The Antietam and Beyond Podcast

Wayne Motts — CEO of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa. — joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks for a conversation about the museum’s remarkable Antietam collection. Plus, Motts talks McClellan saddles, Lincoln and more. 

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

McMillan is author of Justice for the Forgotten Families of 9/11 and five other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine articles about the Civil War and m...

Award-winning historian Cory M. Pfarr joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks for a conversation about the U.S. Signal Service at Antietam. Plus, Pfarr dishes on James Longstreet’s role in the battle — and that carpet-slippers story. Pfarr — who has written extensively about Longstreet — is the author of the 2026 book The Federal Signal Service at Antietam: Stations, Officers and Battlefield Intelligence on America’s Bloodiest Day.

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

McMillan is author of Justice f...

Dr. Mike Nickerson  — president of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association  — discusses important recent preservation news about the West Virginia battlefield. Plus, "Dr. Mike" weighs in on the battle (Sept. 19-20, 1862) — the final engagement of the Maryland Campaign — and confirms a cannonball story.

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

McMillan is author of Justice for the Forgotten Families of 9/11  and five other books. Banks is author of A Civil War Road Trip Of A Lifetime and numerous magazine arti...

Travel with us on the National Road, an important Civil War artery, with the author of … The National Road, historian Brady Crytzer.

This podcast is sponsored by the Antietam Institute 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. Bank...

Historian and author George Franks joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a freewheeling discussion about the Battle of Falling Waters (Md.) — the final engagement of the Gettysburg Campaign. Franks lives in the historic Donnelly House, the battlefield's most significant surviving landmark. Along the way, he explores the battle's connections to Antietam and explains why Confederate Gen. James Pettigrew — mortally wounded at Falling Waters — was the Civil War's own "Forrest Gump."

This podcast is sponsored by the Antietam Institute and Civil War Trails, which since 1994 has connected visitors with small towns and big stories across a networ...

Antietam battlefield guide Scott Kenepp joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a wide-ranging conversation about iconic Antietam photographs, battlefield monuments — including those of the 125th and 132nd Pennsylvania — and much more. 

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 Yea...

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 mo...

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 Mar...

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...

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 hi...

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...

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.<...

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...

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 tha...

In Episode 56, prolific author/historian Brad Gottfried joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan for a discussion about his latest book, Lee Invades The North: A Comparison of the Antietam and Gettysburg Campaigns. In a freewheeling podcast, we hit all the big names — Lee, Lincoln, Meade, Burnside and McClellan. Plus, Gottfried dishes on guide exams and April's Antietam Institute conference.

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 an...

In Episode 55, historian Darin Wipperman breaks down generals Joseph Hooker and Ambrose Burnside and explains the First Corps’ role at Antietam with co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan. Wipperman is the author of First for the Union: Life and Death in a Civil War Army Corps from Antietam to Gettysburg and other Civil War books. (Plus, John riffs on a pig that crossed a Duck River railroad bridge in Tennessee in 1878.)

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...

In Episode 54, historian Robert Dunkerly joins co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks for a discussion about his book, The Lower Battlefield of Antietam: The Forgotten Front of America's Bloodiest Day. Dunkerly takes us to Burnside Bridge, the 40-Acre Cornfield and beyond. Plus, he dishes on John's favorite regiment (16th Connecticut) and recounts an epic hike to the battlefield.

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...

In Episode 53, Jim Smith and Robert Gottschalk join co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan to discuss their new book, Armies of Antietam, a comprehensive look at the organization of both armies during the Maryland Campaign of September 1862. Their work focuses on each regiment of the Union and Confederate armies as well as biographical information on the regimental commanders. (John also sneaked in a question about Rush, Smith's favorite rock band.)

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

In Episode 52, Irishman and historian Cóilín Ó Coigligh of County Cavan gives co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks the lowdown on Irish soldiers who fought at Antietam, including the famous Irish Brigade commander Thomas Meagher. Plus, John and Coilin dish on their American Civil War-focused trip in August on the Emerald Isle. (Pssst: They stayed at Meagher's birthplace in Waterford — it's now a four-star hotel.)

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 st...

In Episode 51, with the holiday season looming, co-hosts Tom McMillan and John Banks discuss a range of Antietam books — from Landscape Turned Red by Stephen Sears to Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day by William Frassanito and more.

This podcast is sponsored by 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 t...

In Episode 50, historian George Rable — author of Conflict of Command: George McClellan, Abraham Lincoln, and the Politics of War — takes a deep dive with co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan into the contentious relationship between the president and general. Also, Rable takes us inside the McClellan-Lincoln presidential election of 1864, perhaps the most consequential election in U.S. history. (Plus, he dishes on his cats, named for Civil War generals.) 

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

Joi...