An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
When the departure of Lew Wallace’s 11th Indiana left the B&O Railroad exposed in July 1861, Pennsylvania Reserves faced off against Confederate raiders in another fierce skirmish at New Creek Station. In early July, Colonel Lewis “Lew” Wallace and his 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment, stationed in Cumberland, Maryland, along the Potomac River, were ordered to…
Continue reading ➞ The Bucktail’s Stand at New Creek: A Detailed Account of the July 1861 Skirmish
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
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…
James Humbles, a freeman of mixed ancestry, served with distinction in the 1st Virginia Cavalry in 1861. Spared & Shared has an extensive collection of transcribed Civil War Era letters across multiple websites. While searching for letters from 1861, I came across this one from Philip Henry Powers, 1st Virginia Cavalry, to his wife shortly…
Philip St. George Cocke (1809–1861) was born along the James River in what is today Fluvanna County, Virginia to John Hartwell and Ann Blaws Barraud Cocke. As a member of Virginia's planter class, he was educated at the University of Virginia and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1834. He briefly…
I'm proud to announce our first official map--depicting the actions around Romney, Virginia (today, West Virginia) in June 1861, which pitted Lew Wallace's Indiana zouaves against a variety of Confederate forces sent to secure the area. Romney was a hotbed of secessionist support and Confederate forces there threatened the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which Lew…
Continue reading ➞ Map of June 1861 Actions around Romney, Virginia
A few days ago, I posted an accounting of all Confederate soldiers involved in the Patterson's Creek / Kelley’s Island Skirmish. Having the names of all participants on the Confederate side only tells half the story, however, but I recently came across a contemporary newspaper article that sheds light on the Union troops involved. The…
Continue reading ➞ Union Troops in Patterson’s Creek Skirmish
I recently consulted the 7th Virginia Cavalry regimental history by Richard L. Armstrong to verify a list of Confederates who fought in the Skirmish at Frankfort and Patterson’s Creek and find out what happened to them, in order to have an accurate accounting of all casualties.
Earlier this month, I took a trip up to the Romney, West Virginia area to visit some Civil War sites and take pictures for this encyclopedia. It was a beautiful, warm day, but it was clear I would spend most of it in the car. My goal was to hit the Romney, Keyser, Cumberland triangle and parts in between.
On Wednesday, I posted an article I came across in the Richmond Dispatch, July 4, 1861, which described a previously unidentified skirmish near Alexandria, Virginia. The article is full of inaccuracies and partial information, which means I had to do a deep dive to figure out what happened. Information on the Confederate force is scarce.…
Continue reading ➞ New Facts Found in Skirmish Near Alexandria
Spirit of '61 