Episodes

  • Decisions at Antietam: The 14 choices that shaped America's bloodiest day
    Jun 24 2026

    Author Michael Lang joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks for a freewheeling discussion about his book, Decisions at Antietam: The Fourteen Critical Decisions That Defined the Battle. We hit on the major leaders — McClellan and Lee — and the other men who shaped America's bloodiest day.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    53 mins
  • Tom Clemens talks Antietam preservation and the McClellan HQ debate
    May 28 2026

    In Episode 63, legendary historian Tom Clemens — longtime president of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation — joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks to discuss the latest in Antietam preservation news. Plus, we tackle the thorny subject of George McClellan’s HQ and get the lowdown from Clemens on his latest (and epic) Antietam book

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    56 mins
  • Revisiting Antietam’s aftermath: Jake Wynn on the vast hospital in Frederick, Pry House
    May 15 2026

    In Episode 62, Frederick, Maryland-based public historian Jake Wynn joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks for a discussion about what happened in Frederick and beyond in the aftermath of Antietam. Plus, enjoy a lively discussion about the Pry House — McClellan HQ or not? — and some Abraham Lincoln chit-chat. Wynn writes online at wynninghistory.com and is a co-host on the "Public History with Justin, Jake and Molly" podcast.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    59 mins
  • Cannons, maps and memory: Live from the Antietam Institute
    Apr 29 2026

    In a freewheeling Episode 61, recorded in front of a live audience at the recent Antietam Institute spring symposium, distinguished military historian Carol Reardon, Antietam map expert Aaron Holley and artillery expert Jim Rosebrock join co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    47 mins
  • Antietam Institute spring symposium podcast: All-Star Civil War historians join 60th episode
    Apr 15 2026

    On a special 60th edition of the podcast, an all-star lineup of guests — Scott Hartwig, Dr. Jennifer Murray, Doug Douds, Dr. Jim Broomall and Dan Welch — joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a whirlwind discussion of topics before a live audience at the Antietam Institute spring symposium in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    56 mins
  • Exploring Antietam's historic farmsteads with Chris Vincent
    Apr 2 2026

    In Episode 59, Antietam Institute executive director Chris Vincent takes co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan on a tour (virtually) of Antietam farmsteads — from the Poffenbergers’ to the John Otto farmhouse — and shares details about the upcoming Antietam Institute spring symposium.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    56 mins
  • Medal of Honor stories and Antietam insights with guide Jess Rowley
    Mar 13 2026

    In Episode 58, Antietam battlefield guide Jess Rowley — a former National Park Service ranger — joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a freewheeling discussion about Antietam Medal of Honor recipients, famed Union Army officer Francis Barlow and interacting with the public. Plus, we learn about a New England regiment in which each soldier received a Medal of Honor.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    58 mins
  • William Griffing on transcribing 15,000 Civil War soldier letters and his Spared & Shared site
    Mar 4 2026

    In Episode 57, William Griffing joins co-host John Banks (with Tom McMillan off this week) for a conversation about his remarkable transcriptions of Civil War soldier letters — including many tied to Antietam — which he shares on his Spared & Shared website. “Griff” has transcribed and posted more than 15,000 letters so far — and he types every single one, one-handed.

    Read more about Griffing here. Find his Spared & Shared Facebook page here.

    This podcast is sponsored by the Michigan Civil War Association and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states.

    Join McMillan and Banks for regular podcasts about Antietam, the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War — the most compelling period in American history.

    McMillan is author of the recently released The Year That Made America: From Rebellion to Independence and four other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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    46 mins