August 2026

“Since I came here, I think I can tell a man’s calibre by his shoulder-straps. The amount of brain is generally in inverse proportion to the size of his straps.”–Journal of Surgeon Alfred L. Castleman.

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Journal of Surgeon Alfred L Castleman.

23d.–Colonel _______ to-day complains that I have too much force employed in the hospital, and says that he will cut it down. The regulations allow ten nurses and two cooks to the regiment, besides Surgeons, and Hospital Steward. All I have, are three nurses and two cooks. Will he dare to cut that down? Should [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

August 23, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 A large portion of the Cherokee Indians seceded and joined the Confederates. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

“Sent a line to the President by H N Jr — requesting a private interview. Will see him in the morning 1/2 past 8 o’clock.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

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Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

THURSDAY 22 Another rainy day. Went down to the Provost Marshalls Office, great crowd there for passes across the River. Saw Capt Fowler and Capt [Huron?] there (of the 12 Regt). Sent a line to the President by H N Jr — requesting a private interview. Will see him in the morning 1/2 past 8 [...]

Rebel War Clerk

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Civil War Day-by-Day

AUGUST 22d.—”Immediate” is still there; but the Secretary has not yet been to the council board, though yesterday was cabinet day. Yet the President sends Capt. Josselyn regularly with the papers referred to the Secretary. These are always given to me, and after they are “briefed,” delivered to the Secretary. Among these I see some [...]

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

Thursday, August 22.—Clear and pleasant. Landed with Mr. Smith and my cockswain and took a walk, stopping at the hotel and reading such of the Yankee newspapers as I could ?nd. The privateer Sumter made some ?gure111 these lying sheets. Have received in the last two days just 18 tons of coal. The Yankee consul [...]

“The Brazilian Minister wants to rent my House & furniture for one of his friends. I hardly know what to do.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

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Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

WEDNESDAY 21 This has been a fine cool day but bright with a feeling of Autumn in the air. I saw the Comr this morning but could get nothing satisfactory from him in reference to my restoration to the Pat office. Came home about noon. The Brazilian Minister wants to rent my House & furniture [...]

“Men are constantly arriving, showing the rapid concentration at this point of a large body of troops.”—Rutherford B. Hayes

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Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

August 21.–Changed camping place at Buckhannon to a fine spot one and one-half miles on road to Cheat Mountain. Got settled with McMullen’s Battery just as rain set in at night. Had letters from Jim and Will Scott and Uncle George. _______ BUCKHANNON, VIRGINIA, August 21, 1861. DEAR MOTHER:–You may send this letter, showing my [...]

Rebel War Clerk

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Civil War Day-by-Day

AUGUST 21st.—Called in again by the Secretary to-day, I find the ominous communication to the President still there, although marked “immediate.” And there are no indications of Mr. Walker’s quitting office that I can see.

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

Wednesday, August 21.—Clear; temperature, pleasant. Returned the visit of the commander of the Abeille. He is a clever man, with pro-slavery sympathies, and seemed to understand well the cause of our quarrel with the North, but is a Frenchman all over and seemed to think we had not treated the pavillon Français with due respect [...]

“The first day of camp life is past, and we had our first experience of a night in camp, sleeping on straw for a bed.”–Alexander G. Downing.

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Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Wednesday, 21st—We drew our army cooking utensils this morning and one day’s rations, and then cleaned up our camp. Besides a part of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, there is a part of the Second Iowa Cavalry in camp. The first day of camp life is past, and we had our first experience of a night [...]

Civil War Day-By-Day

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Civil War Day-by-Day

August 21, 1861 Second Wheeling Convention adjourns. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Wheeling Convention adjourned sine die. Skirmish at Cross Lanes, Va. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863