The Uniformed Historian

08/20/2026

Thank you to all who attended our second monthly “Civil War Wednesday” walk at Spring Hill Cemetery Park and Arboretum! Our next walk is scheduled for Sept 16th at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there!

07/16/2026

I recently did a professional photo shoot and would like my followers to pick my next profile pic!! Vote by starring your favorite images and that will be the one I select as my new profile photo!

Explore this photo album by Brian Marrs on Flickr!

06/21/2026

Happy West Virginia Day! It was so good to get out for a bit on West Virginia’s 163rd birthday!! I visited historic Henderson Hall for their Civil War weekend today and had a pretty swell time. Also ran into a Civil War Trails, Inc. marker and naturally had to snap a .

This was the home of George W. Henderson, a key player in the West Virginia statehood movement. Located along the main road between Parkersburg, WV, and Marietta, Ohio, thousands of Union soldiers camped and drilled here. Countless troops marched past this historic building during the Civil War years.

If you ever get a chance to visit Henderson Hall, definitely swing by. There is a fee to go inside but it’s worth the price of admission. Make sure they know sent you!

05/25/2026

Memorial Day, originally called “Decoration Day,” is about honoring the memories of the men and women who are no longer with us, especially those who died in service to our nation. Today we honor their lives across the country. I spent all afternoon yesterday visiting graves and placing flags, then ended my day with a moment of reflection at the Union Soldiers monument at the WV State Capitol. This memorial, sculpted by Roy H. Stewart, has stood proudly on the statehouse lawn since it was placed in 1930.

Also worth mentioning, he is facing the correct direction. “What do you mean by that, Uniformed Historian?” This very ground was part of the battlefield at Charleston fought in September 1862. The Confederate force advanced up the river coming from the direction of Belle and Marmet, thus placing this soldier facing the direction his enemy was approaching from. Also worth noting: a Union officer named Samuel A. Gilbert was not happy to be in West Virginia because he basically felt there wouldn’t be any glory to be won here. In a strange twist of fate, Cass Gilbert, his son, designed the Capitol that now stands on a battlefield where his father served the Union.



Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - National Organization

05/21/2026

This is my latest acquisition to the Jones Family relic collection. I am particularly excited to share this one with you. In my hand is a standard issue tin cup which was dropped or otherwise left behind by a soldier on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, making this my one and only Gettysburg artifact! “But Uniformed Historian, how do you know that isn’t just some random tin cup pulled out of a dumpster or somebody’s grandma’s attic? Do you have documents to prove it?” Great question, and I am happy to answer. Paper documents… Not exactly. The word of one of the leading Civil War historians in the state, possibly even the country? Yes!

The origin story is a little blurry but what I can say with absolute certainty is this artifact was acquired by a gentleman named Dan Crowley, originally of Boone County, West Virginia. He ran a museum in Harper’s Ferry for many years where this cup was on display for tourists from all around the world. When he closed the museum, the cup changed owners, becoming the property of one of the most knowledgeable historians I’ve ever had the honor of knowing, my friend and renown author Terry Lowry. About 2 weeks ago, I acquired this from my friend, Terry.

Normally I would demand more concrete evidence and documentation before making a bold claim, but Mr. Crowley only purchased from reputable sources and Terry has absolutely no reason to lie to me. Therefore, I am confident this is a genuine battlefield pickup from one of our nation’s bloodiest battles.

05/05/2026

Yesterday was May the fourth, aka Star Wars Day, but today is Revenge of the Fifth! “Once more the fifth will rule the galaxy… and we shall have peace.”

04/24/2026

In 1863, this was the site of a partially completed earthen fort from which Captain James Johnson held off two regiments of Confederate Cavalry under Albert Jenkins. Johnson only had companies A, B, D, and H of the 13th West Virginia Infantry at his disposal and ordered every able bodied soldier to the front line from a field hospital, located only a short distance out of frame. Today there is little to indicate a fort ever stood here, let alone that a battle was fought here which lasted 5 hours; a developed neighborhood occupies the location.

Just before we snapped this picture, one local man popped his head outside to inquire what we were doing. He had no idea of the historical significance of the property he was living on! He never knew a battle was fought over his property. This is another example of why preservation is important! When we lose our historic sites, they are gone for good.



Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - National Organization