War and Foreign Policy

At the onset of the Battle of Shiloh, the Confederacy caught the Union by surprise. But what should have been a quick victory turned into a bloody battle of attrition. 

States love wars because they enable the state, under the slogans of "defense" and "emergency," to impose a tyranny upon the public that might have been openly resisted in time of peace.

Chris Calton details the buildup to the Battle of Shiloh.

Chris Calton outlines the fighting at Elkhorn Tavern during the Battle of Pea Ridge, and how the grim conflict ended.

Chris Calton recounts how the Confederate forces were defeated at Leetown—despite greatly outnumbering their Union opponents. 

After Grant pushes the Confederates back to Fort Donelson, the southern leaders must decide whether to attempt escape or surrender.

Chris Calton details Ulysses S. Grant's attack on Fort Donelson by land and water. 

The professional custodians of American views of history have always named the same presidents as "great." It's always the presidents who abused power frequently, and expanded government power the most.

Chris Calton recounts a victory that would give the Union access to the Confederate heartland—the capture of Fort Henry. 

Mises wrote this essay in 1940 from Geneva, where he lived after Nazis forced him out of Austria and his apartment was ransacked by German troops.