July 2026

Martinsburg, July 3, 1861

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News of the Day

Richmond Daily Dispatch July 8, 1861 The engagement near Martinsburg! additional particulars! Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch. Buckler’s Town, Berkeley Co., Va., July 3d, 1861. On yesterday, Col. Jackson’s Brigade of Virginia forces were advanced in the direction of Falling Waters, to meet the enemy, who were reported to be advancing from Williamsport, on the [...]

A Day of Leisure

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Miscellaneous document sources, News of the Day

Standard [Clarksville, Tx], July 20, 1861, Fort Washita, C. N. } July 3d, 1861. } Maj. DeMorse: — Dear Sir: — A day of leasure at this place, enables me to send you a few items, that may have some interest to those readers of the Standard who have friends and relations serving in the [...]

Company Drills

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1860s newsprint
Miscellaneous document sources, News of the Day

Bellville [Tx] Countryman, July 3, 1861 At a recent large gathering of volunteers in a Southern State, where field operations were performed as if in sight of an enemy, the general officer in command made a short speech to the men, which is very apropos just now. “All that you have heard in the way [...]

William Howard Russell’s Diary: Departure for Washington.—A “servant.”—The American Press on the War.—Military aspect of the States.—Philadelphia.—Baltimore.— Washington.—Lord Lyons.—Mr. Sumner.—Irritation against Great Britain.

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My Diary North and South – William Howard Russell

July 3rd.–Up early, breakfasted at five a.m., and left my hospitable host’s roof, on my way to Washington. The ferry-boat, which is a long way off, starts for the train at seven o’clock; and so bad are the roads, I nearly missed it. On hurrying to secure my place in the train, I said to [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 3, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 A rebel company (94) captured at Neosho, Mo. Governor of Arkansas called out 10,000 men to repel invasion. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

Big Bethel

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Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper

The Battle at Great Bethel, Between the Federal Troops Under the Command of General Pierce, Consisting of Duryea’s Zouave Regiment, Townsend’s Albany Regiment, Bendix’s Steuben Regiment, Allen’s First New York Volunteer Regiment and the Secession Troops, Strongly Entrenched, Under the Command of Colonel J. B. Magruder, on the Morning of June 10, 1861 Frank Leslie’s [...]

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 2.—Day begins clear and beautiful. At 8 a.m. struck the N. E. trades, made sail in aid of the steam, and ordered moderate steam carried. Toward noon a few trade squalls, with light showers of rain, passed over. Course since 8 last evening, S. S. E.½ E .; latitude at noon, 23° 04′; [...]

Commission of Richard Thomas Zarvona

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Miscellaneous document sources, War of the Rebellion: from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies

The Commonwealth Of Virginia To Richard Thomas Zarvona, Greeting: Know you that from special trust and confidence reposed in your fidelity, courage and good conduct our governot in pursuance of the authority vested in him by an ordinance of the convention of the State of Virginia doth commission you a colonel in the active volunteer [...]

“America seems clean daft. She seems to want to quarrel with all the world…”–Adams Family Letters, Henry Adams, private secretary to the US Minister to the UK.

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Civil War Day-by-Day

Henry Adams to his brother, Charles Francis Adams, Jr. London, Tuesday, July 2,1861 My letters in the [New York] Times will give you pretty much all I have to say about politics. They are very correctly printed; at least the three first which are all that have reached me. There is no doubt in my [...]

“Neither do I believe that our blockade is likely to be effective in less than a hundred days.”–Adams Family Letters; Charles Francis Adams, Jr., To His Father

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Civil War Day-by-Day

Boston, July 2, 1861 There is little news politically, for I am no longer in the way of getting it. There is a marked improvement in the general feeling and in the tone of the press towards England and my apprehensions of trouble would have entirely subsided but that I cannot but fear future trouble [...]

“At present dismiss entirely the idea, no matter how it may originate, that there will be, or can be, peace, compromise, union, or secession, till war has determined the issue.”—William Howard Russell’s Diary.

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My Diary North and South – William Howard Russell

The Hudson.–Military school at West Point.–Return to New York.–Altered appearance of the city.–Misery and suffering.–Altered state of public opinion, as to the Union and towards Great Britain. July 2nd.–At early dawn this morning, looking out of the sleeping car, I saw through the mist a broad, placid river on the right, and on the left [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 2, 1861 General Robert Patterson crosses the Potomac at Williamsport, Maryland and moves towards Harpers Ferry. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Engagement near Martinsburg between Patterson’s (U.) and Jackson’s (R.) forces: rebels defeated. New Legislature of Virginia met and organized at Wheeling. The new government had already been recognized by [...]

Confederate Secretary of War piqued about article on the difficulty of getting arms from Georgia with the volunteers from that State.

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Civil War Day-by-Day

JULY 1st.—My family are gone. We have moved the department to Mechanics’ Hall, which will be known hereafter as the War Department. In an evil hour, I selected a room to write my letters in, quite remote from the Secretary’s office. I thought Mr. Walker resented this. He had likewise been piqued at the effect [...]

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

Monday, July 1.—Weather beautiful and clear, with the deep blue sea rolling brightly around us, and a gentle breeze from the southward and westward. We have seen no sail since we lost sight of the Brooklyn, and have averaged a speed of about 8 knots. Latitude at noon, 26° 18′ north; longitude, 87° 23′, steering [...]