National Museum of Civil War Medicine

09/03/2026

The Faces of Civil War Nurses exhibit is on the move! The exhibit will debut at the Beverly Heritage Center and Rich Mountain Battlefield on October 3, 2026 and be on display until January 29, 2027. Don't miss it! The Faces of Civil War Nurses exhibit is a partnership with Military Images.

09/02/2026

in 1864, Mayor James Calhoun and a delegation of citizens met with Union General Henry Slocum to formally surrender the city of Atlanta. The previous day, Confederate General John Bell Hood had pulled his troops out of the city, destroying supply depots and torching 81 loaded ammunition cars. Union General William T. Sherman was in Jonesboro at the time but sent a telegram to President Abraham Lincoln stating that “Atlanta is ours, and fairly won.” A week after the surrender, Sherman ordered all non-military personnel out of the city. A truce was established with General Hood to exchange prisoners and aid citizens leaving the city. The fall of Atlanta was credited with helping Lincoln win a second term as President of the United States.

Image: Civilian wagons evacuating the Atlanta railroad depot (Granger)

09/01/2026

Two Union generals were killed in 1862 at the Battle of Chantilly or Ox Hill. Confederates under General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson pursued Union troops on the retreat from the Battle of Second Manassas or Bull Run. Skirmishing occurred, until the arrival of troops commanded by General Isaac Stevens, who proceeded to attack the center of the Confederate line across an open field. Initially successful, the attack was repulsed by Confederate General Jubal Early and Stevens was killed. Torrential rain began to fall, limiting visibility. Union General Phil Kearny arrived on the field with his division and attempted to rally Stevens’ troops. Hand-to-hand combat broke out as soldiers were unable to fire their weapons due to water-logged ammunition. Investigating a gap in the lines, Kearny encountered rebel soldiers, who demanded his surrender. Kearny attempted to escape and was shot down. Confederate General A.P. Hill, observing the general’s death remarked: “You've killed Phil Kearny! He deserved a better fate than to die in the mud."

Photo: "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War"

09/01/2026

We’re excited to be included in upcoming events at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History! Stop by this Fall to see our traveling exhibit and NMCWM’s Brad Stone!

Upcoming Events at DMFAH!

08/31/2026

We still miss Betsy here at the Museum! 🙂

A Historic Summer: Shepherd’s 2026 History Interns

Join us on September 15, 2026, at 7pm in the Robert C. Byrd CHE Auditorium as Shepherd University History majors, Betsy Cushwa, William Faith, and Kelly Ramos, discuss their summer internships with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Monocacy National Battlefield, and Antietam National Battlefield.

The panel discussion will also include commentary from Antietam Superintendent Andrew Banasik, Monocacy Park Ranger Tracy Evans, and the Civil War Medicine Museum’s Dana Shoaf and Melissa Winn.

This is a great opportunity to meet and support our students and hear about their amazing work at our area’s Civil War sites!