August 2026

“General Scott, too, has been almost superseded by General McClellan, who seems just now to be the idol of the North.”—Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

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

12th.—Still nothing from the army. We go on here quietly and happily—as happily as the state of the country will allow. The household peaceful and pleasant. The ladies—all of us collect in one room—work, while one reads some pleasant book. We are mercifully dealt with, and I hope we are grateful for such blessings. The [...]

A Diary of American Events.–August 12, 1861

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

August 12.–Charles J. Faulkner, late U. S. Minister to France, was arrested in Washington by the Provost Marshal. The order for his arrest was issued from the War Department. A heavy detachment of infantry accompanied the Marshal to guard against any disturbance that the arrest might prompt. Mr. Faulkner acknowledged the authority, and signified his [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

August 12, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Arrest of Hon. C. J. Faulkner, late U. S. Minister to France. Of?ce of the Bangor (Me) Democrat, a secession paper, entirely destroyed by a mob. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and [...]

“We have sent two captains and eighty men after the guerrillas.”—Rutherford B. Hayes

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Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

August 11. Sunday.–Raining this morning, very warm. Arrested, on complaint of a Union man, H. T. Martin, a secession editor, who is charged with holding communication with James and William Bennett, leaders of a guerrilla party. He was formerly from Ohio. Is a Southern state’s-right Democrat in talk, and makes a merit of holding secession [...]

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

Sunday, August 11.— Morning windy, with a head sea. We have been laboring and plunging through it all night, with little hope of making much headway, but continuing on in the expectation that possibly the current might change or the wind abate. Vain hope; neither the one thing nor the other took place! The genius [...]

“It would not much surprise us to hear a genl cannonade over there any day, as an attack may be expected anytime.”—Horatio Nelson TaftHoratio Nelson Taft

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Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 1861. A very hot day. Went to church this morning with Julia, Willie, and Surgeon Barnes of the 27th. Doct Smith preached. It commenced to rain about 5 o’clock and rained till near night very hard, flooding the lower part of the City. Guns were heard over the River, some fighting probably. [...]

Answer all questions that we ask about supplies for hospital and regiment.—Woolsey family letters; Caroline Carson Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.

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Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

August, ‘61. Dear Girls: I have wrenched this opportunity from Abby to take my turn in writing you. It is as good as a fight to attempt to do anything useful in this family. Each one considers it her peculiar province, and if I manage to tuck in a handkerchief or two in the next [...]

“As soon as the train pulled out and the soldier boys could not see, the scene changed. Sobs and tears, wild outbursts of grief…”—Susan Bradford Eppes.

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Susa Bradford Eppes
Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

August 12th, 1861.—It is late at night but I cannot sleep so will write up the events of the day. The Howell Guards left on the mid-day train. A crowd had gathered around the depot to see them off. Mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts and friends—all were there. Standing on the platform and looking around I [...]

“We are now drilling about six hours a day, but the greenhorns act as though they think it fun.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Civil War Day-by-Day

Cairo, August 11, ’61. Our Canton boys came down on time, and right glad I am to have them here. Colonel Ross’s 17th Regiment got here the same day by the river. The boys were sworn into our company the day after they arrived, and the day following a lieutenant in the Fulton Blues came [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

August 11, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Rebel company captured at Georgetown, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

Prepaid.—Chaplains.—Seeds of sickness.—Letter to Lincoln.—Woolsey family letters; Abby Howland Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.

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Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

August, ‘61. Dear Girls: Did you give the company captains my little books by Ordronneaux? If not, please do so. They have much useful advice, and as each captain ought to be the father of his company, and look after its welfare in every respect, some such little manual might be useful to them. In [...]

The Prince, McDowell, and McClellan himself.—Woolsey family letters; Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joseph Howland.

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Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Ebbitt House, Washington, August 10, 1861. Dear Joe: We had a very successful journey in from camp yesterday, for who should be on the boat but the Prince (called by the public “Captain Paris,”) McDowell, and McClellan himself, whom Mrs. Franklin introduced to us, and who helped us all into the carriage when we reached [...]

Aspirations to become Secretary of War.—John B. Jones Diary.

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Civil War Day-by-Day

AUGUST 10th.—Mr. Benjamin is a frequent visitor at the department, and is very sociable: some intimations have been thrown out that he aspires to become, some day, Secretary of War. Mr. Benjamin, unquestionably, will have great influence with the President, for he has studied his character most carefully. He will be familiar not only with [...]

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

Saturday, August 10.—Clear, with a deep blue sea and a fresh S. E. trade wind in latitude 5° N., and what makes our position worse with reference to making our run, we have had the extraordinary current of 50 miles in twenty-four hours (!) setting nearly due north, a speed equal to that of the [...]