James Hessler's Gettysburg History: Books, Travel, Podcasts, Speaking

08/21/2026

Signup for the ALBG Fall Seminar! Lots of great tours and don’t forget I’m the Friday night speaker. Just saying.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Dh2jvHVGJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/20/2026

Good time last night talking “Sickles at Gettysburg” with the Civil War Round Table of Kansas City. But here are some pics from my roadtrip to the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Highly recommended by everyone and I recommend it too. Lots of info to digest.

08/19/2026

Anyone here from Kansas City? I will be at the KC CWRT tonight to preach Sickles - Meade - Peach Orchard. The venue is the Milburn Country Club in Overland Park. View of KC from the World War I Museum / Memorial.

08/14/2026

I want to thank the Old Baldy Civil War Round Table for having me speak via Zoom last night. Particularly to Kevin Sekula for the invite! It was a big TV night for the Phillies but we still had a nice turnout. My topic was "Meade's Generals: Army of the Potomac Command Friction on July 1." This is a presentation I have been doing for the past couple years in conjunction with my Casemate First Day book. I illustrate not only the fact that seven individuals commanded the field for the AOP at different times on July 1, but also the obstacles of "friction" that each had to overcome in doing so.

08/13/2026

We are back! Supporting Wayne Motts and the National Civil War Museum with another on the field Gettysburg artifact. Watch the short video and subscribe to the museum’s YouTube channel.

A piece of Gettysburg history returns to the battlefield.

Travel back to Oak Ridge with CEO Wayne Motts and guest historian James A. Hessler as they examine the fierce fighting of the 104th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment on July 1, 1863—while showcasing a remarkable artifact from The National Civil War Museum's collection just steps from where it was carried 163 years ago.

It's a unique opportunity to experience history where it happened and discover the stories behind one of Gettysburg's pivotal first-day engagements.

🎥 Watch now on our YouTube Page!

08/08/2026

Gotta thank everyone who came out to Beyond the Battle Museum today to hear my latest “Gettysburg Little Bighorn Connections” program. A very nice turnout that included friends from Adams County, Monroe, the UK, NY and parts unknown. I met a great-granddaughter of Godfrey who was, fortunately, one of the connections I included this time.

08/07/2026

Something different from the usual Gettysburg / Civil War / Little Bighorn fare. On this date, during the early morning hours of August 7, 1888, Martha Tabram’s body was discovered at the George Yard buildings in Whitechapel. During the prior evening, Martha and a friend were drinking with two soldiers in a nearby public house when they paired off and went separate ways down nearby alleys. Martha’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds several hours later. Her killer was never identified but some crime students (myself included) think Martha may have been the first victim that summer of the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. We visited the site earlier this year. The drinking establishment and alleys are still present, although George Yard has been replaced by the apartments in the pics.

08/06/2026

One final reminder that I will be speaking on Saturday at Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum 2:00pm on “Gettysburg Little Bighorn Connections” including some stories / anecdotes that I seldom do! Come for Ken Gavin doing Rev War in the morning and stay for the afternoon. FREE for members and only $10 otherwise. The current Saturday forecast calls for RAIN so join us indoors.

We have a great month of events ahead at Gettysburg History!

Check out what is on the horizon for the rest of August, and be sure to reserve your tickets as soon as possible at www.gettysburghistory.org.

08/04/2026

Our latest Battle of Gettysburg Podcast is now on YouTube with a deep dive on … the Battle of Little Bighorn. Given all the recent coverage for the 150th anniversary, which we attended, we thought it would be fun to recap some of the common myths etc. that we encounter at times such as this. YouTube link in the comments. Thanks for watching!