July 2026

The opposition women nurses endured.—Woolsey family letters, Georgeanna, writing in 1864 of the annoyances of those first days in 1861.

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Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

“No one knows, who did not watch the thing from the beginning, how much opposition, how much how much unfeeling want of thought, these women nurses endured. Hardly a surgeon whom I can think of, received or treated them with even common courtesy. Government had decided that women should be employed, and the army surgeons—unable, [...]

News Paper

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1860s newsprint
Miscellaneous document sources, News of the Day

Bellville [Tx] Countryman, July 17, 1861 We copy the following from the Galveston Civilian. It is very appropriate at this time: The Christian Advocate appears on a half sheet, though without proportionate diminution of interesting reading matter. The scarcity of paper and of paying subscribers begins to tell on the newspaper business, and we fear [...]

William Howard Russell’s Diary: General Scott’s quarters.—Want of a staff.—Rival camps.—Demand for horses.

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My Diary North and South – William Howard Russell

July 17th.–I went up to General Scott’s quarters, and saw some of his staff–young men, some of whom knew nothing of soldiers, not even the enforcing of drill–and found them reflecting, doubtless, the shades which cross the mind of the old chief, who was now seeking repose. M’Dowell is to advance to-morrow from Fairfax Court [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 17, 1861 The U. S. begins issuing demand notes commonly called “Greenbacks” Battle of Scary Creek (Wikipedia) A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Union army continued their march toward Fairfax Court House. Skirmish at Fulton, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, [...]

Rebel War Clerk

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Civil War Day-by-Day

JULY 16th.—The Secretary was back again this evening. He could not procure comfortable quarters in the country. He seemed vexed, but from what cause, I did not learn. The colonel, however, had rushed the appointments. He was determined to be quick, because Mr. W. was known to be slow and hesitating.

Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter

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War of the Rebellion: from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies

Tuesday, July 16.—Clear, with flying trade clouds, and the wind blowing almost a gale. At 9 a.m. made land on the starboard bow, which proved to be the island of Oruba, we having had a strong westerly current during the night. At 11 a.m. made Curaçao on the port bow. Passed the north end of [...]

Mary Chesnut’s diary.—”As far as I can make out, Beauregard sent Mr. Chesnut to the President to gain permission for the forces of Joe Johnston and Beauregard to join, and, united, to push the enemy, if possible, over the Potomac…”

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A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut.

July 16th.–Dined to-day at the President’s table. Joe Davis, the nephew, asked me if I liked white port wine. I said I did not know; “all that I had ever known had been dark red.” So he poured me out a glass. I drank it, and it nearly burned up my mouth and throat. It [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 16, 1861 At the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25-mile march into Virginia for what will become the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the war. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Rebel pickets driven beyond Fairfax Court House,Va. Battle at Barboursville, [...]

Rebel War Clerk.—More War Office petty politics.

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Civil War Day-by-Day

JULY 15th.—Early this morning, Major Tyler was seated in the Secretary’s chair, prepared to receive the visitors. This, I suppose, was of course in pursuance of the Secretary’s request; and accordingly the door-keeper ushered in the people. But not long after Col. Bledsoe arrived, and exhibited to me an order from the President for him [...]

Commissioned Officers of the Second Regiment Iowa Volunteers petition that the Hon Samuel R. Curtis be appointed theirBrigadier General

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The Letters of Samuel Ryan Curtis

To Abraham Lincoln President of the United States of America Greeting We your petitioners, Commissioned Officers of the Second Regiment Iowa Volunteers, would most Respectfully beg leave to Express our desire, as well as the wishes of our respective Commands by them unanimously expressed, that the Hon Samuel R. Curtis be appointed our Brigadier General. [...]

Tribulation.—”‘Indeed,’ I burst out, forgetting my resolution not to argue…”—War Diary of a Union Woman in the South.

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War Diary of a Union Woman in the South

July 15, 1861.—The quiet of midsummer reigns, but ripples of excitement break around us as the papers tell of skirmishes and attacks here and there in Virginia. “Rich Mountain” and “Carrick’s Ford” were the last. “You see,” said Mrs. D. at breakfast to-day, “my prophecy is coming true that Virginia will be the seat of [...]

A Diary of American Events – July 15, 1861

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The Rebellion Record – A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

–General Patterson’s division, in its advance upon Winchester, Va., had a very brilliant skirmish to-day with the rebels near Bunker Hill, about nine miles from Martinsburg. The Rhode Island battery and the Twenty-first and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Regiments headed the advancing column, supported by the Second United Cavalry, under Colonel Thomas. When near Bunker Hill the [...]