July 2026

Bull’s Run. “…our roll call shows that 199 are numbered among the dead, the wounded, and the missing.”—War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

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War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

July 28th, 1861. Dear Mother: A week has passed since our misfortunes at Bull’s Run, and in all the intervening time I’ve had only opportunity to let you know that I was safe. But I must tell you something of that unlucky day, for I know you had rather have the story from my own [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 28, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Gen. Banks at Harper’s Ferry withdrew his troops  to the Maryland side of the Potomac. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

“I was at Willards this evening. Genl McDowell (the great defeated) was there. Genl McClellan is also there, having arrived this morning.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

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Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1861. The day has passed off without any thing very remarkable taking place. I was at the office part of the day but at home most of the time. Lieuts Swan and White, Lieut Gould of Rochester, and Sergeant Major Chas Gaul dined with us today. I was at Willards this evening. [...]

A Diary From Dixie

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A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut.

July 27th.–Mrs. Davis’s drawing-room last night was brilliant, and she was in great force. Outside a mob called for the President. He did speak–an old war-horse, who scents the battle-fields from afar. His enthusiasm was contagious. They called for Colonel Chesnut, and he gave them a capital speech, too. As public speakers say sometimes, “It [...]

Rebel War Clerk

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A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary at the Confederate States Capital

JULY 27th.—A large number of new arrivals are announced from the North. Clerks resigned at Washington, and embryo heroes having military educations, are presenting themselves daily, and applying for positions here. They represent the panic in the North as awful, and ours is decidedly the winning side. These gentry somehow succeed in getting appointments. Our [...]

“Many had never seen a mountain; none had ever seen such a reception. They stood on top of the cars and danced and shouted with delight.”—Rutherford B. Hayes

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Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

CLARKSBURG, VIRGINIA, July 27, 1861 (?) (I believe) Saturday (I know). DEAR WIFE:–Our second day, from Bellaire to this place, was an exceedingly happy one. We travelled about one hundred and thirty miles in Virginia, and with the exception of one deserted village of Secessionists (Farmington), we were received everywhere with an enthusiasm I never [...]

“Scott sent an inefficient general (known as a perfect windbag among brother officers) without commissariat, without organization, without proper regimental officers, against what he knew to be a fortified camp of a hundred thousand men.” Woolsey Family Letters, Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza.

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Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

The regiments called out for three months were now about disbanding, though a large number of the men at once re-enlisted for the war. –   –   –   –   –   –   – July 27, 10 a. m. My dear Eliza: I have just been up to the corner to see [...]

“One of our generals has gained a new name from his action while in battle; he is General Jackson, and he has been a professor in the Virginia Military Institute. “—Diary of Susan Bradford Eppes.

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Susa Bradford Eppes
Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

July 27th, 1861.—Each day brings us fresh news from the battle of Manassas. One of our generals has gained a new name from his action while in battle; he is General Jackson, and he has been a professor in the Virginia Military Institute. He is a strict disciplinarian and his boys at the V. M. [...]

6-pounder

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News of the Day

The Standard Clarksville, Tx July 27, 1861 One of the 6-pounder cannon, cast at the Camden Foundry, was taken to the Sulphur Spring on the 4th, and experiments tried, which proved in every respect satisfactory. Several shots were fired with ball, and the results exceeded all that had been claimed for the piece by its [...]

“A rumored attack in prospect on Bird’s Point…”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

  Cairo, July 27, 1861 We number now about 60 and have 25 days in which to fill up to 100. Two hundred and fifty of our regiment of three-months’ men have re-enlisted. Two hundred and fifty out of 680, which is considerably better than any eastern regiment that I have seen mentioned. There was [...]

A Diary of American Events – July 27, 1861

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

–Major-General Robert Patterson of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, was honorably discharged from the service of the United States.–(Doc. 106.) –The Odd Fellows’ Hall, jail, and four other buildings in Hampton, Va., were burned by the national troops in apprehension of an immediate attack by the secessionists.–N. Y. Times, July 30. –In Confederate Congress, at Richmond, Va., [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

July 27, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Return of the 69th and other regiments to New York. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

“The Committee is investigating the cases of Clerks and others in the different departments who are said to be secessionists, or disloyal to the Govt.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

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Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

FRIDAY 26 Was required to go before the Committee at the Capitol today at 10 o’clock (John F Porter Chairman). The Committee is investigating the cases of Clerks and others in the different departments who are said to be secessionists, or disloyal to the Govt. Went with Julia after dinner up to the camps on [...]

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

Friday, July 26.—Weather clear and pleasant. Ran along the land to the westward again at daylight, and soon after made the fort on the hill above the town of Puerto Cabello. Ran past the group of small islands that outlie the town [to] the eastward, all of which are bold, and anchored in the port [...]

Dreadful battle at Bull Run

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Meta Morris Grimball
Journal of Meta Morris Grimball

July 26th        Papa left us for Buncombe on the 24, he went off in a furious annoyance at not being called for before half past eight so he quarreled with the hack man, I am glad he has gone, for his rigid ways became disagreeable. We did as well as we could for him, & [...]

Clara Barton to her father

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Miscellaneous document sources

(Continued from July 22) July 26th Friday noon. – You will think it strange that I commenced so timely a letter to you and stopped so suddenly. But I did so upon more mature reflection. You could not fail to know all that I could have told you as soon as I could have got [...]

Dinner with General Scott

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The Letters of Samuel Ryan Curtis

Washington July 26 1861 My dear Wife The best way to keep an account of my “daily walk and conversations” is to write you very often and trust that my letters to you may serve as a continuance of my journal which I can not carry about the country. At ½ past 4 I repaired [...]