He Resigned From the U.S. Naval Academy to Join the Confederacy. Then He Changed His Mind.

Yates Stirling had a bright military career ahead of him. Appointed an acting midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1860, he no doubt looked forward to becoming an officer. But when the Civil War came, he returned to his home in Baltimore, informed his family he was going to join the Confederate military, and abruptly resigned his commission. Here's what happened next.

"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.

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Images: Jonathan Beasley Collection, National Archives, Jack Mord Collection.

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