Battles and Banter: A Relaxed Military History Podcast

The Battle of Pelenor Fields (Minas Tirith)

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery is joined by Patrick McGuire and Matt Borders of "The History Things Podcast" for the first fictional battle episode in a long time; Avery, Pat & Matt tackle perhaps one of the most monumental battles in all of fantasy literature. From the pages and scenes of "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", the guys travel to Middle Earth to discuss the Battle of Pelenor Fields aka Minas Tirith, which was one of the final climactic battles of the infamous War of the One Ring. Using mostly their experiences from viewing the film and some material from the book (don't get your hopes up, none of them have read it), the trio walk through the fight and banter about some of the key players such as Aragorn, Gandalf, Faramir, Theoden, Eowyn and even Lord Denethor. Strap in for a hilarious ride into the Pelenor Fields! Enjoy!

The Battle of Shiloh

On this episode of Battles & Banter, Avery, Codie & Tony are joined by recurring guest host and Civil War historian Ryan Quint to discuss the 160th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles from the American Civil War; a battle that set the tone for how horrific the battles would become for the rest of the conflict. Along the west banks of the Tennessee River, the Confederate Army of Mississippi under General Albert Sidney Johnston attacked the U.S. Army of the Tennessee under Major General Ulysses S. Grant while they were encamped in the woods around Pittsburg Landing. The two-day engagement fought on April 6-7, 1862 would become better known by the name of a small, wooden Methodist church on site, which translated to "Place of Peace" in Hebrew. The guys discuss the battle and its far-reaching consequences not only on the war itself, but in the larger context of Civil War memory. Enjoy!

The Battle of Pea Ridge

On this solo episode of Battles & Banter, Avery takes on one of the most important engagements to come out of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. Fought on March 7-8, 1862, the Battle of Pea Ridge would end in a major Union victory that would secure the border state of Missouri as a bastion for Federal forces against Confederates in the area for the rest of the war. Avery would also like to take this time to send kind regards to any listeners in Ukraine who are living through the current conflict. We here at Battles & Banter Podcast stand with Ukraine and will be covering the conflict at a later date to be decided. In the meantime, enjoy this episode on the 160th Anniversary of Pea Ridge!

The Battles of Forts Henry & Donelson

Join Avery, Codie & Tony as the BnB "Holy Trinity" reunites for the 160th Commemoration of the Forts Henry & Donelson Campaign of February 1862 during the American Civil War. In the midst of a rainy, cold and snowy winter, U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant launched an ambitious campaign to open Tennessee to Federal invasion by capturing two forts on the Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers. Coordinating with U.S. "brown-water navies", Grant's plan was a smashing success and the joint victories at Forts Henry & Donelson made him a national hero, especially in the eyes of President Abraham Lincoln. The guys discuss the major significances of the campaign and how it impacted how the rest of the way played out from there. Enjoy!

The Battle of Mill Springs

On the first Battles & Banter episode of 2022, Avery takes a solo look at one of the more overlooked and significant U.S. victories from the American Civil War: The Battle of Mill Springs. Also known as the Battle of Logan's Crossroads, the engagement that took place in southeastern Kentucky on that rainy day of January 19th, 1862, marked the first major land victory for the North. Not only did it put General George H. Thomas on the map as a reliable U.S. commander, but it opened the gates for the Federal forces to invade Tennessee and led to the more famous battles of Forts Henry and Donelson a few weeks later. Join Avery as he summarizes the battle and its significance and lays out the upcoming plan for the 2022 BnB schedule. Enjoy!