In October 1909 Union veteran Edward Ripley argued that the Union’s defeat at the Battle of Harpers Ferry (September 15-17, 1862) was a “tragedy:” “It is not too exaggerated a term to use where 12,000 brave and patriotic Americans, only too willing to serve their country, were bound hand and foot by an incompetent commander […]
15
Jun
10
Battle of Harpers Ferry – September 12–15, 1862
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Images, Mapsno comment
15
Jun
10
The Sinking of the CSS Alabama, June 19, 1864
Posted by solnitr Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Images, Letters & Diaries, Rare Books, Recent NewsOn the morning of June 19, 1864, before the naval battle with the USS Kearsarge Captain Raphael Semmes of the CSS Alabama, in an impassioned address, spoke to his crew: “you have been all over the world and it is not too much to say that you have destroyed and driven for protection under neutral […]
15
Jun
10
The Battle of Olustee took place on February 20, 1864 in Baker County, Florida where the Union Army under Brigadier General Truman B. Seymour was defeated and forced to retreat back to Jacksonville in the largest battle fought in Florida during the American Civil War. Under Brigadier General Joseph Finegan, the reinforced Confederate soldiers inflicted […]
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Jun
10
Camp William Penn in Chelten Hills, Pennsylvania opened as a training ground for African-American troops on June 26, 1863 with about eight men present. Approximately eleven thousand former slaves and free African-Americans received training here under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Louis Wagner. Over the course of the war at least eleven regiments formed at Camp […]
11
Jun
10
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Images, Letters & Diaries, Maps, Places to VisitThe Battle of Kennesaw Mountain took place on June 27, 1864 in Cobb county, Georgia when General William T. Sherman ordered his forces to attack General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee. Sherman, who was unable to dislodge Johnston’s men, was forced to withdraw later that day. Some estimates put the number of total casualties […]
11
Jun
10
The 54th Massachusetts
Posted by solnitr Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Recent ScholarshipOn September 8, 1865, the New York Tribune commented on the unusual amount of fanfare the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry received on their return to Boston. The author of the editorial explained the public response reflected the 54th’s status as the first northern regiment of black soldiers and the reputation the regiment earned as being […]
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Jun
10
Siege of Port Hudson
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Images, Lesson Plans, Letters & Diaries, MapsThe Siege of Port Hudson began in late May 1863 with a series of battles, including one on May 27 that was among the first major engagements that involved African American regiments. After General Franklin Gardner received reports that confirmed the Confederate defeat at Vicksburg, he surrendered his forces to General Nathaniel P. Banks on […]
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Jun
10
Battle of Fredericksburg
Posted by sailerd Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Images, Places to VisitBattle of Fredericksburg took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia between December 11–15, 1862 and marked General Ambrose Burnside’s first major campaign as commander of Army of the Potomac. While Burnside’s overall objective was to march on Richmond, Virginia, his army had to first successfully cross the Rappahannock river near Fredericksburg. General Robert E. Lee’s Army […]
8
Jun
10
The First Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861
Posted by solnitr Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Historic Periodicals, Images, Lesson Plans, Maps, Places to VisitThe artist H. Lovie captured a strange scene on July 21, 1861 in Manassas, Virginia: civilians sitting on a hill overlooking the clash between the Union and Confederate armies. Lovie’s picture was published in Frank Leslie’s weekly illustrated newspaper, a great visual resource for documenting the Civil War. Both the picnicking residents of Washington DC […]
7
Jun
10
Battle of Cynthiana: June 11-12, 1864
Posted by mckelveb Published in Civil War (1861-1865), Maps, Places to Visit, Rare BooksThe Battle of Cynthiana (also known as Kellar’s Bridge) took place on June 11-12, 1864 in Harrison County, Kentucky. The National Park Service ’s website includes a brief summary regarding the battle and the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission provides a map detailing the location of each battleground within the state as well as an […]
