in the bloody battle of Shiloh, which redeems Sherman's reputation as a soldier but also foretells the brutality that wi…
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Mar 19, 2019
Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, Part 1
William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the U.S. Civil War's most controversial figures. A "Fierce Patriot" (in the words of Sherman biographer Robert O'Connell), Sherman deserves more credit for holding the United States together than anyone save Lincoln and Grant. His tactics left the South in smoldering ruins. Yet, in the years leading up to the war he resided in the South, helped to found the Louisiana Military Academy, and sympathized with Southerners politically - except on secession. How could a man who counted dozens of Confederates among his closest friends go on to become the most hated man in the South? Simple, Sherman was a soldier first, and he fought to win. Whether subduing Georgians, Sioux, or Seminoles, Sherman didn't pull punches. In Sherman's mind, War is Hell, and the primary objective is winning quickly and decisively.
In Part 1 of our portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman, we look at 'Cump's childhood, West Point time, early military career, role in the Cali…
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Dec 9, 2018
John Brown, Part 2B
John Brown's 1859 raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry brought abolitionism and slavery to the forefront of the national conversation. The support for Brown's raid voiced by influential Northerners increased sectional tensions and support for secession in the South. After his execution and the subsequent election of President Lincoln, secession became a reality, and Civil War followed.
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Nov 23, 2018
John Brown, Part 2A
In Part 2A of our portrait of John Brown, we pick up in the aftermath of Bleeding Kansas and follow John Brown as he recruits, fund-raises, and prepares for his game-changing raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. We look at the political situation going into the raid and see Brown continue to build a reputation as the nation's foremost militant abolitionist.
Though we had originally intended to finish up the series with this episode, it ended up a little longer than originally planned, so it will released as Part 2A today and Part 2B in the near future. Thank you to everyone for your patience and support. Email any questions or comments about the show to blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com.
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Sep 25, 2018
John Brown: Part 1
A throwback to old-school Puritanism, John Brown brought passion - and violence - into the abolitionist movement. Work with the Underground Railroad gradually gave way to more radical methods, as "Osawatamie Brown" demonstrated that abolitionsts didn't have to be pacifists. And Kansas bled.
Part 1 of our portrait of John Brown looks at his early life, the growth of abolitionism in the young United States, and the opening act for the American Civil War known as "Bleeding Kansas." By 1858, John Brown had already established himself as abolitionism's most militant proponent. But, he had bigger plans in mind.
Email Portraits of Blue & Grey at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com.
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Jul 15, 2018
The Cruise of the CSS Alabama: Pt. 2
The CSS Alabama continued preying on Yankee shipping throughout 1863, prowling off coasts from Brazil to South Africa to Singapore. The success of the raider, skippered by wily Captain Raphael Semmes, inflamed Anglo-American tensions to dangerous levels. But shrewd diplomacy by the Lincoln administration eventually convinced John Bull to turn his back on the rebels, leaving Semmes and the Alabama with few ports capable of providing much-needed maintenance and repairs. After a long-shot voyage to France, the Alabama sailed into her climactic confrontation at the Battle of Cherbourg in 1864, where the USS Kearsarge brought a dramatic conclusion to the famed cruiser's career as the world's most successful commerce raider.
A big thanks goes out to all the listeners who have rated and reviewed the show!
You can email Portraits of Blue & Grey at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the show. We'd love to hear from you!
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Jun 3, 2018
The Cruise of the CSS Alabama: Pt. 1
After the outbreak of the Civil War, the Union blockade crippled Southern commerce. Hoping to ease the pressure on blockade runners (and turn the tables on Northern shipping), the Confederate Navy contracted with British shipbuilders to construct commerce raiders - warships designed to prey on merchant shipping while evading opposing naval vessels. Denounced as a pirate in the North, Maryland-born Raphael Semmes captained the most effective commerce raider, the CSS Alabama, as the ship terrified Union merchant vessels and frustrated the Union Navy. Semmes quickly became a hero in the South and earned a reputation as a daring commander throughout the world. In Part 1, we look at the clandestine construction of the Alabama and the beginning of her career as the most successful commerce raider in naval history.
Email Portraits of Blue & Grey at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the show.
