An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
Based on a careful analysis, it’s reasonable to conclude that the Confederates had approximately 1,670 men on the field that day. Though some minor skirmishes occurred in Virginia prior to June 10, 1861, the Battle of Big Bethel on the Virginia Peninsula was unequivocally the first pitched battle of any magnitude. Approximately 6,000 Union and…
The Battle of Big Bethel (or Great Bethel) was fought on Monday, June 10, 1861 between Union forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Peirce and Confederate forces commanded by Col. John B. Magruder and Col. Daniel Harvey Hill in what is today Hampton, Virginia. It was among the American Civil War’s first pitched battles. Until…
Continue reading ➞ Topographical Sketch of the Battle of Bethel, June 10th 1861
Great news, Civil War buffs! After long hours of work, we are proud to release version 1.1 of the Spirit of ’61 Battlelog! This compendium combines our articles on 36 military actions in Virginia in the spring and summer of 1861 in one convenient pdf, free to download. Updates and changes from version 1.0 include…
Uncover the dramatic July 4th skirmish at Harper’s Ferry, where Union soldiers attempted a bold mission to seize a Confederate flag, sparking a deadly clash along the Potomac River. Explore how this brief but pivotal encounter set the stage for Union control of the strategic town. Following the capture of Harper’s Ferry Arsenal by Virginia…
Continue reading ➞ A Town in the Crossfire: Independence Day Skirmish at Harper’s Ferry
Before the Battle of Big Bethel, a pair of small skirmishes played a key role in shaping Union strategy and setting the stage for their defeat. Learn how these early encounters influenced the course of the larger conflict on the Virginia Peninsula. After the Virginia Secession Convention passed its ordinance of secession in May 1861,…
Continue reading ➞ Minor Skirmishes, Major Impact: the Prelude to Big Bethel at New Market Bridge
In the early months of the Civil War, a Union naval mission to gather intelligence on Virginia’s Northern Neck turned into a deadly skirmish with Confederate volunteers. Discover how a routine operation aboard the USS Monticello quickly escalated into a fierce clash that left both sides scrambling. On April 27, in response to the capture…
Continue reading ➞ The Action at Carter’s Creek, or Affair on the Rappahannock
As July 1861 dawned, lead elements of Col. Charles Pomeroy Stone's expedition along the Potomac River's Maryland shore reached Sandy Hook and Maryland Heights opposite of Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Confederate Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had evacuated his troops from Harper's Ferry in mid-June, destroying the bridges across the Potomac in the process. The town…
Since shifting focus to the long-neglected Chesapeake region, I came across two additional skirmishes, bringing the total to eight. Both were relatively minor but still deserve to be added to our encyclopedia. They are, as follows: Action at Carter's Creek On June 24, 1861, the USS Monticello was patrolling the Virginia shoreline in the Chesapeake…
Continue reading ➞ Two New Skirmishes on the Chesapeake Front
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues was Virginia's oldest and most prestigious military company. At the outbreak of the Civil War, it elected Obadiah Jennings Wise (1831-1862), eldest son of former Virginia governor Henry A. Wise, as its captain. Among its other captains during that war was Ezekiel "Zeke" J. Levy, who enlisted as a fourth…
Continue reading ➞ Jewish Virginians in the Richmond Light Infantry Blues
In the wake of Confederate Lt. Col. Charles Dreux's death, a Union foraging party’s bold venture beyond their orders sparked a swift and decisive skirmish with Maj. John Bell Hood's Confederate cavalry, resulting in Union losses and Confederate triumph. On July 5, 1861, a failed ambush near the farm of Nelson Smith resulted in the…
Spirit of '61 