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June 21, 1861: New York Herald

Transcript: (excerpt)

Page 1, Upper Half

Important From Harper’s Ferry

REOCCUPATION OF HARPER’S FERRY BY THE REBELS – NINETEEN UNION CITIZENS KILLED.

Hagerstown, Md., June 20, 1861.

Captain Cook, well known for his distinguished services as Commander of the Home Guards of Sharpsburg, arrived here this evening. He reports that the Virginia pickets have reappeared at various points along the Potomac. Sixty appeared at Harper’s Ferry this morning to arrest the Union men who had returned. At twelve o’clock to-day a company of cavalry appeared. The citizens crossed the river in boats, swam, or any other available mode of escape. They fires upon the citizens, and nineteen were killed and wounded. Many had their clothing pierced with bullets. Yesterday the people, at two o’clock above Harper’s Ferry, raised a Union flag. The Confederate fired upon it. Part of Captain Cook’s company have gone to Harper’s Ferry to assist such citizens as would go to defend the flag. Fifteen Confederate pickets appeared to-day at dam No. 4.

Citation: New York Herald. 21 June 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .N56792

June 29, 1861: Robert Armstrong to Anne Warner Armstrong

Anne and Robert Armstrong lived in Shelbyville, Tennessee, but at the outset of the war Anne and their children went to Pittsburgh to stay with her parents, Henry and Mary Warner. Anne was the great-aunt of the poet Marianne Moore and these letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript (excerpt):

Shelbyville June 29^th 1861

Saturday Evening

My dearest Annie

I am sorry to say I did not get a letter from you for over two weeks. I have written you a good many both by mail and Express and I do think that if you had been prompt in answering them, I would have had several from you. it nearly kills me to think I cannot hear from you for such a length of time. for you cannot imagine how many things I think have happened to you. I have now arranged a system of correspondence with you which although it will be slower is sure. it is as follows.—I write to you addressing in full on a U.S. stamped envelope. I enclose in it one without stamp paying 5c for Southern passage to Wm. S. Eakins & Co Nashville. They send it with other letters from their friends, to—Gavin Bell & Co—Louisville and they drop it in the Louisville P.O. whence it goes to you, now what you are to do in writing to me is as follows.

You are to enclose it in an envelope—without stamps—as it would be of no use here—directed to me in full. H.A. Shelbyville Tenns, then Enclose U.S. Stamped envelope, Gavin Bell & Co Louisville, Kenky, and they will send it to Wm S. Eakins & Co Nashville, who will send it to me. I write these things in full so that you may understand them and this letter will be principally to give you directions and I am sure from what I know of your affection for me that you will be glad of the opportunity to write to me. be sure as soon as the U.S. new stamps are issued to send some of them to me as it would be very inconvenient to send many to Louisville to pay postage from there to you.

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I this day unexpectedly received your letter and by its reception I see the mail is open to you. I feel it is very hard that you have not written to me since June 11^th although you ought to have written to me oftener. It is really a disgrace to you, for your spelling and writing I could hardly make it out, nevertheless I am very glad to have it. although it was written in such haste and carelessness it seems to me as if you disliked to commence it. I handed the enclosure to Archie, he did not read it at the time but put it in his pocket, he read it afterwards however and opened a letter he had written to Charlotte to add something to it. I am truly glad to hear Henry and Bidy are well and ever more so to find you are well and you know I would rather have you than houses, lands, or even children. I would be perfectly willing, God knows, to lose all of it just to save you. Your kind letter is very affectionate more so than you ever wrote to me “My Beloved” made me cry very much, and the rest of the letters, when I do get one from you I always go up stairs to the side of my bed and pray before I hope it that you are all well, then I open and cry over it, often when I am in Church and without seeing you I Can hardly help from crying. as to missing you my dearest only love, how could I help it. I am such a fool as to cry about you every day of my life. I cannot help it when I am in private, when I think of your goodness to me undeserving as I was of such an angel. for surely if ever an angel was permitted to be marked to man, I was the happy possessor. I say this dearest in all reverence, but how can I help expressing myself in that way when I have such a longing doting fond reverence for you. in fact it almost amounts to Idolatry. you thought I let you go with indifference, but God knows it was like separating my body. but as I knew it was my duty to you and the children I sacrificed myself to that end. and I have been often glad since that I did do so when I see the state of the country. I did not see the lane as you call it until the other evening when I was going to Mr Allens. The congregational meetings are like doct Howards although there is more feeling. The rest will be at Judge Davidsons on Thursday next. Communion will be on this day two weeks. Write to me once every week for you know how anxious I am to hear from you. I am sorry I criticized your letter so hard at the beginning of this but dearest I take it all back. Remember me to the children and Father & Mother and above all things take good care of your health. Aunt Culy got one of the [illeg.] and the others are up stairs here. I told you long since that I paid Harry, and that all the Cummings and Dimean Jeff were here. Cummings has been trying to get up a Company but did not succeed. Our cavalry are going to celebrate the 4^th of July by a parade and Picnic, on that day, it is so warm I can hardly write, but I do the best I can. I often read where we read together in the Bible. I am sorry you have lost another of your old Beaus, but I suppose the Doctor was the greatest loss to you. I am very glad you feel so sorry at being sorry after me. I love you, more since those things things you told me before you left. Mr Allen gives a short address at the meetings, now dearest farewell

Your ever affect Husband

Robt. Armstrong

Citation: Robert Armstrong, autograph letter signed to Anne Armstrong. Shelbyville, Tenn; 29 June 1861. Moore VI:04:19

June 19, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

John Henry Brown was a painter of portrait miniatures, living and working in Philadelphia. He had met Lincoln in August of 1860 when he was commissioned to paint Lincoln’s portrait for a supporter, but although Brown liked Lincoln personally, he did not agree with Republican policies.

