First Person Civil War Podcast

Bill Coghlan

Are you ready for a First Person account of a Civil War battle? Union and Confederate Soldiers and Officers wrote in journals and published books during and after the war. Join Bill Coghlan every week as he retells what these men saw and did on the battlefield.

  1. MAR 25

    Episode 61: PVT Philip Cheek and the 6th Wisconsin at the Battle of South Mountain

    At the Battle of South Mountain, on the evening of 14 September 1862, PVT Phillip Cheek and the 6th Wisconsin advanced upon Turner’s Gap, one of three passes at South Mountain. Alongside the 19th Indiana, 2nd and 7th Wisconsin Infantries, the men of BG John Gibbon’s 4th Brigade met heavy resistance from COL Alfred H. Colquitt’s Brigade of Georgians and Alabamians but steadily advanced up the slope to within a close range where both sides poured volleys into each other. Despite running low on ammunition, PVT Cheek and the rest of his Brigade held their ground until the Confederates retreated that night. Observing the advance upon Turner’s Gap from his headquarters, MG McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac remarked to MG Hooker, the I Corps commander, about the fighting spirit of the men that, “They must be made of iron.” From that day, PVT Phillip Cheek and the men assigned to BG Gibbon became known as the Iron Brigade. Sources used for this episode: Cheek, Philip and Pointon, Mair. History of the Sauk County Riflemen, Known as Company “A,” Sixth Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, 1861 – 1865. Democrat Printing Company, 1909. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu01504851&seq=11. Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 19, pt: 1 Reports. Government Printing Office, 1887. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609610&view=1up&seq=3. Wisconsin Historical Society. “The Origin of the Famous Iron Brigade’s Name.” Accessed 18 March 2026. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS3518.

    22 min
  2. FEB 11

    Episode 59: PVT Joseph J. Sutton and the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry at the Battle of Five Forks

    At the Battle of Five Forks, 1 April 1865, PVT Joseph J. Sutton and the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, advanced through the battlefield of the day before at Dinwiddie Courthouse only to find the Confederate Cavalry and Infantry have retreated to their fortified positions at Five Forks. After several hours of preparation and waiting for the V Corps to march into position, the Union Cavalry and Infantry began their attack. Though initially dismounted, the 2nd West Virginia remounted and rode further west, where they faced Confederate Cavalry belonging to MG Fitz Hugh Lee, after the skirmishing died down, both sides drew sabers. Sources used for this episode: Sutton, Joseph J. History of the Second Regiment West Virginia Cavalry Volunteers, During the war of the Rebellion. Portsmouth, 1892. https://archive.org/details/historyofsecondr00sutt/page/n8/mode/1up. Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., Kirkley, Joseph W. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 46, pt. 1: Reports, sec 1. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079575332&view=1up&seq=3. Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., Kirkley, Joseph W. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 46, pt. 1: Reports, sec. 2. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079575340&view=1up&seq=7.

    23 min
4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Are you ready for a First Person account of a Civil War battle? Union and Confederate Soldiers and Officers wrote in journals and published books during and after the war. Join Bill Coghlan every week as he retells what these men saw and did on the battlefield.

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