Most everyone knows Hal Holbrook as a quintessential actor of television, movies, and the stage. Most everyone knows Hal Holbrook as a quintessential actor of television, movies, and the stage.

The brig-of-war USS Somers is one of the most ill-fated ships in US naval history. Its story is filled with powerful politicos, mutiny at sea, executions, and famous authors.

Just as the smoke cleared from the scene of the first Confederate victory at Big Bethel, onto the battlefield rapidly marched what would become one of the most colorful, daring, and poorly disciplined units of the Army of the Peninsula: Coppens’ Battalion.

Cataloging engravings from 16th and 17th century atlases and books requires intense detective work to accurately understand the image’s origin or the scene’s history.

Marion Barbara “Joe” Carstairs would be the first to tell you that she was “never a little girl.” Joe saw a lot of racing success, taking the trophies at several competitions in Southampton and Cannes. In 1925 Joe became “the fastest woman on water” during the Duke of York’s Trophy, a four-and-a-half mile race down the Thames. 

Catesby ap Roger Jones was one of the Civil War’s most distinguished and respected ordnance officers. He joined the US Navy in 1836 and served aboard USS Merrimack during its first cruise, joined the Confederate Navy when Virginia left the Union, and commanded CSS Virginia during that ironclad’s fight with USS Monitor. After serving as Virginia’s executive officer through the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, he was promoted to commander and would eventually be placed in command of the Selma Guns Works, producing much-needed Brooke rifles and shell guns for the Confederate Navy.