Transcript:

Commenced Mrs Reads picture.

The accounts of the engagement at Vienna are conflicting.

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1

June 19, 1861: Philadelphia Inquirer

Transcript (excerpt):

Official Account of the Engagement

The following dispatch was received at a late hour last night:-

(By Telegram from the Military Camp.)

“To Lieut Gen. Scott:-We left camp with six hundred and sixty-eight, rank and file; twenty-nine field and company officers; in pursuance of Gen. McDowell’s orders to go upon this expedition, with the available force of one of my regiments. The regiment selected selected being the First Ohio volunteers. We left companies I and K, with an aggregate of one hundred and thirty-five men at the crossing of the road. Lieutenant Colonel Parrot, with two companies of one hundred and seventeen men, to go to Falls Church, and to patrol the roads in that direction. Stationed two companies (D and F, one hundred and thirty-five men,) to guard the railroad and bridge between the crossing and Vienna. We proceeded slowly to Vienna with four companies; Company E. Captain Paddock; Company C, Lieutenant Woodward, afterwards joined by Captain Pease, by Company G, Captain Bailey, Company H, Captain Hazlett, being a total of two hundred and seventy-five men.

“On turning the curve slowly within a quarter of a mile of Vienna we were fired upon by raking, marked batteries of, I think, three guns, with shell, round shot and grape, killing and wounding the men on the platform and in the cars before the train could be stopped.”…

“…The approach to Vienna is through a deep, long cut in the railway. In leaving the cars and before they could rally, many of my men lost haversacks and blankets, but brought off all their muskets, except, it may be, a few that were destroyed by the enemy’s first fire, or lost with the killed.”

Robert C. Schenck

“Brigadier General”

Citation: The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, 19 June 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .P5546

June 18, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

Transcript:

Had a Daguerre taken of Mrs Read.

News of an attack on some Ohio soldiers, by the Confederates, from a masked battery, at Vienna, Va, ten or twelve of our men were killed & a number wounded.

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1

June 16, 1861: Proclamation by P.G.T. Beauregard

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a Louisiana-born general of the Confederate States Army. He had graduated second in his class from West Point in 1838 and was an admirer of Napoleon. He achieved fame early in the Civil War for commanding the Fort Sumter bombardment and as the victor of the first battle of Manassas. He later served in the Western Theater (including Shiloh and Corinth), Charleston, and the defense of Richmond, but his career was hampered by friction with Jefferson Davis and other generals.

This proclamation is dated June 1861

Transcript:

A Proclamation

To the good people of the Counties of Alexandria, Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William

A reckless and unprincipled tyrant has invaded your soil. Abraham Lincoln regardless of all moral, legal and constitutional restraints has thrown his abolition hosts among you, who are murdering and imprisoning your citizens- confiscating and destroying your property and committing other acts of violence and outrage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be enumerated. All rules of civilized warfare are abandoned and they proclaim their acts, if not on their banners, that their war cry is “Beauty and Booty.” All that is dear to man- your honour and that of your wives and daughters- your fortunes and your lives are involved in this momentous contest.

In the name therefore of the constituted authorities of the Confederate States- in the sacred cause of Constitutional Liberty and Self Government for which we are contending- in behalf of civilization and humanity itself- I, G. T. Beauregard Brigadier General of the Confederate States commanding at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, do make this my Proclamation, and invite and enjoin you by every consideration dear to the hearts of freemen and patriots- by the name and memory of your Revolutionary fathers and by the purity and sanctity of your domestic firesides- to rally to the standards of your State and country and by every means in your power, compatible with honourable warfare, to drive back and expel the invaders from your land. I conjure you to be true and loyal to your country and her legal, constitutional authorities and especially to be vigilant of the movements and acts of the enemy so as to enable you to give the earliest authentic information to these Head Quarters or to the officers under my command. I desire to assure you that the utmost protection in my power will be extended to you all.

G. T. Beauregard

Brig. Genl. Comdg.

Citation: G. T. (Gustave Toutant) Beauregard (1818-1893) Proclamation: manuscript signed. Manassas Junction, [June, no day], 1861. AMs 356/6

June 15, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

Transcript:

At Mrs Shippens picture, finished it.

The Confederate troops have evacuated Harpers ferry. Mrs Judge Read has consented to sit for her picture.

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1

June 14, 1861: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper Half

Special Dispatch to the Inquirer.

The Flight at Great Bethel.

