Historic Newspapers: Battle of Manassas

THE DAILY EXPRESS, Petersburg, Virginia, February 4, 1862 

* P.G.T. Beauregard official report
* Battle of Bull Run - Manassas

Certainly one of the less common titles from the Confederacy. Most of the front page is taken up with: "The War--Its Movements! Official Report of Gen. Beauregard Of The Battle of Manassas" which has tremendous detail. At the end it notes: "To be concluded to-morrow."
Page 22 has an editorial item headed "Gen. George B. Crittenden" which is supportive of him…

WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 24, 1861  

* 1st Battle of Bull Run - Manassas, Virginia
* 1st major land battle of the American Civil War

The front page begins with a lengthy editorial report on the Battle of Bull Run, the first notable battle of the Civil War. Also on the front page: "Civil War vs. Rebellion".
Reports inside include: "The Battle of Cheat River' "Iron-Clad Ships" "The War For the Union" "Current Events" and other items.
Eight pages, good…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 24, 1861 

* 1st Battle of Bull Run - Manassas, Virginia
* 1st major land battle of the Civil War (historic)

Most of the front page is taken up with excellent coverage and detail on the Battle of Bull Run with first column heads including: "THE GREAT REBELLION", "The Victory of Sunday & How it Was Lost", "Exaggerations of the First Reports Corrected", "The National Army Not Routed", "The Rebel Loss Estimated at 3000", "Shocking Barbarities Perpetrated by the…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 17, 1861  The front page has great coverage on the days just before the historic Battle of Bull Run, with first column heads: "THE GREAT REBELLION" Advance of the Grand Army under Gen. McDowell" "The Rebels at Fairfax & Manassas to be Overwhelmed" "Full Details of the Battle of Cartrick's Ford" "Measures for the Suppression of Southern Piracy" and more. War coverage continues inside as well.
Eight pages, nice condition.

Background: This July 17, 1861 issue of The New…

Here is a unique opportunity for a pair of issues--one Yankee and the other Confederate--of the identical date of July 22, 1861 both reporting on the First Battle of Bull Run, one from the New York Tribune and the other from the Confederate capital of Richmond, titled the Daily Dispatch, providing a perspective of how the news was reported with all the "spin" & biases that were rampant on both sides of the border. As you see, both sides claimed victory:

TRIBUNE:  The top of page 5 begins…

THE WORLD, New York, Sept. 19, 1861  Over half of the first column is taken up with heads including: "The Southern Rebellion" "Further Arrests of Maryland Secessionists" "40,000 Rebels Under General Johnston moving Along the Potomac" "Probable Removal of Gen. Fremont" "Serious Charges Against his Official Administration" "Lexington Invested by Gen. Price" "A Battle Impending in Kentucky" and more.
Eight pages, never bound nor trimmed (desired), foxing to an upper quadrant, mostly good…

DAILY DISPATCH, Richmond, Virginia, Aug. 21, 1861 

* From the Confederate capital

A nice newspaper from the capital of the Confederacy. Much of the front page is taken up with: "Finances Of Confederate Government" taking over 2 1/2 columns. Also on the ftpg: "The Call for Militia", "Hessian Deviltry at Harper's Ferry, Va." and "A Call Upon the Ladies of Richmond". The front page also has two illustrated runaway reward ads and many recruiting ads as well.
The war news continues on the…

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, Feb. 18, 1862 

* Fall of Fort Donelson: breaking news...
* End of the Provisional Southern Confederacy
* State join the Confederacy

Half of the front page is taken up with ads and notices, and half with news items including: "The Northern Congress--Amusing Picture of The War--A Yankee Congressman at Bull Run" and other items. But the most significant content is found on page 3, with a somewhat short--yet early--report on the fall of Fort Donelson,…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, September 4, 1862

* Battle of Bull Run # 2
* Manassas VA Virginia

  Near the lower right of the front page are two small one column wide Civil War maps showing the position of various troops at the 2nd battle of Bull Run (see). The balance of the front page is taken up with tremendous details of the battle with first column heads including: "THE WAR IN VIRGINIA" "Account of Gen. Kearney's Death" "The Battle On Monday Night" "Defeat of the Rebels in a Thunder-Storm"…

WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1861  

* Rebel president Jefferson Davis
* Battle of Bull Run - Manassas 

Although the title would suggest mostly religious content, there is also much reporting on the on-going Civil War.
From the beginning months of the Civil War, items include: "Davis's Report of the Battle" being the Battle of Bull Run. 
Reports inside include: "Enlistments & Re-enlistments" "Current Events" "The War For the Union" "Rebel Atrocities" and…

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, August 31, 1861 

* The Surrey eleven cricket team portrait
* Battle of Bull Run - Manassas (in America)

