In 2025, we focused heavily on the Potomac Front and completed narratives for all military actions during this time period. We added four new battle pages, bringing the total to 39. This number is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future. In addition to the 165th anniversaries coming up, I would like to go back…
updates
Accomplishments in 2025
In 2025, we leapfrogged past last year's accomplishments, publishing 69 blog posts containing over 57,400 words. We also published 122 new pages, including 109 transcriptions of primary sources (letters and reports). Here is a rundown of the additions to our encyclopedia in 2025: 69 blog posts 109 new primary sources 4 new battle pages (39…
Revised Map and Overview of the Ohio Front
In 1861, Trans-Allegheny Virginia was a landscape of hills and mountains cut by rivers like the Kanawha, Little Kanawha, Tygart, Cheat, and Greenbrier. The region consisted largely of small towns and subsistence farms, with limited industry beyond coal mining, salt works, and a nascent iron trade. The first oil wells were drilled on the eve…
Continue reading ➞ Revised Map and Overview of the Ohio Front
Timeline Page Revised and Updated
Just a quick note that over the past week I have been revising and updating our Timeline Page. The purpose of this page is not to go into detail about every event, but to give a comprensive summary of signifigant military and political events in Virginia during the first seven months of 1861. It is…
Our Substack is Now Live
Why Substack? Our digital encyclopedia will always remain free, but offering a subscription service with additional research, data, and early access content will help to: Fund the operation and expansion of our digital encyclopedia. Allow us to add more storage space and native video support. Offer high-resolution scans of Civil War era publications like these.…
New Photos Added
Over the past month or two, I’ve been visiting early Civil War sites in Northern Virginia and have added new photos to our encyclopedia. While much has changed in the 160 years since the war, seeing these places in person offers a perspective you can’t get from books alone. The natural terrain—hills, valleys, streams—helps you…
Spirit of 61 Project Charter
Purpose The purpose of this project is to uncover, preserve, interpret, and teach the often-overlooked stories of early Civil War Virginia. The goal is to enhance public understanding of the complexities and local impacts of the war’s initial stages, contributing to a more nuanced and comprehensive historical narrative. By creating educational materials, digital archives, public…
Battle Page Update!
BLUF: All 36 battle pages have undergone comprehensive structural updates to improve readability and organization. These enhancements include a table of contents and a standardized layout across all pages. Over the past few weeks, we have been steadily updating all 36 battle pages in this encyclopedia. You may have already noticed some of these changes,…
New Photos Added
Looking at old black-and-white photos and illustrations, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the places and events they depict. However, standing in those locations and seeing the landscape in full color makes history feel real. When I first visited Shiloh National Military Park, I was struck by how little had changed in 150 years. The…
Accomplishments in 2024
I started this digital encyclopedia four years ago to coincide with the 160th Anniversary of the American Civil War, with a goal to focus on the little-known events in Virginia between April and late July 1861. Since then, it's grown steadily, with original research, photos, maps, and illustrations. Our website offers high quality scans of…
Spirit of '61 