| PODCASTS
Walk with a noted historian as your personal audio guide on fields where decisive, dramatic battles took place. The battlefield podcasts are narrated by National Park Service historians and recorded on the battlefields. They feature introductions by John Fieseler and Marc Ramsey and the period music of Southern Horizon, Al Neale, Vaughn and Starbuck, and Chris Jackson. The podcasts are complemented with detailed maps, so that you can follow the action easily.
Just need a map? Click here for the list.
New to podcasting or need help getting a particular episode? Click here for how-to information.
The Peach Orchard at Gettysburg
Confederate attackers had a real chance to cut the Union line in half in and around the Peach Orchard July 2, 1863. Gettysburg park historian Eric Campbell tells the story of that attack and a heroic stand by Union artillery that day.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 50:42 minutes
File size: 12.7 MB
Harpers Ferry: John Brown's Raid
 Late in the evening on Oct. 16, 1859, John Brown and a small band of insurgents entered Harpers Ferry (then Virginia), planning to ignite and arm a slave insurrection. This tour covers raid-related sites in the national park at Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia).
7-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Dennis Frye, chief historian, Harpers Ferry NHP
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Playing time: 28:02 minutes
File size: 6.9 MB
The Final Assault: Beyond Burnside Bridge, Antietam
 Following the capture of Burnside Bridge over the Antietam Creek Sept. 17, 1862, the Union 9th Corps still had its work cut out. This tour covers the final Federal attack that day and the dramatic Confederate counterattack that saved the day for Lee's army.
9-stop walking tour, about 90 minutes
Narration: Keith Snyder, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 47:09 minutes
File Size: 11.5 MB
New Market Battlefield
 In May 1864, new overall Union commander U.S. Grant ordered a Federal army under Gen. Franz Sigel to march south in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to destroy transportation hubs and deprive the Confederacy of an important source of food. On May 15, 1864, Confederate Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s small force — including 257 cadets from the Virginia Military Institute — met Sigel’s advance in the small crossroads town of New Market. The battle here halted the Union advance and gave the Confederacy much-needed breathing space in the Valley.
This walking tour through the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park covers the Confederate advance and the charge by the VMI cadets.
9-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Scott Harris, park director
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and New Market Battlefield State Historical Site
Playing time: 26:08 minutes
File Size: 6.0 MB
Appomattox Court House
 The dignified surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Union Gen. U.S. Grant at Appomattox is one of the most dramatic and familiar moments in American history. Yet little is known about the event beyond the April 9, 1865, meeting between the generals in the McLean house parlor.
This walking tour sheds light on other moving moments in the days following that meeting and describes the town that found itself in the national spotlight.
5-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Patrick Schroeder, Appomattox Court House NHP historian
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Playing time: 23:55 minutes
File size: 5.5 MB
Bentonville NC Battlefield
 Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston saw an opportunity to at least slow down Gen. William T. Sherman's 60,000-man Union army as it marched through North Carolina in March 1865. The Confederates set a trap for Sherman near the tiny hamlet of Bentonville, but the resulting battle, March 19-21, 1965, turned out to be a decisive Union victory. This driving tour covers the turning points of the battle, the largest fought in North Carolina.
5-stop driving tour, approximately one hour
Narration: Fred Burgess, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Playing time: 21:25 minutes
File Size: 4.9 MB
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The Wheatfield at Gettysburg
 The fighting in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, was some of the most intense and confusing of the war. Gettysburg park historian Eric Campbell leads us through the bloody back-and-forth action.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Chris Jackson [Chris Jackson Music]
Production: Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 41 minutes
File size: 10.1 MB
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The Battle for Burnside Bridge, the Union Advance
Antietam National Battlefield
 This tour follows the opening attack on the Confederate right flank during the Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. The focal point of the attack and the tour is the Burnside Bridge, one of the most famous Civil War landmarks. The Confederate defenders managed to hold out here for more than four hours against repeated Union assaults.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration, Keith Snyder, Antietam National Battlefield
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 29:13 minutes
File size: 6.9MB
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The Breakthrough at Petersburg, April 2, 1865
Pamplin Historical Park
 After more than nine months of trench warfare around Petersburg, Virginia, Union commander U.S. Grant ordered an all-out attack against Robert E. Lee’s lines at dawn April 2, 1865. This walking tour of Pamplin Historical Park’s Breakthrough Trail covers a critical area of that assault and offers a good look at part of the well-preserved Confederate defensive line.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration, Will Greene, president of Pamplin Historical Park
Introduction: Marc Ramsey, Owens and Ramsey Books
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Pamplin Historical Park
Playing time: 29:20 minutes
File size: 6.9MB
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Devil's Den, Gettysburg
The Union soldiers defending this pile of giant boulders just west of Little Round Top found themselves on the far left flank of the Federal line July 2, 1863. They were the first to take on Confederate Gen. James Longstreet's assault that day. This tour covers the fight for Devil's Den and the true story behind one of the Civil War's most famous photographs.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, NPS staff historian
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Vaughn and Starbuck
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 25:47 minutes
File size: 6MB
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Lincoln Visits Richmond
 On April 4, 1865, just one day after Richmond was evacuated, President Abraham Lincoln toured the still-smoldering former Confederate capital. This tour follows in his footsteps.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Mike Gorman, NPS staff historian
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 35:09 minutes
File size: 8.3MB
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The Cornfield, Antietam
 The bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War began when thousands of Union soldiers plunged into D.R. Miller’s cornfield. Tour the opening moments of the Battle of Antietam.