Inside has: "The Surrey Eleven" with a full page portrait of the cricket team.
Another full-page print has: "The Civil War In America: Engagement Between The 71st New York And An Alabama Regiment At The Battle Of Bull Run".
Other prints include: "Regatta at Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia" "General View of Sydney, New South Wales" and more.
Complete in…

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, Oct. 6, 1862 

* Rare Confederate publication from the capital 
* General Benjamin F. Butler order # 76  

Not just a nice Confederate newspaper, but from the capital of the Confederacy through which all important war news and reports flowed.
The front page includes: "From The Army of Northern Virginia" "The Military Exemption Act" with many subheads. Also: "Correspondence" which includes several (see photos), and: "Later From the North" "Latest News…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 3, 1904 Front page illustration "A Vision of November 8" by W. A. Rogers; A New Portrait of Mark Twain, Painted by the Italian Artist E. Gelli, to be Exhibited at the World's Fair at St. Louis; The End of the Racing Season at Saratoga--Snap-Shots of Scenes and Incidents; Secretary Taft, Members of the Philippine Commission, and Invited Guests, at the St. Louis Exposition on Philippine Day; The Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, From the Original Drawing in…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 7, 1861  The full front page has 2 prints of a: "View of Fort Warren Boston Harbor". Other prints inside include: "The Battle of Belmont--Charge of Colonel Dougherty, 22nd Illinois Regiment, Upon the Rebel Batteries" "The Battle at the Southwest Pass--The ram 'Manassas' Attacking the 'Richmond' " "...Retreat of the Rebel Flotilla" "The Post Office at Hilton Head, South Carolina" "Landing Stores at Hilton Head, South Carolina" "Our Picket at General Drayton's…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 17, 1861 

* Battle of Bull Run nears 
* General Irvin McDowell movements 
* Battle of Rich Mountain 

The front page has great coverage on the days just before the historic Battle of Bull Run, with first column heads: "THE GREAT REBELLION" Advance of the Grand Army under Gen. McDowell", "The Rebels at Fairfax & Manassas to be Overwhelmed", "Full Details of the Battle of Cartrick's Ford", "Measures for the Suppression of Southern Piracy" and more. War coverage…

THE WORLD, New York, Oct. 17, 1863  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "From Virginia" "Another Great Battle Near at Hand!" "Lee's Army at Manassas" "Gen. Meade's Forces in Readiness for an Attack" "Threatening Movement Toward Leesburg" "News From Chattanooga" "The Rebel Batteries Withdrawn from Lookout Mountain" "Bragg Driven from Missionary Ridge" and much more. More inside as well.
Eight pages, slightly irregular at the spine from disbinding, damp stain to a lower…

NEW YORK HERALD, June 13, 1865  Front page first column heads include: "Bull Run" "The Final Victory on the First Battle Field of the Rebellion" "The Dead Heroes of Manassas" "Interesting Ceremonies of Dedicating the Monuments Marking the Resting Place of Our Braves" "The Herald's Special Report of the Proceedings" "The Rush From Washington to the Battle Field" "Rev. Mr. Pierpont's Dedicatory Poem".
Fine coverage on the memorial dedications at the historic Bull Run battlefield.
Eight pages,…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 9, 1862  The entire front page is a print captioned: "The Late Martin Van Buren, Ex-President of the United States" who had died on July 24. An article on him appears inside.
Inside contains a nearly half page: "Charge of the Fifth Cavalry at the Battle of Friday, June 27" and half pg: "Kearney's Division Fighting in the Woods, Monday, June 30". Also a full page with 5 scenes: "The Army of Virginia--Scenes on the March" which include Thornton Gap,…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 22, 1863  The front page has prints of: "Residence of John Burns, At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania" and "John Burns, the Only Man in Gettysburg, Pa., Who Fought at the Battle".
A full page with 8 prints show: "Views of the Gettysburg Battle Field"; another full page has: "General View of Gettysburg, From the West" and "The Army of the Potomac--The Advance of the Twelfth Corps Crossing the Rappahannock".
A nice full page by Thomas Nast: "Army of the…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 24, 1904 Front page illustration "Defiance!" by W. A. Rogers; Leaders in the Political Campaign--Photographs of the Headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committee; The War Game at Manassas--Views of the Troops in Camp Taken by our Special Photographers; Russian Submarine Mines Removed by Japanese Soldiers From the Harbor at Newchwang After the Withdrawal of the Russian Forces From the City; A Remarkable Photograph of the Recent…

NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 30, 1861  Among the first column heads on the Civil War are: "The Rebellion Record" "The Department Being Purified of Traitors" "Rebel Post-Routes Cut Off" "Further Details of the Skirmishes in Virginia" "Affairs In Missouri" "News From the Rebels at Manassas" "They are Sick & Badly Supplied, but Eager for a Battle" and more.
Eight pages, nice condition.

