Welcome to issue #2 of the Brass Bugle, Spirit of ‘61’s monthly newsletter. The American Civil War was truly a war of brother against brother, and no state experienced that more profoundly than Virginia. As the nation tore apart in the spring of 1861, Virginians were forced to pick a side: stand with their state, or remain loyal to the Union? In the chaos of those formative months, the answer wasn’t always clear. Our goal is to provide the most accurate source on this murky period of Civil War history for students, historians, researchers, and enthusiasts alike.
In this issue, guest writer Steve Litteral shares the story of his distant ancestors who fought in the Tygart Valley and Cheat Mountain campaigns of 1861. We also analyze the Unionist broadside “Traitors in Wheeling”, present an accurate order of battle for the Action at Philippi, and explore Virginia’s role at the dawn of 1861.
Click the image below to download the issue in Adobe PDF. Don’t have Adobe Reader? Download it here.
Or read an embedded version of the newsletter here: Brass Bugle Vol. I Issue 2 (Feb 2024)
Spirit of '61 
One thought on “Brass Bugle: Issue 2 – February 2024”