July 2026

“Two of the RI Artillery men were killed today by the bursting of an amunition box, two others badly wounded.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

0 comments
Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1861. The hottest day yet. M. 94. The sun fairly burned. No important news afloat. A flag of truce arrived from Jeff Davis to the Prest but amounted to nothing as is now understood. The Funeral of two of the City Volunteers who were killed in a skirmish up the River passed [...]

Letter from a Member of the Ohio Seventyth.

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

ARMY CORRESPONDENCE. Cleveland Morning Leader, July 9, 1861 From a private letter received in this city on Saturday, we are permitted to make the following extract: WESTON, Lewis Co., Va., July 2, 1861. DEAR PARENTS:—I wrote to you a few days ago, but as I have nothing to do this afternoon I thought I would [...]

Travel Difficulties

0 comments
Louise Wigfall Wright — A Southern Girl in ’61

Balto., 9th July, 1861. Mrs. Frances M. Cross.1 “Dear Madam: “I have this moment received your letter dated yesterday and have just telegraphed Mr. Bucklin. Since I had the pleasure of writing you last it has become vastly more difficult to get to Virginia, and this very day the Federal Government has taken possession of [...]

William Howard Russell’s Diary: Newspaper correspondents.—General Fremont.—General Scott.

0 comments
My Diary North and South – William Howard Russell

July 9th.–Late last night the President told General Scott to send Captain Taylor back to the Confederate lines, and he was accordingly escorted to Arlington in a carriage, and thence returned without any answer to Mr. Davis’s letter, the nature of which has not transpired. A swarm of newspaper correspondents has settled down upon Washington, [...]

“We are in the Lord’s hands—He alone can help us.”—Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

0 comments
Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War by Judith White McGuire

Sunday, 9th.—About to go to church. I trust that this Sabbath may be instrumental of much spiritual good, and that the hearts of the people may be busy in prayer, both for friends and enemies. Oh, that the Spirit of God may be with the soldiers, to direct them in keeping this holy day! We [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

July 9, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Major-General Fremont placed in command of the Western Department. Legislature of Virginia (Wheeling) elected John S. Carlile and Waitman T. Willey to the U. S. Senate in place of Hunter and Mason. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard [...]

“Four Examiners were removed today and some of the subordinates of the Pat office, other removals are expected.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

0 comments
Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

MONDAY 8 The excitement in the City is now increasing as the troops are moveing and battles expected. Various rumors are afloat from up the River but nothing more than skirmishes have as yet taken place. Four Examiners were removed today and some of the subordinates of the Pat office, other removals are expected. The [...]

We—Charley, Eliza and Georgeanna.—left New York, July 2d, to join the army and Joseph Howland in Washington, stopping on our way over night with Cousin Margaret Hodge in Philadelphia.—Woolsey family letters.

0 comments
Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Georgeanna Muirson Woolsey to Cousin Margaret Hodge. Washington, July 8, 1861. My dear Cousin Margaret: I should have begun by dating my letter Ebbitt House, we having been established here since Saturday, spending the first three days of our visit, or probation, at the “National,” in the fifth story, a prey to several inconveniences, but [...]

Orders from the General

0 comments
The Letters of Samuel Ryan Curtis

[July 8] General Order No. 7 [Court martial trial of Lt. Huntington dispensed oners in custody discharged from arrest.] “Camp Lyon” St. Joseph Mo July 7th 1861 __________ Special Order No 16. [Three companies ordered to prepare for an expedition against Marysville with 4 days rations and 20 rounds of cartridges. To leave at 5 [...]

Engagement at Bealington, Va.

0 comments
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper

Engagement at Bealington, Va., Between Ohio and Indiana Regiments and a Detachment of Georgia Troops (from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated History of the Civil War…, edited by Louis Shepheard Moat, Published by Mrs. Frank Leslie,New York, 1895) “On July 8th, 1861, from a high hill in the neighborhood of Bealington, two large bodies of troops were [...]

“Yesterday we left Georgetown and after two hours march arrived at our present camping ground (in Virginia).”—War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

0 comments
War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

Care of Lieut. S. R. Elliott, 10th Co., 79 Regiment, Virginia. Glebewood, Virginia, July 8th, 1861. My Dear Mother: You see from the above that the “sacred soil” continues to be invaded. General Scott is inexorable, so, notwithstanding the protests of the States Right supporters, Regiment after Regiment crosses the line, and the sanctity of [...]

William Howard Russell’s Diary: Arlington Heights and the Potomac.—Washington.—The Federal camp.—General M’Dowell.—Flying rumours.

0 comments
My Diary North and South – William Howard Russell

July 8th.–I hired a horse at a livery stable, and rode out to Arlington Heights, at the other side of the Potomac, where the Federal army is encamped, if not on the sacred soil of Virginia, certainly on the soil of the district of Columbia, ceded by that State to Congress for the purposes of [...]

“Just consider yourself a widow, and, in military parlance, insist upon being ‘obeyed and respected accordingly.’”–Letter from Elisha Franklin Paxton to his wife.

0 comments
Elisha Franklin Paxton – Letters from camp and field while an officer in the Confederate Army

Near Winchester, July 8, 1861. The last week has been one of patient waiting for a fight. On Monday, the 1st inst., I was ordered by Col. Jackson to go to Martinsburg and burn some engines, at which I was engaged until Tuesday morning, when I received an order to join my company, accompanied with [...]

Surrender of the revolting Garibaldi Guards to the U.S. Cavalry

0 comments
Library of Congress

Frederic George D’Utassy’s Garibaldi Guards “staged a minor mutiny over being issued M1842 muskets rather than the rifles they expected.” There was also friction over pay, the diverse backgrounds of the soldiers, and inept officers. (Don Troiani’s Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War; Stackpole Books 2002) Title: Surrender of the revolting Garibaldi Guards to [...]

Mutiny Among the Garibaldians

0 comments
New York Times

The New York Times June 9, 1861 Washington, Monday, July 8 It is reported that a mutiny broke out among the Garibaldi Guard to-day. One hundred of them left the camp and came to the city. They were stopped on this side of Long Bridge by the guard, and held there. The military officers on [...]