S8 Ep118: Last Decades, Persistent Pain, and Final Rest — Ronald White — In his later years, the severity of Chamberlain's Civil War wound, which he largely concealed, became public through a newspaper account of his surgery. He attempted business ventures withou

S8 Ep118: The Battle of Augusta: Chamberlain's Finest Peacemaking Moment — Ronald White — In 1880, Maine faced a political crisis—the "great countout"—threatening a peaceful transfer of power. Chamberlain was called upon to confront an armed insurrectionist mob app

S8 Ep118: Chamberlain's Progressive Presidency at Bowdoin College — Ronald White — Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin College as president, respected by figures like Ulysses S. Grant. He immediately advocated for bold institutional changes, declaring the college had "

S8 Ep118: Governor of Maine and Advocate for Reconciliation — Ronald White — Returning home wounded, Chamberlain became a prominent public speaker advocating for national reconciliation rather than continued punishment of the South. He was elected Governor of Maine

S8 Ep118: The Mortal Wound at Petersburg and the Appomattox Salute — Ronald White — Despite his Gettysburg fame, Chamberlain returned to combat, leading a brigade. At Petersburg in 1864, he sustained a near-mortal wound from a minié ball; two surgeons declared it w

S8 Ep118: The Reality of War and the Defense of Little Round Top — Ronald White — Chamberlain's 20th Maine faced the horrors of war at Antietam and Fredericksburg, suffering severe casualties and effects from a defective smallpox inoculation. During the forced marc

S8 Ep117: Professor Chamberlain Goes to War and Takes Command of the 20th Maine — Ronald White — After marrying Fanny in 1855, Chamberlain joined the Bowdoin faculty, where he promoted critical thinking among students and witnessed key historical moments, including

S8 Ep117: The Classical Education and Early Life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain — Ronald White — Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's early life in Maine was shaped by hardy Congregationalist parents who promoted intellectual curiosity and deep faith. He excelled at memor

S8 Ep116: Appomattox: Lee's Surrender and the Legacy of Mosby — Patrick K. O'Donnell — At Appomattox, Robert E. Lee rejected guerrilla warfare, disobeying Jefferson Davis's orders in favor of reconciliation and statesmanship. Grant offered generous terms. The surre

S8 Ep116: Harry Harrison Young and the Jesse Scouts Lead Sheridan's Final Campaign — Patrick K. O'Donnell — After Blazer's capture, Harry Harrison Young led the Jesse Scouts, using Confederate disguises for reconnaissance. Scouts provided Phil Sheridan with real-ti

S8 Ep116: Lewis Powell and the Confederate Secret Service Plot to Kidnap Lincoln — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Lewis Powell, a Mosby Ranger, was identified as a Lincoln conspirator working with John Wilkes Booth. Powell's trip to Richmond ostensibly to deliver prisoner

S8 Ep116: The Manhunt: Blazer Scouts vs. Mosby's Rangers and the Capture of Blazer — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Grant ordered Phil Sheridan to wage total war against partisans, though Sheridan only partially complied for political reasons. Following Mosby's devastating

S8 Ep116: Jubal Early's Near-Capture of Washington and Mosby's Influence — Patrick K. O'Donnell — General Jubal Early marched on poorly defended Washington in summer 1864, aiming to capture the capital and liberate prisoners at Point Lookout. Early and Mosby dislik

S8 Ep116: The Decapitation Raid on Richmond and Confederate Covert Operations — Patrick K. O'Donnell — The controversial Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid (1864) aimed to burn Richmond and assassinate Confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis. Lacking sufficient troops for o

S8 Ep116: Richard Blazer and the Manhunt for the Thurman Rangers — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Richard Blazer, a skilled manhunter, commanded the Blazer Scouts, utilizing Jesse Scouts tradecraft. Operating in rugged West Virginia, they functioned as the first modern hun

S8 Ep116: The Jesse Scouts and the Origins of Civil War Irregular Warfare Patrick K. O'Donnell The Civil War saw the rise of irregular forces like Jesse Scouts, named after John Fremont's wife, who used 21st-century tradecraft like infiltration and Confederate dis

S8 Ep115: Dallas, Magpies, and Cockatoo Villains Jeremy Zakis Jeremy Zakis reports that his 11-year-old spoodle, Dallas, continues to be a friend to magpies and other birds, whose non-threatening demeanor makes them comfortable. Meanwhile, the "villain" cockatoos r

S8 Ep115: The Ashes Cricket Debate Jeremy Zakis Australia decisively won the first Ashes test by eight wickets against England in Perth. England's aggressive "Baz" batting strategy, aimed at hitting long balls, spectacularly backfired on the quick, hot pitch, resul

S8 Ep115: DIY Snake Catching Classes Emerge Jeremy Zakis Due to a massive snake population boom and a forthcoming shortage of retiring professionals, a new industry offering DIY snake wrangling training has emerged in Australia. Courses, like one run by Dr. Christi

S8 Ep115: Cyclone Fenina Headed for Darwin Jeremy Zakis Cyclone Fenina, described as a one-in-twenty-year monster with 160 mph winds and a 200-mile width, is tracking toward Darwin, Northern Territory. Evacuation advice has been issued but not a mandatory order. Af