Norfolk (date torn off.) The colonel talks some to-night about a forward movement, and two regiments have come across the river from the Kentucky side this evening, the Iowa 2d and 7th. The 17th are still opposite us and I have seen none of them yet. Our cavalry scouts are fighting now more or less [...]

September 23, 1861 Guerrillas under James H. Lane drove off a small Southern force at Osceola, Missouri, and then looted and burned the town.

SEPTEMBER 22d.—Harris and Magraw, who were taken on the field of Manassas, looking for the remains of Col. Cameron, have been liberated by Gen. Winder, on the order of the acting Secretary of War. This is startling; for Mr. Benjamin was the most decided man, at the time of their capture, against their liberation. Per [...]

September 22, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Skirmish at Ellicott’s Mills, Ky. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

SEPTEMBER 21st.—The Secretary has authorized me to sign passports “for the Secretary of War.” My son attends to his letters. I have now an opportunity of seeing more. I have authority to order transportation for the parents of soldiers, and for goods and provisions taken to the camps.

September 21, 1861 All the evidence pointed to the situation in Missouri descending into chaos. Law and order had broken down with murder a common offence, as was the destruction of property. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 John C. Breckinridge ?ed from Frankfort, Ky., and openly joined the rebels. Severe ?ght [...]

SEPTEMBER 20th.—Col. J. A. Washington has been killed in a skirmish. He inherited Mount Vernon. This reminds me that Edward Everett is urging on the war against us. The universal education, so much boasted of in New England, like their religion, is merely a humbug, or worse than a humbug, the fruitful source of crime. [...]

London, September 20, 1861 I deeply sympathise with you in your trials about the part you ought to play in the war. Much as I value your assistance during my absence on this side, I should be very reluctant to continue it at the cost of your own convictions of your duty. If you feel [...]

September 20, 1861 Lexington finally fell to Confederate forces. Along with 1,600 prisoners, the Confederates also found $1 million – the Union forces payroll. Frémont’s perceived failure to help the Union defenders at Lexington badly counted against him in Washington DC. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Surrender of Col. Mulligan at [...]

September 19th.–A painful piece of news came to us yesterday–our cousin, Mrs. Witherspoon, of Society Hill, was found dead in her bed. She was quite well the night before. Killed, people say, by family sorrows. She was a proud and high-strung woman. Nothing shabby in word, thought, or deed ever came nigh her. She was [...]

SEPTEMBER 19th.—We hear of several splendid clashes of cavalry near Manassas, under Col. Stuart; and Wise’s cavalry in the West are doing good service.

September 19, 1861 Confederate forces captured the hills around Lexington thus making the city even more open to artillery attacks. An attempt to get supplies to the Union defenders via the river system failed when the Confederates captured the supply boats along with their supplies. Crossing into Kentucky through the Cumberland Pass, Brigadier General Felix [...]

SEPTEMBER 18th.—Gen. Floyd has been attacked at Gauley, by greatly superior numbers. But he was intrenched, and slew hundreds of the enemy before he retreated, which was effected without loss.

September 18, 1861 Having received supplies, including ammunition, the Confederates launched a major assault on Lexington. The Union defenders were cut off from their fresh water supplies by Confederate snipers. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Members (18), Speaker, and clerk of the Maryland Legislature arrested at Frederick and sent to Fort [...]

SEPTEMBER 17 th.—A man from Washington came into my office to-day, saying he had important information from Washington. I went into the Secretary’s room, and found Mr. Benjamin surrounded by a large circle of  visitors, all standing hat in hand, and quite silent. I asked him if he would see the gentleman from Washington. He [...]

Daily Times [Leavenworth, Ks], September 17, 1861 Leavenworth, Sept. 16, 1861. At a meeting of the Committee of Safety, the following resolutions were passed and ordered to be published: Resolved, That this committee disapprove of, and denounce “;” and that they will do all in their power to prevent it; and, in this regard, they [...]

Note: This letter—a document written in 1861—includes terms and topics that may be offensive to many today.   No attempt will be made to censor or edit 19th-century material to today’s standards. September 17, 1861. Well, I’ve slept half of this day and feel sleepy yet. I had a tough time on picket last night. [...]

Charles Francis Adams, Jr., To Henry Adams Boston, Tuesday, September 17, 1861 As I hear nothing more of your coming home I hope you have forgotten that folly. The few of your friends in the army here, like Billy Milton and Howard Dwight, opened their eyes wide with astonishment at the suggestion. Just now I [...]

September 17, 1861 Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate Attorney General, and a man with no military experience, becomes Confederate Secretary of War. He will become embroiled in difficulties with a number of generals and be blamed for the loss of Roanoke Island off North Carolina in the next year. His Jewish ancestry makes him a target [...]

SEPTEMBER 16th.—Mr. Benjamin’s hitherto perennial smile faded almost away as he realized the fact that he was now the most important member of the cabinet. He well knew how arduous the duties were; but then he was robust in health, and capable of any amount of labor. It seems, after all, that Mr. Benjamin is [...]

Norfolk, September 16, 1861. We are still here at Norfolk and now in camp for we don’t know how long. We got tents the day after the date of my last, and splendid ones they are. They are full 10 feet high and 15 feet across. They each accommodate about 15 men. Since we have [...]

September 16, 1861 Union reinforcements sent to Lexington were captured en route by the Confederates who knew their movements beforehand. Committee of Naval Constructors recommends three plans for building ironclads, Galena, Ironsides, and Monitor A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Ship Island evacuated by the C. S. forces and occupied by Union [...]

SEPTEMBER 15th.—And, just as I expected, Mr. Benjamin is to be Mr. Walker’s successor. Col. Bledsoe is back again; and it devolved on me to inform Major Tyler that the old chief of the bureau was now the new chief. Of course he resigned the seals of office with the grace and courtesy of which [...]

September 15, 1861 Confederate forces continued their efforts to capture Lexington. 3,600 Union defenders faced 18,000 Confederate troops. Colonel Mulligan, the Union commander of Lexington, waited for reinforcements unaware that all his messages to General Frémont were being read by the Confederates. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Skirmish near Darnestown, Va.; [...]