One hundred fifty years ago today the New York Times reported that Confederate forces had retreated from Harpers Ferry to Manassas, Virginia. Harpers Ferry, which was home to a federal arsenal and the target of abolitionist John Brown’s raid in October 1859, “[was] not a position to hold against a powerful enemy.” Instead, as the […]
16
Jun
11
“The Barbarians at Harper’s Ferry”
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Images1 comment
25
May
11
“A New Trouble in Georgia”
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic PeriodicalsOne hundred fifty years ago today the Chicago (IL) Tribune published an excerpt from the Savannah (GA) Republican that described a new controversial order from Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown. If the Confederate War Department wanted to move any Georgia regiments out of the state, Governor Brown required that they first seek his permission. As […]
11
May
11
New York Zouaves in Washington, DC
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Letters & DiariesOne hundred fifty years ago today the Cleveland (OH) Herald published a report from the Philadelphia (PA) Press on how the New York Zouaves in Washington, DC were called in to put out a fire at the famous Willard’s Hotel. As the soldiers were unable to find any ladders, the Press‘ correspondent described how: The New York boys…sprang […]
20
Apr
11
Aftermath of the Baltimore Riot
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Letters & DiariesOne hundred fifty years ago today Mayor George W. Brown wrote Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew and described the riot that took place the previous day in Baltimore, Maryland. The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment had left Philadelphia in the morning of April 19, 1861, but while crossing the between the President Street and the Camden railroad […]
19
Jan
11
Civil War Soldier Correspondence
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Letters & DiariesSoldier Studies is a free online database that contains over 1200 Union and Confederate soldiers’ letters between 1860 and 1865. Each soldier has a profile with key biographical information and links to all of their letters in the collection. Some profiles also include photographs and short essays about the soldier. For example, Soldier Studies has […]
13
Dec
10
Civil War Letters of the Christie Family
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Letters & Diaries, Recent ScholarshipThe Civil War Letters of the Christie Family at the Minnesota Historical Society offer an interesting perspective from three brothers who served in the Union army. Thomas and William Christie, who were both born in Ireland, enlisted in the First Minnesota Battery in 1861 and participated in the Vicksburg campaign as well as General William […]
10
Dec
10
Isaac L. Taylor at Gettysburg
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Letters & DiariesOn July 2, 1863 at 5:40AM Isaac Taylor recorded in his diary that his regiment, the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, had arrived at Gettysburg. “Order from Gen. [John] Gibbon read to us in which he says this is to be the great battle of the war & that any soldier leaving ranks without leave […]
29
Nov
10
Cleveland (OH) Herald & the USCT
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic PeriodicalsAfter Confederates shelled Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to restore order. Many northerners responded and rushed to create volunteer regiments. Yet when African Americans offered to serve, northern officials turned them down. After Ohio Governor William Dennison denied a request, the Cleveland Herald called his decision “eminently proper.” […]
29
Oct
10
Grand Review in Harrisburg, PA – November 14, 1865
Posted by sailerd Published in Historic Periodicals, Reconstruction (1865-1880)After African American soldiers were not allowed to participate in the Union army’s Grand Review in Washington DC in May 1865, Harrisburg residents organized their own event on November 14, 1865 for those who served in the United States Colored Troops. While this earlier post provides an overview, several other newspaper articles offer interesting accounts […]
8
Oct
10
Burning of Chambersburg, PA (July 1864)
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Images, Letters & Diaries, MapsOn July 30, 1864 Confederate cavalry under General John McCausland’s command entered Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and demanded that residents pay $500,000 in greenbacks or $100,000 in gold. Confederates planned to use the money to compensate Virginia residents whose homes in the Shenandoah Valley were burned by Union General David Hunter’s troops. After Chambersburg residents refused to […]
