In this episode we interview Kent Masterson Brown and Chris Mackowski to get a better understanding of how these historians think and process the civil war.

Join us on a powerful journey through Petersburg National Battlefield, where we walk the ground of one of the Civil War’s most brutal and misunderstood confrontations — the Battle of the Crater. This episode isn’t just a battlefield tour — it’s a deep dive into the strategy, tragedy, and overlooked human stories of the siege that shaped the war’s final year.

🏞️ We’ll explore rarely seen locations most visitors — and most videos — never cover, offering a unique perspective on the landscape that witnessed months of relentless combat.

⚔️ Learn how a bold Union plan to tunnel under Confederate lines turned into a devastating failure — and how the fallout cost thousands of lives.

Most importantly, we shine a light on the heroism and mistreatment of African American soldiers, who fought with bravery and suffered horrific violence not only from Confederate troops but also endured systemic discrimination from their own Union command.

Whether you're a history buff or discovering this chapter of the Civil War for the first time, this episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of the battle, its consequences, and the voices history often leaves behind.

🔔 Subscribe for more overlooked history and on-the-ground storytelling.

For a video companion showing you the whole battlefield click this link: https://youtu.be/hzPNFF6Ah0w?si=l1AhWgz2t1Vc6JXr

#CivilWarHistory #PetersburgBattlefield #BattleOfTheCrater #BlackHistory #AmericanHistory #UntoldStories #HistoricalSites #VirginiaHistory #CivilWar

Join us for an exclusive interview with Tim Smith, Garry Adelman, the public figure and historian for The American Battlefield Trust and special guest JD Huitt from The History Underground! Garry has dedicated his career to preserving America’s battlefields and educating the public about the events that shaped our nation's history. As one of the foremost experts in Civil War and American history, Garry has authored books, created educational content, and served as a charismatic spokesperson for the Trust.

In this special interview, we’ll dive deep into Garry’s career and get a behind-the-scenes look at his work with The American Battlefield Trust. We’ll also be answering many of the questions you’ve sent in from YouTube and X, giving you the chance to connect with Garry and learn more about the man behind the knowledge. Get ready to uncover the passion, dedication, and unique insights that make Garry Adelman one of the most beloved figures in the world of historical preservation.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of the leading historians on American history and discover the genius behind Garry’s tireless work to keep history alive for future generations. Tune in, ask your questions, and let’s dive into the fascinating world of American history!

In this episode we speak with Robert Lee Hodge the central character of the book Confederates in the Attic. Our conversation covers battlefield preservation, the state of living historians today, and talk about his adventures with famed historian Ed Bearss. Above all we uncover how Robert had no idea the direction the book was going in or that he would be such a big part in it.

You’ve been told the Civil War began at Fort Sumter in April 1861. That’s the story in the textbooks. That’s the version on government websites. But what if we told you that the war actually began three months earlier—with cannon fire, a covert mission gone wrong, and a president paralyzed by indecision?

In this gripping episode of Civil War Stories With Waffles, we uncover the real first shots of the American Civil War—fired not by seasoned troops, but by cadets from The Citadel on a foggy January morning in 1861. At the heart of the story is a little-known steamship called the Star of the West, sent on a secret mission to reinforce Fort Sumter under the nose of South Carolina’s secessionist government. What followed was an explosive confrontation that history all but forgot.

From the unfinished fort in Charleston Harbor to the failed leadership of President James Buchanan, this episode rewrites what you thought you knew about how America tore itself apart.

🔍 In This Episode:

• The origins of Fort Sumter and its symbolic power
• Buchanan’s fatal indecision as the Union crumbled
• The Star of the West’s covert mission and dramatic retreat under fire
• Why January 9, 1861—not April 12—may mark the war’s true beginning
• The overlooked legacy of a president who did nothing when everything was at stake

History isn’t just what’s remembered—it’s what’s repeated. So before you accept the official version, tune in to Civil War Stories With Waffles and hear what really happened.

🎧 Subscribe now, leave us a review, and don’t forget: the war started before the war started.

Join Civil War Stories with Waffles (podcast) and History with Waffles (YouTube vlog) as we delve into the gripping, emotional story of a father and son who marched side by side in the Confederate ranks of the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Through letters, battlefield accounts, and firsthand research, this series traces their journey from enlistment to one of the Civil War's most pivotal and devastating moments—the Battle of Gettysburg.

The bond between father and son is tested by the brutality of war, culminating in a tragic ending: the son's death during Pickett’s Charge and a mysterious burial that left questions unanswered for generations. Who buried him? Why was he never returned home? And what legacy did he leave behind?

This emotional narrative blends history, humanity, and the haunting cost of conflict.

Subscribe to Civil War Stories with Waffles wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the companion series on History with Waffles on YouTube.

History isn’t just about battles—it’s about the people who lived, loved, and were lost in them.

In today’s episode we explore two stories from the Iron Brigade and the first days battle at Gettysburg. Both men have very different endings to their lives and war. We discuss why podcasts like these are important and explore the idea that history above all is most important when telling our stories. Our American Stories.

In this episode, I take you to the Wisler House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—the exact location where the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg was fired by Lt. Marcellus Jones on the morning of July 1st, 1863.

I’ll describe the marker that commemorates this historic moment and talk briefly about the initial action that took place here as Union cavalry faced off against the advancing Confederate forces. Then, we'll take a walk around the outside of the Wisler House, which still stands today and has been carefully preserved as a witness to history.

This spot marks the beginning of one of the most significant battles of the Civil War, and I’m excited to share its story with you.

If you enjoy exploring history with me, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Civil War content and battlefield visits!

#Gettysburg #CivilWar #HistoryWithWaffle #WislerHouse #FirstShot #BattleOfGettysburg #MarcellusJones