July 1-3, 1863 marked the turning point in the American Civil War. In a small town in central Pennsylvania, a massive force of Union and Confederate troops clashed at a place called Gettysburg. Gettysburg was the “High Water Mark” of the Confederate Army’s penetration into the north. The fate of the republic was at stake – ifContinue reading “A Family’s Fight: The Spauldings at Gettysburg”
Tag Archives: Civil War
Combating the Fugitive Slave Act: The Story of Congressman Rufus Spalding
April 9, 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War. That event began a long period of healing and restoration for our Republic. President Lincoln declared an end to slavery by signing the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier in 1863. But it wasn’t until the passing of the 13th Amendment (Abolition ofContinue reading “Combating the Fugitive Slave Act: The Story of Congressman Rufus Spalding”
The Soldiers Home
On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed Executive Order 5298 which consolidated three agencies managing veterans affairs into a single organization called the Veterans Administration (VA). The VA then began to serve the five million veterans of World War I, over 200,000 of which were wounded and/or disabled.1 So, how did the United StatesContinue reading “The Soldiers Home”
Andersonville: Walking in Our Ancestor’s Footsteps
NOTE from Dale: I launched the Fortitude Blog in 2021, and this month, I’m thrilled to introduce my first guest blogger. Clare Cory is the great-great-granddaughter of Civil War veteran, SGT Dewitt C. Spaulding. SGT Spaulding kept a personal diary during the Civil War from August 1861 to December 1864. Here’s SGT Spaulding’s compelling storyContinue reading “Andersonville: Walking in Our Ancestor’s Footsteps”
An American Blacksmith
If you could travel back in time to the early 19th century and choose an occupation in your small town, what would it be? Would you espouse to be a farmer, pastor, grocer, teacher, barber, tailor, or perhaps a cobbler? I think I would follow the path of my 2nd great-grandfather, William Sidney Spaulding, andContinue reading “An American Blacksmith”
A Civil War Chaplain’s Story
This is the fourth and final post in a series on the American Civil War. In this series, I described the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery) to include the story of a Spaulding family member who served in each of these roles. In thisContinue reading “A Civil War Chaplain’s Story”
A Civil War Artilleryman’s Story
This is the third in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In this series, I describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery). With each post, I also include the story of a Spaulding family member who served during the CivilContinue reading “A Civil War Artilleryman’s Story”
A Civil War Infantryman’s Story
This is the second in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In this series, I describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives (cavalry, infantry, and artillery). In the final post of the series, I’ll describe the role of the Civil War chaplain. In today’sContinue reading “A Civil War Infantryman’s Story”
A Civil War Cavalryman’s Story
This is the first in a series of four posts on the American Civil War. In the first three posts, I will describe the three combat arms used during the Civil War to accomplish military objectives. These roles include: cavalry, infantry, and artillery. In the final post of the series, I’ll describe the role of theContinue reading “A Civil War Cavalryman’s Story”
Memorial Day – The Dash in the Middle
Memorial Day will be observed this year on May 29, 2023. Memorial Day has always been special to me as a veteran of 22 years in the U.S. Navy. I live in Northern Virginia about 20 miles west of Arlington National Cemetery. Each year over Memorial Day weekend, my wife and I visit Arlington toContinue reading “Memorial Day – The Dash in the Middle”
Fortitude 