Washington, June 13, 1861 – The flight at Great Bethel is still the general theme of conversation among regular Army officers. They attribute the unfortunate occurrence to the want of experienced officers and depending on negroes for guides.

The Department are under the impression that General Butler will not make a movement to take the Rebel batteries until he is fully prepared to capture them, which he is certain to do when he makes the attempt.

Citation: The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, 14 February 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .P5546

June 13, 1861: Jefferson Davis to P.G.T. Beauregard

Transcript:

My dear General,

Colonel Jones delivered to me your letter of the 12^th inst. and as suggested by you I conversed with him of the matters to which it stated.

Your information may be more accurate than we possess in relation to the purpose of the enemy and I will briefly reply to you upon the hypothesis which forms the basis of your suggestions.

If the enemy commence operations by attack upon Harper’s Ferry I do not perceive why Genl Johnston should be unable even before overwhelming numbers to retire behind the positions where the enemy would approach him in reverse. It would seem to me not unreasonable to expect that before he reached Winchester, the terminus of the Rail Road in his possession, the people of the fertile & populous valley would rise in mass to aid him in expelling the invader: but suppose it should be otherwise, he could still by retiring to the passes on the Manassas Rail Road & its adjacent mountains probably check the progress of the enemy and prevent him from either taking possession of the valley, or passing to the rear of your position. We hope soon to reinforce you to an extent equal to the strength you require by the junction of Genl Johnston & I cannot doubt but that you will agree with me that you would then be better circumstanced to advance upon Alexandria then if Genl Johnston by withdrawing from the valley had left the enemy the power to pass to your rear to cut your line of communication and advance to attack you in reverse, whilst you were engaged with the enemy in front.

Concurring fully with you in the effect which would be produced by the possession of Arlington Heights & Alexandria if your rear is at the same time sufficiently covered, it is quite clear that if the case should be otherwise your possession, if acquired would be both brief and fruitless.

To your request that a concerted plan of operations should be adopted I can only reply that the present position & unknown purposes of the enemy require that our plans should have many alterations. I have noted your converging lines upon Richmond and it can hardly be necessary to remind you that we have not at this time the transportation which would enable us to move upon those lines as described. Should the fortune of War render it necessary to retire our advance columns they must be brought mainly upon Rail Road and that of Harpers Ferry would come by your present position. It would therefore be a necessity that Genl Johnstons column should make a junction with yours before yours retire: but I have not anticipated the necessity of your retreat and have struggled rather to increase your forces, and look hopefully forward to see you enabled to assume the offensive. Had I been less earnestly engaged in providing for yours and other command I should have had the pleasure of visiting you before this date.

Two regiments have been sent forward neither of which had reached you at the date of your letter: and you will soon receive further reinforcements. They are not trained troops, but I think they are better than those of the enemy, & the capacity of which you have recently exhibited successfully to fight with and under experienced citizens, justifies the expectation that you will know how to use such forces as we are able to furnish

Very truly yours

Jeffers. Davis

Citation: Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), letter signed to G.T. Beauregard. Richmond, 13 June 1861. AMs 356/25.2

June 12, 1861: P.G.T. Beauregard to Jefferson Davis

Transcript:

Head Quarters Manassa. Dept. Va.

Camp Pickens June 12^th 1861

To his Excellency

President Jeff Davis

Sir:

The Bearer Lt. Col. Sam. Jones of the Prov.l Army of Va, a member of my General Staff, has been instructed by me to lay before your Excellency a diagram with my views relative to the operations of the present campaign in this State, which should be acted upon at once. The enemy seem to be taking the offensive towards Harper’s Ferry, and a few days hence may find Genl. J. E. Johnston in such a critical condition as to render it impossible to relieve him; if he were ordered to abandon forthwith his present position and concentrate suddenly his forces with mine, guarding with small detachments all the passes through which the Enemy might follow him, we could, by a bold and rapid movement forward, retake Arlington Heights and Alexandria (if not too strongly fortified and garrisoned) which would have the effect of recalling all the enemy’s forces from Northern Va. For the protection of Washington.

But should Genl. Johnston be unable to unite his forces with mine, then he ought to be instructed to retreat at the proper time towards Richmond through the Valley of Virginia, checking the enemy whenever and wherever he can; when compelled to abandon my present position, I will fall back also on Richmond; the forces along the lower Potomac, on the Peninsula and at Norfolk may have to do likewise; then acting on interior lines from Richmond as a centre (our forces being increased by the reserves at that point), we could crush, in rapid succession and in detail, the several columns of the enemy, which, I have supposed, would move on three or four different lines. With 35,000 men properly handled, I have not the least doubt that we would annihilate 50,000 of the Enemy. I beg and entreat that a concerted plan of operations be adopted at once by the Government for its different columns; otherwise, we will be assailable in detail by superior forces, and will be cut off or destroyed entirely.

Lt. Col. Jones will present my views more in detail to your Excellency

(Signed) G. T. Beauregard

Brig. Genl Comdg.

Citation: G. T. (Gustave Toutant) Beauregard (1818-1893), letter [draft] to Jefferson Davis. Manassas, 12 June 1861.AMs 356/25.1