An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
From the first battlefield amputation to the first conventional land battle, Virginia was the stage for many pivotal "firsts" of the Civil War. This article explores these groundbreaking moments, shedding light on the early conflicts, innovations, and key figures that shaped the war's opening chapters. Following the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter on April…
Continue reading ➞ Civil War “Firsts” in Virginia and West Virginia
Accidental deaths of soldiers often receive less attention than battlefield casualties. However, for these soldiers of the First Virginia Regiment, sworn to fight for the Union, their fates marked some of the earliest losses of the Civil War. Were it not for a handful of brief newspaper articles and a sparse pension file, their stories…
Fifty-eight. That’s how many days passed between the Union Army crossing the Potomac River into northeastern Virginia and the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). During those nearly two months, the Union and Confederate armies shadowboxed in that corner of Virginia, hampered by undisciplined and inexperienced soldiers while probing for enemy weaknesses. The exact number…
In the tense opening days of the Civil War, a single gunshot would mark the first true casualty of battle—but whose name deserves that grim distinction? Between riots, duels, and chaotic skirmishes, the first soldier killed in action is a title claimed by many, but only one truly fits the definition. Because of its proximity…
Continue reading ➞ Who Was the First Civil War Soldier Killed in Action in Virginia?
On Friday, July 19, 1861, a seven-man patrol from Captain Henry W. Burdsall's Independent Company of Ohio Cavalry was ambushed along the West Fork of the Greenbrier River, near present-day Durbin, West Virginia, in Pocahontas County. Confederate reports claimed that all but one of the men were killed, but the reality was different. One man…
Uncover the full story of the Battle of Scary Creek as we piece together the most accurate records of involved units and casualty figures available. The Battle of Scary Creek holds significance as one of the earliest substantial engagements prior to the First Battle of Bull Run. Although involving only about 2,100 men, it included…
Continue reading ➞ What Units Fought at the Battle of Scary Creek?
Accuracy and detail is what will set this encyclopedia apart from other early Civil War resources, and a big piece of that is detailed and accurate casualty lists. Books and articles often cite figures from other works that are not primary sources. Even official reports and contemporaneous newspaper articles tend to exaggerate or downplay casualties.…
Continue reading ➞ Detailed Casualties Added for Indiana Units
Accuracy and detail is what will set this encyclopedia apart from other early Civil War resources, and a big piece of that is detailed and accurate casualty lists. Books and articles often cite figures from other works that are not primary sources. Even official reports and contemporaneous newspaper articles tend to exaggerate or downplay casualties.…
Spirit of '61 