About this blog
Scott L. Mingus, Sr. is a scientist and executive in the paper and printing industry, as well as the author of several books and magazine articles on the Civil War, including some that deal primarily with York County during the Gettysburg Campaign.
This Cannonball blog presents stories and anecdotes from the war years, as well as announcing local Civil War events of the modern day.
Send all questions, news items, and suggestions to scottmingus@yahoo.com.
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg
Marye’s Heights, immediately west of Fredericksburg, Virginia, played an important and well publicized role in the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. Confederate infantry and artillery posted on this rise devastated a series of charges by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s Union … Continue reading
New book: Between War and Peace: How America Ends Its Wars
Throughout its history, the United States of America has frequently been engaged in military warfare, against “foes, foreign and domestic.” Some of these conflicts have been uncontested victories, with the opponents signing formal peace treaties. Others have been mere cessations … Continue reading
More photos from the Fredericksburg battlefield – Howison Hill
Howison Hill in December 1862 provided a significant platform for Confederate artillery, including a 30-pounder Parrott Rifle, of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle of Fredericksburg. A wayside marker along Lee Drive in the national military park delineates … Continue reading
Fredericksburg Battlefield – More Photos from Lee Drive
Remnants of old Civil War earthworks line Lee Drive at the Fredericksburg battlefield in Northern Virginia. The National Park Service road follows the southern half of the nearly8-mile long Confederate line from the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg and the … Continue reading
Prospect Hill at Fredericksburg National Military Park
In the fall of 1862, 150 years ago, Confederate Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson anchored the right of his defensive line at Fredericksburg on Prospect Hill and planted several batteries there. The 65-foot-high position dominated the plain leading down to the … Continue reading
Jubal Early’s invasion of York County PA began at Hamilton’s Crossing VA
A late afternoon AMTRAK passenger train speeds through Hamilton’s Crossing just south of Fredericksburg, Virginia. During much of late 1862 through the spring of 1863, this ground was an important rail-head for Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Union … Continue reading
Southern Lady, Union Spy Elizabeth Van Lew to appear at York CWRT meeting
The York Civil War Round Table will feature living historian Suzanne Doucette portraying in first person “Elizabeth Van Lew, Civil War spy” at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Elizabeth Van Lew was a well-born resident of Richmond, … Continue reading
More Civil War Voices from York County being discovered
Pvt. T. S. Mingus, Pennsylvania Home Guard Militia One of my many motivations for studying the Civil War of York County, Pennsylvania, is for the children of the county, including my four York-born grandsons. I wanted to 1) learn as … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Civilians, Confederates, Yankees
Tagged Civil War books, Civil War Voices from York County
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Hanover merchant lost record books after sending them to “safety” before Rebels came in 1863
The above notice appeared in the October 1, 1864, edition of the Columbia Spy. It had been more than a year since the Confederate invasion of York County, Pennsylvania, during the Gettysburg Campaign, and Hanover merchant Henry M. Schmuck still … Continue reading
Posted in Gettysburg Campaign, Hanover
Tagged Gettysburg Campaign, Hanover, railroads
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