An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
One hundred sixty-five years ago, the Commonwealth of Virginia set itself on a course that would alter its history forever. The decision placed the state on the losing side of a devastating war that claimed hundreds of thousands of American lives, displaced families, split the commonwealth in two, and left farms, villages, and towns in…
In the spring of 1861, Virginia was in an ambiguous position. Although its Secession Convention had voted to secede, the state had not yet officially joined the Confederacy. During this period, volunteers rushed to form armed companies, regiments, and batteries, sometimes clashing with federal troops and naval ships. What, then, should we call these state…
Continue reading ➞ What’s in a Name? Secessionist, Southern, or Confederate?
As 1861 dawned, the secession crisis was boiling over. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had adopted resolutions declaring themselves free and independent states, and they met in Montgomery, Alabama to form a provisional government. Fire-eaters in Virginia agitated for the Old Dominion to join them. Virginia Governor John Letcher called the…
Continue reading ➞ 165 Years Ago: Virginia’s Secession Convention Convenes in Richmond
As I began preparing to revise several of our entries on the Tygart Valley / Cheat River Campaign, I realized just how many new sources I uncovered over the past several years that never made it onto our website. For such an obscure campaign, an extraordinary amount has been written about it. As the “first…
Continue reading ➞ Tygart Valley / Cheat River Campaign Bibliography
Events in northwestern Virginia in May, June, and July 1861 unfolded rapidly and were often complex, involving many moving parts, both military and political. Without a clear sense of how these developments related to one another, it is easy to become confused. To help alleviate that confusion and place everything in proper context, I have…
Continue reading ➞ Timeline of the Tygart Valley / Cheat River Campaign
Last July, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields (SVBF) produced an excellent short video on the Battle of Hoke's Run, specifically the actions on the Confederate left flank where J.E.B. Stuart almost single-handedly captured a Union company. The presenter does a good job of breaking it down, but I wish they would have shown more footage of the…
Continue reading ➞ SVBF: The Wrong Uniform Color – Battle of Hoke’s Run
Welcome to version 1.5 of the Spirit of ’61 Battlelog. Developed over several months, this release includes two new battles and substantive revisions to four others. It is now 76 pages and over 37,000 words. Here is a detailed list of all changes in this version: Revised narrative for Battle of Hoke’s Run. Added entry…
As February 1861 dawned, there appeared to be no resolution in sight to the secession crisis. Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration was still a month away. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had adopted resolutions declaring themselves free and independent states and were, at that very moment, meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, to discuss the…
Continue reading ➞ 165 Years Ago: Washington Peace Convention Opens
In early June 1861, the Union blockade of Virginia escalated when the USS Harriet Lane exchanged fire with a newly built Confederate battery at Pig Point, across Hampton Roads from Newport News. This little-known naval skirmish revealed the strength of Southern defenses, thwarted Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s plans, and underscored how quickly the Civil War…
Continue reading ➞ Fire Across Hampton Roads: The USS Harriet Lane at Pig Point
From firing one of the first naval shots of the Civil War off Charleston Harbor to helping secure a vital Union foothold on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the USS Harriet Lane played an outsized role in the conflict’s opening months. Follow her journey from revenue cutter to warship, highlighting her actions at Fort Sumter, Pig…
Spirit of '61 