December 11, 1862. Union Army engineers are urgently constructing a bridge, one that will carry soldiers into the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a Confederate stronghold. Union leaders are banking on the element of surprise and are desperate for a victory. But, by the time it’s over, more than a thousand Union soldiers will perish in one of the worst defe ... Show More
Jul 13
The Forgotten Father of Air Conditioning
July 14, 1850. At a swanky hotel in Apalachicola, Florida, the French consul is throwing a Bastille Day party, and he's promised his guests ice-cold champagne. There's just one problem: the town's ice shipment is delayed, and in 1850, you can't simply make ice. Or can you? Enter ... Show More
27m 54s
Jul 6
The *Other* Declaration of Independence (Part II)
July, 1845. Dr. Smith Boughton, the man behind the mask of "Big Thunder," is sitting in a Hudson jail after a trial that ended in a hung jury.The Anti-Renters had to celebrate Independence Day with cannon fire and readings of the Declaration, but without their leader. The rebelli ... Show More
22m 43s
Jan 2025
The First 12 Days of the Civil War
<p>In April 1861, Union forces having lost the first battle of the Civil War, attention turned to the Confederacy's likely next target - Washington DC.</p><br><p>Entirely unprepared, the American capital was to be undefended for the next 12 days. To explore the fears, preparation ... Show More
35 m
May 2025
Robert E Lee's Lost Orders
The Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War remains the bloodiest day in American history. That day, and the future of the United States, could have turned out very differently, if not for a single note and three cigars. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm. ... Show More
39m 38s
Mar 2022
EP231: The Union Loss That Saved Washington, D.C. and The Forgotten Grave
On this episode of Our American Stories, Marc Leepson tells us how on July 9, 1864, the Union army suffered a loss... that just so happened to save the United States and help solidify Lincoln's re-election. Jay Moore's family tale of loss, discovery, and selflessness will tug on ... Show More
38m 16s
Jul 2023
The Crossfire of Gettysburg
<p>Gettysburg is synonymous with the bloodiest battle in the history of the United States. But before it was the location of a battle and Lincoln's arguably most famous speech, Gettysburg was a town.</p><br><p>In this episode, Don is joined by Andrew Dalton, executive director of ... Show More
19m 53s