8-stop walking tour,
60–90 minutes
Narration: Keith Snyder, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 26:28 minutes
File size: 6.2MB
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The Crater, Petersburg
 Explore one of the most dramatic events of the Civil War — the explosion of tons of gunpowder under part of the Confederate line at Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
7-stop walking tour
Narration: Tracy Chernault, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Petersburg National Battlefield
Playing time: 43:16 minutes
File size: 10.2MB
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Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg
 The doomed Confederate charge July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg has become one of the most famous events in American military history. Follow in the footsteps of Pickett's men that day.
5-stop, approximately 3/4-mile walking tour
Narration: John Heiser, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 30:29 minutes
File size: 7.2MB
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Cold Harbor (June 1, 1864)
Hanover County, Virginia
 The Union attack here June 1, 1864, nearly resulted in a critical breakthrough.
7-stop, 1-mile walking tour
Narration: Ed Sanders, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 24:15 minutes
File size: 5.7MB
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Five Forks Battlefield
Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia
 The Five Forks intersection was critical to the Confederate defense of Petersburg and ultimately Richmond in the spring of 1865. Learn about the decisive battle here on April 1.
5-stop driving tour
Narration: Tracy Chernault, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Petersburg National Battlefield
Playing time: 22:15 minutes
File size: 5.3MB
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Little Round Top, Gettysburg
 Little Round Top on the Gettysburg battlefield was the scene of some of the most dramatic moments in American history, July 2, 1863.
4-stop walking tour
Narration: Eric Campbell, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 53:02 minutes
File size: 12.5 MB
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Gaines' Mill, Hanover County, Virginia
 Fighting here June 27, 1862, resulted in Robert E. Lee's first victory as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia and was a turning point in the Seven Days battles.
8-stop, 1.5-mile walking tour.
Narration: Robert Krick, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Playing time: 31:05 minutes
File size: 7.3 MB
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Malvern Hill, Henrico County, Virginia
 A great walk of the Confederate attack route to the Union guns posted above them July 1, 1862.
10-stop, 1.5-mile walking tour
Narration: Mike Andrus, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 32:35 minutes
File size: 7.7 MB
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Museum of the Confederacy
"The Confederate Years" exhibition Richmond, Virginia
 “The Confederate Years,” the signature exhibit at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va., covers the entire Civil War and some of the war’s most famous artifacts including Robert E. Lee’s camp gear and JEB Stuart’s plumed hat.
Introduction: Waite Rawls
Podcast adaptation: CivilWarTraveler.com
Playing time: 29:05 minutes
File size: 6.8 MB
More Civil War Audio/Video
Lee's Retreat Radio Tour Messages
Here are copies of the audio messages delivered at the 28 stops on the Route of Lee’s Retreat Civil War Trails project. The driving tour follows the course of the Confederate retreat April 2–9, 1865, from Petersburg to Appomattox. The messages are broadcast via AM radio at the Lee’s Retreat tour waysides. They are available for purchase on CD at selected NPS bookstores. And they are available here to download. The 28 stops are organized in three sections:
1 South Side Station to Deatonville
2 Holt's Corner to Farmville
3 Cumberland Church to Nottoway
More on Lee’s Retreat
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