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May 4, 2018
George Brinton McClellan, Part 3
After the failure on the Peninsula, it appeared that McClellan would lose his command. But, things changed after the disaster that was Second Manassas, and McClellan was restored over the protests of Lincoln's cabinet. After the indecisive victory at Antietam, McClellan refused to press his advantage, and President Lincoln determined that the time had come to place the Army of the Potomac under new leadership. A general without a command, McClellan was recruited into Democratic politics and made an unsuccessful run for the presidency in 1864.
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Mar 28, 2018
George Brinton McClellan, Part 2
George Brinton McClellan left the army at the rank of captain but, upon the start of the Civil War, soon found himself a major general in overall command of all Union operations. He was called to Washington to restore order after the disaster at First Manassas, and he built the Army of the Potomac into a first-rate fighting force. But before long, due to his overly cautious nature, the administration began to run out of patience. In the Spring of 1862, he took his army to the Virginia Peninsula for an assault on Richmond from the southeast. On the Peninsula, he encountered an adversary able to expose his weaknesses in Robert E. Lee.
If you have any questions or comments about the show, email us at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com.
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Feb 27, 2018
George Brinton McClellan, Part 1
George McClellan is one of the most oft-criticized figures from the Civil War, but has he been treated fairly? Our series on "Little Mac" will look at the important contributions McClellan made to the Union war effort but also point out his failures. In part 1, we examine his childhood, time at West Point and academic prowess, service in Mexico, observatory trip to the Crimean War, and career as a railroad executive. With the outbreak of war in 1861, McClellan is compelled to return to the U.S. Army. Most of his friends are Southerners, but George McClellan believes that preservation of the Union is worth fighting for.
Email us at blueandgreypodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the show.
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Jan 21, 2018
Stonewall Jackson: Part 3
Following the success at Second Manassas, Stonewall Jackson finally gets the northern invasion for which he has been lobbying since the Civil War began. The bloody draw at Antietam precedes the quiet Fall of 1862. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville bring rebel victories, but the Confederacy pays a high price for the latter - the loss of the Army of Northern Virginia's spiritual leader. Stonewall Jackson's untimely death only further cements his status as a legend after the war.
Email us with any questions or comments about the show at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com.
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Dec 12, 2017
Stonewall Jackson: Part 2
Part 2 of our series on Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson begins with a review of Jackson's famous Valley Campaign, one of the most famous campaigns of not only the Civil War, but in all of American military history, and a campaign still studied by students of military strategy today. We then turn to the Seven Days' Battles, where Stonewall had his poorest showing of the war, before concluding with Jackson's instrumental role in the Confederate victory at Second Manassas.
Thank you to all of you who have supported Portraits of Blue & Grey, whether by rating / reviewing the show on iTunes, telling a friend, or making a contribution. And thank you also to all of you who have reached out to us by email at BlueandGreyPodcast@gmail.com. Questions and comments are whole-heartedly encouraged!
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Nov 5, 2017
Stonewall Jackson: Part 1
Portraits of Blue & Grey: The Biographical Civil War Podcast examines the lives of the most prominent, interesting, and influential figures of the United States Civil War Era.
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Oct 1, 2017
Episode 2: Ulysses S. Grant, Part 4
In the fourth and final installment of our portrait of Ulysses Grant, we look at Grant's post-war role in Reconstruction, the Grant presidency, and Grant's final years after leaving office. Email us at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments about the show.
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Aug 30, 2017
Episode 2: Ulysses S. Grant, Part 3
Part 3 of our portrait of Ulysses Grant sees Grant come to the rescue in Chattanooga before being summoned east for his showdown with Robert E. Lee. Email us with any questions or comments about the show at BlueAndGreyPodcast@gmail.com.
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Jul 21, 2017
Episode 2: Ulysses S. Grant, Part 2
Grant from Shiloh to Vicksburg.
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Jun 21, 2017
Episode 2: Ulysses S. Grant, Part 1
Part 1 of our Portrait of U.S. Grant examines Grant's early life, time at West Point and in the Mexican-American War, tough circumstances before the beginning of the Civil War, and the start of his rise to prominence following victories at Belmont and Fts. Henry and Donnelson.
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