London, June 7, 1861 For after all that may be said, there is not and cannot be any assimilation of manners and social habits between Americans and English people. All intercourse with the aristocratic class is necessarily but formal. We are invited everywhere, and dine out almost every day, but this brings us no nearer. [...]
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. Cairo, June 9, 1861. I have been over to Bird’s Point this morning for the first time. They have thrown up breastworks and [...]
To The Hon. W. H. Seward, Washington, D. C. New York, June 6, 1861 My Dear Sir,–In your last kind letter, you requested me to inform you, from time to time, of the phases of public opinion in Europe, as they may come to my knowledge. I shall do so with pleasure, but hope that [...]
June 6th.–Davin! Have had a talk concerning him to-day with two opposite extremes of people. Mrs. Chesnut, my mother-in-law, praises everybody, good and bad. “Judge not,” she says. She is a philosopher; she would not give herself the pain to find fault. The Judge abuses everybody, and he does it so well– short, sharp, and [...]
JUNE 6th.—We have hard work at the War Department, and some confusion owing to the loss of a box of papers in transitu from Montgomery. I am not a betting man, but I would wager a trifle that the contents of the box are in the hands of some correspondent of the New York Herald [...]
June 6, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 The “Harriet Lane” engaged the Pig Point (Potomac) batteries. Captain Ball’s rebel cavalry, captured at Alexandria, sworn, and let go. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
JUNE 5th.—There are rumors of a fight down at Pig’s Point today; and it is said our battery has torn the farthingale of the Harriet Lane pretty extensively. The cannon was heard by persons not many miles east of the city. These are the mutterings of the storm. It will burst some of these days.
[ Private. ] Executive Mansion , June 5 , 1861. Lieutenant-General Scott. My dear Sir : Doubtless you begin to understand how disagreeable it is for me to do a thing arbitrarily when it is unsatisfactory to others associated with me. I very much wish to appoint Colonel Meigs quartermaster-general, and yet General Cameron does [...]
JUNE 4th.—The Secretary is still sick. Having nothing better to do, and seeing that eight-tenths of the letters received are merely applications for commissions in the regular army—an organization without men—and none being granted from civil life, I employed myself writing certain articles for the press, hoping by this means to relieve the Secretary of [...]
June 4, 1861 Delegates to the Second Wheeling Convention are selected.
To The Right Hon. Lord DUNFERMLINE, House of Lords, London. New York, June 3, 1861 My Dear Lord Dunfermline,–The friendly relations which have existed during several years between us, and which I shall always cherish among the bright recollections of my sojourn at the Hague, induce me to address you this letter, for which I [...]
JUNE 3d.—The Secretary arrived to-day, sick; and was accompanied by Major Tyler, himself unwell. And troops are beginning to arrive in considerable numbers. The precincts of the city will soon be a series of encampments. The regiments are drilled here, and these mostly forwarded to Manassas, where a battle must soon occur, if the enemy, [...]
Boston, June 3, 1861 The war affords them [of Quincy] some diversion for their thoughts and the clash of arms is heard even among the Quincy exempts, who hail John Captain. I drilled them the other evening and a funnier sight I don’t want to see. Imagine a line of pot-bellied, round-shouldered respectabilities of fifty [...]
June 3, 1861 Stephen A. Douglas dies from typhoid fever, Chicago, IL Battle of Philippi (also called the Philippi Races): Union forces rout Confederate troops in Barbour County, Virginia, now West Virginia. First land engagement of the Civil War between American and Confederate forces A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Battle of [...]
JUNE 2d.—My wife had a little gold among her straightened finances; and having occasion to purchase some article of dress, she obtained seven and a half per cent premium. The goods began to go up in price, as paper money fell in value. At Montgomery I bought a pair of fine French boots for $10 [...]
JUNE 1st.—In the absence of the Secretary, I arranged the furniture as well as could, and took possession of the five offices I had selected. But no business, of course, could be done before his arrival. Yet an immense mass of business was accumulating—letters by the hundreds were demanding attention. And I soon found, as [...]
June 1, 1861 The Battle of Fairfax Court House is fought. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Postal arrangements of Confederate States went into operation; United States post system suspended. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
MAY 31ST.—I arrived in Richmond about 1 o’clock P.M. The meeting with my family was a joyful scene. All were well. I lost no time in securing rooms for the department in the new custom-house. Mr. Giles had been employed in this business by the Congressional Committee, and I found him every way accommodating. I [...]
May 31, 1861 P. G. T. Beauregard ordered to assume command of the Alexandria Line. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Rebel batteries at Acquia Creek, Va., silenced by Union gun-boats after an action lasting two hours. Cavalry skirmish at Fairfax Court House, Wa. A Chronological History of the Civil War in [...]
MAY 29TH and 30TH.—The remainder of the journey was with-out interest, until we arrived at Wythville, Va, where it was discovered Gen. Floyd was in the cars. He was called out and made a speech in vindication of his conduct, at Washington, as Secretary of War, wherein he had caused the transfer of arms, etc. [...]
May 30, 1861 At a convention in Knoxville, a group of Unionists denounce Tennessee’s secessionist actions. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Grafton and Williamsport, Va., evacuated by the rebels. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
To The Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. New York, May 29, 1861 My Dear Sir,—I am extremely obliged to you for the very kind and flattering manner with which you speak of a letter of mine to Baron Rothschild, of which a copy had been handed to you by Mr. [...]
May 29, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 President Davis reached Richmond, the new seat of the Confederate Government. Federals advanced toward Harper’s Ferry; rebels retired toward Martinsburg, Va. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
To Baron LIONEL de ROTHSCHILD, M.P., London. New York, May 28 Dear Baron,—Since my letter by the Africa steamer we have received the proclamation of the Queen, commanding a strict neutrality to her subjects in the struggle in which the government of the United States is now engaged against a portion of its citizens, now [...]
MAY 28TH.—Little or no business was done this day. The Secretary announced that no more communications would be considered by him in Montgomery. He placed in my charge a great many unopened letters, and a special list of candidates for of?ce, with annotations. These I packed in my trunk. As I was to precede the [...]