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…
Tag: primary sources
New Issues of Frank Leslie’s and Harper’s Added
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
What the Heck? Decoding Lt. Col. Jonathan M. Heck’s Expedition to Buckhannon in June 1861
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…
Where was Hansbrough’s Battalion During the Battles of Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain?
When sources are lacking, historians attempt to fill in the blanks, but we can use deduction to arrive at the most likely answer. The 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry, otherwise known as Hansbrough's Battalion, was a small unit consisting of four companies led by Lt. Col. George W. Hansbrough. It formed shortly after the Action at…
Murder at Philippi
Following the Union occupation of Philippi, Virginia in early June 1861, a black soldier was accused of shooting down an elderly man in cold blood. Who was he, and how did he end up in the Union army so early in the war? A few days ago, we wrote about James Humbles, a freeman of…
Who was James Humbles?
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…
Statement Showing the Number, by Companies, of the Virginia Volunteers who Entered Service Prior to July 1, 1861
In January 1862, the Commonwealth of Virginia's Paymaster General’s Office published a tally of all Virginia volunteer companies prior to July 1, 1861. It tabulated 402 infantry companies, 78 cavalry companies, and 55 artillery batteries. This did not include the Wise Legion and Floyd’s Brigade, which were commissioned by the Confederate government. The purpose of…
Resignation Letter of Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891) grew up in Abingdon, Virginia, son of Judge Peter Johnston, Jr. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1929, in the same class as Robert E. Lee. He left the Army for a brief period, then re-joined as a first lieutenant and served with distinction in the…
Introducing: Artifacts
Good morning fellow Civil War buffs! Something new is coming to Spirit of '61: Artifacts. These will be photos and scans of objects from 1861. Some will already be available online, such as letters and documents from the National Archives, but others will be items that I acquire specifically for this collection. My first acquisition…
Resignation Letter of Robert S. Garnett
Robert Seldon Garnett (1819–1861) was a Mexican War veteran and regular Army officer from Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1841 and later served as an assistant instructor of infantry tactics. It's rumored that one of his students was a young George B. McClellan, who attended West Point…
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