Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Thank you to Private Internet Access VPN for sponsoring this video.
By clicking my link - piavpn.com/ourowndevices - you can get 83% off on Private Internet Access! That’s just $2.03 a month, and you also get 4 extra months completely for free!
During the American Civil War (1861-65), both the Union and the Confederacy used a variety of codes and ciphers to protect vital communications - with varying degrees of success. In this episode, we look at some of the most common systems used by both sides.
0:00 Introduction
1:26 Private Internet Access VPN Sponsor Segment
3:08 Jefferson Wheel Cipher/M-94
7:42 Difference Between Codes and Ciphers
10:18 Stager Route Cipher
15:24 Confederate Substitution Ciphers
16:39 Vigenere Cipher
18:15 Confederate Cipher Cylinder/Disk
19:40 Cryptanalysis of Vigenere Cipher
22:30 One-Time Pad Ciphers
23:13 Book/Dictionary Codes
24:09 Grille Ciphers
26:41 Outro
SOURCES:
ww2.amstat.org/mam/06/Sauerberg_route-essay.html
c3teachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ExplainerCipherintheCivilWar-Final.pdf
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar0.htm
monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/wheel-cipher
cryptomuseum.com/crypto/usa/ccd/index.htm
lincolnconspirators.com/2019/07/26/john-wilkes-booths-confederate-cipher
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar5.htm#SEC2
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar4.htm
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar6.htm
Thank you to Private Internet Access VPN for sponsoring this video.
By clicking my link - piavpn.com/ourowndevices - you can get 83% off on Private Internet Access! That’s just $2.03 a month, and you also get 4 extra months completely for free!
During the American Civil War (1861-65), both the Union and the Confederacy used a variety of codes and ciphers to protect vital communications - with varying degrees of success. In this episode, we look at some of the most common systems used by both sides.
0:00 Introduction
1:26 Private Internet Access VPN Sponsor Segment
3:08 Jefferson Wheel Cipher/M-94
7:42 Difference Between Codes and Ciphers
10:18 Stager Route Cipher
15:24 Confederate Substitution Ciphers
16:39 Vigenere Cipher
18:15 Confederate Cipher Cylinder/Disk
19:40 Cryptanalysis of Vigenere Cipher
22:30 One-Time Pad Ciphers
23:13 Book/Dictionary Codes
24:09 Grille Ciphers
26:41 Outro
SOURCES:
ww2.amstat.org/mam/06/Sauerberg_route-essay.html
c3teachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ExplainerCipherintheCivilWar-Final.pdf
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar0.htm
monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/wheel-cipher
cryptomuseum.com/crypto/usa/ccd/index.htm
lincolnconspirators.com/2019/07/26/john-wilkes-booths-confederate-cipher
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar5.htm#SEC2
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar4.htm
cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/civilwar6.htm

![Lecture: Canada and Nuclear Weapons 1963-1984
[NOTE: at 6:20 I state that the Mount Kologet B-36 crash took place on February 15, 1950 and 4 crew died. It actually took place on the morning of February 14 and 5 men died: one in the aircraft and four after parachuting into the sea.]
Happy Canada Day, everyone!
While the True North Strong and Free is not typically associated with weapons of mass destruction, for 20 years during the Cold War, Canada was a nominal nuclear-armed power, deploying four different nuclear weapons systems as part of its commitments to NORAD and NATO. However, these weapons were not technically owned by Canada, remaining under American custody under a ‘key sharing’ agreement until released to Canadian personnel in time of war.
Lecture delivered to the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) in Winnipeg on June 26, 2025.
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Canada and he Manhattan Project
5:04 American Nukes on Canadian Soil
8:26 NORAD / NATO Before Nuclear Weapons
10:32 The Decision to Acquire Nuclear Weapons
15:18 Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC
23:09 Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
28:16 Douglas MGR-1 Honest John
31:37 Douglas AIR-2 Genie
35:23 Political Opposition
37:09 Operational Issues
42:36 End of an Era / Outro
SOURCES:
Clearwater, John, Canadian Nuclear Weapons, Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1998
Burns, Robert, Bombs in the Bush, Canada’s History, January 17, 2017, https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/politics-law/bombs-in-the-bush
Canada, ICAN, https://www.icanw.org/canada
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Hidden Newfoundland, https://www.hiddennewfoundland.ca/harmon-air-force-base
The Nuclear Question in Canada, Diefenbaker Canada Centre, https://diefenbaker.usask.ca/exhibits/online-exhibits-content/the-nuclear-question-in-canada-en.php
Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Government of Canada, https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/peace_security-paix_securite/nuclear_radiological-nucleaire_radiologique.aspx?lang=eng
Canadas Cruise Missile Testing Controversy of 1983, CBC, July 15, 2018, https://www.cbc.ca/archives/canada-s-cruise-missile-testing-controversy-of-1983-1.4744435 Lecture: Canada and Nuclear Weapons 1963-1984](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nXod1OECQgU/mqdefault.jpg)








