An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization was published in New York City from 1857 to 1916. Though imperfect, as most print media was in the late nineteenth century, Harper’s Weekly records the important events of America’s Civil War. It contains many wonderful illustrations that give modern readers a glimpse into that critical period’s military and…
Continue reading ➞ Three New Issues of Harper’s Weekly Added
It's said "a photo is worth a thousand words", which is why this encyclopedia has made every effort to include photographs of places and things relating to early Civil War Virginia. It's one thing to read about a battle, another to actually see the terrain where it took place. Statues and grave markers remind us…
No April Fool's joke--We have added new high-quality scans of Harper’s Weekly news magazine from July and August 1861! Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization was published in New York City from 1857 to 1916. Though imperfect, as most print media was in the late nineteenth century, Harper's Weekly is a record of the important…
For the past two weeks or so, I have been doing a deep dive into Buckhannon and Upshur County, West Virginia's role in the early Civil War, delving into a variety of sources to figure out what happened during those crucial months of April-July 1861. Discovering new primary sources on Lt. Col. Jonathan McGee Heck's…
Yesterday saw a respectable turnout for the 43rd Annual Relic Show in Fredericksburg, Virginia, brought to you by the Fredericksburg Relic Hunters Association. It was held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles #4123 and featured a variety of vendors, focusing mainly on the American Civil War, though there were a few other items related to…
Continue reading ➞ 43rd Annual FRHA Relic Show in Fredericksburg, VA
Welcome to issue #3 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,…
Fans of Civil War-Era newspapers rejoice - we have added new high-quality scans of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and Harper's Weekly from July 1861. Something about these old news magazines really catches my interest. Whether it is the dramatic reporting, or the beautiful but often imaginative illustrations, it's a window into the past. This month,…
Continue reading ➞ New Issues of Frank Leslie’s and Harper’s Added
If you search for any mention of a Civil War skirmish in Buckhannon, West Virginia in 1861 in the usual sources, you won't find it. In fact, any information about Buckhannon prior to George McClellan's occupation on June 30-July 1st is in short supply. There are a few references to a brief Confederate expedition to…
While staunch unionists were rare among Virginia's political class, opinions differed on the secession question. The events of early 1861, however, would push nearly all of them into the same camp. When the Civil War broke out, Virginia had one sitting governor and eight living ex-governors. All owned slaves, though their opinions on slavery and…
Continue reading ➞ How Did Virginia’s Governors Respond to Secession?
The Doyle brothers see the elephant in 1861 Guest Post by Steve Litteral, featured in Issue 2 of the Brass Bugle. If you have traveled through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, then you know it is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The surrounding ancient rolling hills have seen men fighting men…
Spirit of '61 