August 6, 1861 First Confiscation Act or The Confiscation Act of 1861 allows federals to seize property used in the insurrection, essentially freeing slaves forced to participate in the Confederate war effort. Second Session of the Second Wheeling Convention is called to order Lt. Bull Nelson of the U. S. Navy is ordered to build [...]
August 5th.–A heavy, heavy heart. Another missive from Jordan, querulous and fault-finding; things are all wrong–Beauregard’s Jordan had been crossed, not the stream “in Canaan’s fair and happy land, where our possessions lie.” They seem to feel that the war is over here, except the President and Mr. Barnwell; above all that foreboding friend of [...]
AUGUST 5th.—Col. Bledsoe has a job directly from the President: which is to adapt the volume of U. S. Army Regulations to the service of the Confederate States. It is only to strike out U. S. and insert C. S., and yet the colonel groans over it.
London, August 5, 1861 We received yesterday the news of our defeat at Bull’s Run, and today your letter and John’s with some papers have arrived. Though I do not see that this check necessarily involves all the serious consequences that you draw from it, I am still sufficiently impressed by it to decide me [...]
August 5, 1861 In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levies the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US$800; rescinded in 1872). The United States Army abolishes flogging. Abraham Lincoln approves a wide variety of bills passed during a [...]
AUGUST 4th.—To-day Mr. Walker inquired where my son Custis was. I told him he was with his mother at Newbern, N. C. He authorized me to telegraph him to return, and he should be appointed to a clerkship.
August 4, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Skirmish at Point of Rocks, Va. Rebels routed at Athens, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
AUGUST 3d.—Conversed with some Yankees to-day who are to be released to-morrow. It appears that when young Lamar lost his horse on the plains of Manassas, the 4th Alabama Regiment had to fall back a few hundred yards, and it was impossible to bear Col. Jones, wounded, from the field, as he was large and [...]
August 3, 1861 Off the coast of Virginia, a Union naval officer ascends in a tethered balloon to look at Confederate-controlled Hampton Roads. It is the first balloon ascent from a ship in naval history A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 U. S. blockading ?eet threw a few shells into Galveston, Tex.; [...]
August 2d.–Prince Jerome ¹ has gone to Washington. Now the Yankees so far are as little trained as we are; raw troops are they as yet. Suppose France takes the other side and we have to meet disciplined and armed men, soldiers who understand war, Frenchmen, with all the élan we boast of. Ransom Calhoun, [...]
AUGUST 2d.—After some brilliant and successful fights, we have a dispatch to-day stating that Gen. Wise has fallen back in Western Virginia, obeying peremptory orders.
Cairo, August 2, 1861. Hot! You don’t know what that word means. I feel that I have always been ignorant of its true meaning till this week, but am posted now, sure. The (supposed-to-be) “never failing cool, delicious breeze” that I have talked about so much, seems to be at “parade rest” now and—I can’t [...]
August 2, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 War-Tax and Tarif bill passed Congress—500,000 men and $500,000,000 to be raised. Battle of Dug Spring, Mo. (Lyon v. McCulloch.) Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, traitorously surrendered, with 750 men, by Major Lynde. Rebel vessels and stores destroyed in Pocomoke Sound. A Chronological History [...]
August 1st.–Mrs. Wigfall, with the “Lone Star” flag in her carriage, called for me. We drove to the fair grounds. Mrs. Davis’s landau, with her spanking bays, rolled along in front of us. The fair grounds are as covered with tents, soldiers, etc., as ever. As one regiment moves off to the army, a fresh [...]
AUGUST 1st.—Col. Bledsoe again threatens to resign, and again declares he will get the President to appoint me to his place. It would not suit me.
August 1, 1861 Tennessee votes to adopt the Constitution of the Confederate States of America A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Gen. McClellan began the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac. Rebels left Harper’s Ferry and fell back on Leesburg. C. S. privateer “Petrel” sunk by the “St. Lawrence”—crew captured. A [...]
July 31, 1861 11 Union officers are submitted to Congress to be promoted to brigadier general. Includes William B. Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant, Samuel Heintzelman, Joseph Hooker, William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Missouri State Convention elected Hamilton R. Gamble Governor, Willard P. Hall Lieutenant Governor, [...]
JULY 30th.—Nothing of importance to-day.
July 30, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Missouri State Convention declared vacant the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Secretary of State, by a vote of 56 to 25. The seats of the members of the Legislature were also declared vacant. The State officers and a majority of the Legislature were [...]
July 29, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Robert Toombs, of Georgia, resigned his position as C. S. Secretary of State, and was succeeded by Robert M. T. Hunter,of Virginia. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
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
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
July 26, 1861 George McClellan appointed commander, Army of the Potomac, replacing Irvin McDowell. Some sources give the date as July 27, the day he received the orders. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Union troops drove out the rebels and occupied Forsyth, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in [...]
JULY 25th.—Bartow’s body has arrived, and lies in state at the Capitol. Among the chief mourners was his young friend Barton, who loved him as a son loves his father. From Lamar I learned some interesting particulars of the battle. He said when Bartow’s horse was killed, he, Lamar, was sent to another part of [...]
July 25, 1861 With his troops’ enlistment expiring, Robert Patterson is relieved of duty in the Shenandoah Valley. He had failed to hold Joseph Johnston in Winchester to prevent Johnston from moving east to support Beauregard at Bull Run. The United States Congress passes the Crittenden–Johnson Resolution, stating that the war is being fought to [...]