History That Doesn't Suck

“In my opinion, Cadet Jackson of Virginia is a complete jackass.”This is the story of daring. On both sides.President Lincoln is tired of waiting for General-in-Chief George “Little Mac” McClellan to act. So he’ll act instead. The President goes to the front on the Old Dominion’s coast, walks on Confederate soil, and oversees the taking of Norfolk, Virginia. But things aren’t going as well for the Union as he’d hoped. Little Mac continues to dawdle while the eccentric-yet-brilliant “Stonewall” Jackson outwits, outruns, and outguns Union forces several times larger than his own in the Shenandoah Valley.Following Stonewall’s incredible Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Confederate General Joe Johnston takes a bullet at the Battle of Seven Pines. Someone else is going to have to lead his army; welcome to the role of commander, Robert E. Lee.____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Here boys, is as good a place as any on this battlefield to meet death!”This is the story of the Civil War kicking into a higher gear as two massive armies converge at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Jealous Union generals are letting false rumors of Ulysses drinking on the job fly as they hope to benefit from his demise. But Ulys has some good people backing him up: Lincoln’s newest War Secretary Edwin Stanton and his good friend William Tecumseh “Cump” Sherman.But intrigue is the least of Ulysses “Unconditional Surrender” Grant’s concerns. He and Cump are facing down a massive Confederate force led by two highly capable generals: Albert Sidney Johnston and GT Beauregard. Torrential rain turns the ground to mud as nearly 100,000 men battle for the field. Ulys ends up on crutches, another general dies, while still others meet their end in the legendary “hornets’ nest” or elsewhere on the field.This lone battle will cause more American casualties than all American wars to date combined. Welcome to the Battle of Shiloh.____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“There is Jackson standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!”This is the story of violence on land and sea. Of violence unlike anything America has ever known.Tens of thousands of Union and Confederate forces clash near Virginia’s Bull Run River and Manassas railroad junction. Naive, young soldiers quickly learn their romantic notions of war are a farce, Thomas Jackson defends “like a stone wall,” and Yankees hear a horrific sound: “the rebel yell.”Things are calmer on the sea. Lincoln wants a blockade to hem in Confederate ships. The result is one international, diplomatic nightmare (the Trent Affair), and the most devastating attack in US naval history. The carnage and destruction wrought on the US Navy by the CSS Virginia (the Merrimack) won’t be matched or exceeded until 1941.Lincoln’s despondent. He has setbacks, on the field, turnover from General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to George B. McClellan, and a dying son. It seems nothing can go right. There is one exception though. Welcome back to the story young Ulysses S. Grant.____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The podcast discusses the start of the Civil War, including the tense situation at Fort Sumter and the initiation of the attack. It explores the decision of respected army officer Robert E. Lee, the violent clash in Baltimore, and the impact of Kentucky's neutrality on both sides. The escalating tensions, violent clashes, and horrors of guerrilla warfare in Missouri are also revealed.

The hosts wrap up Volume IV by discussing the Union's attempts to compromise on slavery, the importance of understanding the social issues surrounding it, and the escalating tensions that led to the Civil War. They also delve into the ethical dilemmas surrounding abolitionist John Brown, the motivations of Union troops, and the significance of foundational documents in America's journey of progress.

The podcast discusses the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, leading to the secession of several southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America. It also explores the tensions over slavery, Lincoln's inauguration, and his dilemma regarding Fort Sumter.

“Any man who took Lincoln for a simple-minded man would wind up with his back in a ditch.”This is the story of America on the eve of the Civil War. Kentucky-born farmboy Abraham Lincoln has an interesting early life. Between losing his mom as a child, suffering from chronic depression, and receiving little formal education, you might not think he’d become one of the youngest state legislators in Illinois, a successful lawyer, and a US Congressman. But that’s Lincoln. He’s a man who beats the odds, and he’s hoping to continue that streak as he challenges Stephen Douglas for his US Senate seat. Can he take down the “Little Giant?”It’s a political throwdown that produces one of the most famous debates in US history as the two go head-to-head in over 20 hours of back-and-forth over the future of slavery. Speaking of slavery--John Brown’s looking to start a slave rebellion across the state of Virginia and not afraid to take over a US armory to do it! It’s a full-on battle and the body count’s adding up fast … especially if we include the executions.____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette  come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this podcast, they discuss the story of Solomon Northup and his 12 years as a slave. They cover topics such as betrayal, brutality, and the harsh treatment of slaves. They also touch on hope, escape attempts, and Solomon's advocacy for abolition.

The podcast discusses the violent tensions in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the brutal caning of Charles Sumner, and the voter fraud and violence used to secure slavery in the state. It also explores the political career of Stephen Douglas, the collapse of the Whigs and the emergence of the Republican Party, and the Supreme Court's ruling on the Dred Scott case.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leading figure in the 19th-century social reform movement, pushes for women's suffrage at the Seneca Falls Convention. The podcast explores the growing discontent in Paris in 1848, the massacre during the French revolution, and social reform movements in Europe and the United States. It also delves into Stanton's early life and the challenges faced by the women at the convention, leading to the founding of the National Woman Suffrage Association.