The Antietam and Beyond Podcast

Historian Tom Clemens, longtime president of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation, joins co-hosts John Banks and Tom McMillan to separate fact from fiction surrounding the Lost Order (Special Orders 191), a pivotal story of the 1862 Maryland Campaign. Plus, Clemens discusses the recent removal of ordnance from the battlefield and shares the latest news on battlefield preservation.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 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 more. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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 more. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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 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 more. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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 articles about the Civil War and more. Find them on Facebook at Author Tom McMillan and John Banks' Civil War Blog. Banks' popular Civil War blog is here.

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. 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.