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 13, 1862  The front page is taken up with a nearly full-figure print of "Major-General John Pope, Commanding the Army of Virginia" along with a biography of him.
Inside includes a full page with 2 prints of: "Manassas Junction...Scene of Several Recent Fights" which is the Second Battle of Bull Run; a full page with 3 prints of: "Gen. Pope's Hqts. at Rappahannock Station..." & "Skirmish at Freeman's Ford...Death of General Bohlen" & "Warrenton, Virginia,…

NEW YORK TIMES, July 4, 1861  Among the first column heads on the Civil War are: "The Engagement Near Martinsburgh" "Official Report of Maj.-Gen. Patterson" "10,000 Rebels Routed" "Preparations for the Advance Towards Manassas Junction" "Gen. Fremont to Command the Great Western Movement' & more.
Eight pages, minor rubbing at the central fold, mostly good condition.

Background: This historic eight-page Independence Day edition of The New York Times from July 4, 1861, serves as a remarkable time…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 20, 1863  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "Cavalry Engagement Near Manassas Junction" "Spirited Artillery Duel" "No Rebel Infantry Near Our Army" "Gen. Lee's Movements Unknown" "Official Report of Gen. Crook" "Rebel Accounts of the Late Battles" "Military Enthusiasm In Texas" "Engagement At Colliersville" and much more.
Eight pages, light library stamp at the center, nice condition.

 HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 10, 1861  The front page includes a print of "Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton". Inside has a full page: "Retreat of Our Troops from Bull Run, by Moonlight, Colonel Blenker's Brigade Covering" and a very dramatic full page: "Charge of the Black Horse Cavalry Upon the Fire Zouaves at the Battle of Bull Run"; a full page map: "...of the Seat of War In Virginia" and a full page: "Balloon View of Fortress Monroe & the Mouth of the Chesapeake", & yet another full page:…

DAILY COLUMBUS ENQUIRER, Georgia, Feb. 8, 1862 

* Very rare Confederate title
* General Stonewall Jackson - resigns?

Among the various reports inside is an interesting one: "The Richmond Whig is pained to hear that Gen. Jackson ('Stone Wall') has resigned his commission in the army, and says that 'in him the service loses one of the bravest of the brave--the idol of his soldiers, and the herald of victory.' The cause assigned is that he considers himself wronged by appointments to…

CINCINNATI DAILY GAZETTE, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1862  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War: "Important Army News" "The rebel Occupation of Manassas Junction" "McClellan Demanding that the Defenses of Washington Be Put in Good Order" "Exodus of Contrabands [slaves]" "Alarm In Washington" "How McClellan Gets the Command" "Our Alexandria Correspondence" "The War For the Union" & more.
Inside pages have much reporting on the war including: "Capture of Barboursville" and: "Great Battle at…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 29, 1862  The full front page shows: "A Thrilling Scene in East Tennessee --Colonel Fry and the Union Men Swearing by the Flag". Other prints inside include a dramatic fullpg: "The Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas--the Final Advance of Our Troops" and "Columbus, Kentucky, After the Rebel Evacuation" and "Fort Clinch, Fernandina, Florida Now Occupied by General Wright's Union Forces" and a full page: "Map of the Southern States Showing the Strategic Points & Their…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, June 15, 1861 

* Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
* Confederates evacuation 
* Prelude to Battle of Bull's Run

The format of this title at this time was advertisements on the front page with the wealth of Civil War reporting on inside pages. 
A feature of this issue is the nice & detailed back page map headed: "Harper's Ferry And The Region Round About." Column heads includes: "Harper's Ferry Evacuated" "The Rebels March Towards Manassas" "The War for the Union" "More…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 17, 1861  The front page shows: "The Wounded Zouave In the Hospital at Washington--The Hospital for the Wounded at Washington." Inside has individual prints of: "General McDowell" "General Mansfield" "Colonel Blair" and "Flag-Officer Stringham". Also a full page of: "A New Regiment of Mass. Volunteers Passing Faneuil Hall, Boston On Their Way to the War."
Other prints include: "Rescue of Col. Smith's Command at Monroe, Missouri, by Governor Wood of Illinois"…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, June 1, 1861  

* Battle of Aquia Creek Civil War map
* Union Navy gunboats vs. Confederate batteries
* One of the first battles of the war

The format of this title at this time was advertisements on the front page with the wealth of Civil War reporting on inside pages. 
The back page includes a Civil War map headed: "Acquia Creek and Its Environs" with a lengthy caption. Page 5 has columns heads including: "THE WAR FOR THE UNION" "Stampede of Slaves from Maryland &…

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, Feb. 4, 1862 

* Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky
* In a Confederate title

Not only a newspaper from the Confederate States, but from the capital of the Confederacy. Among the front page items are: "The Coin Of The Confederate States" "A Virginia Mother's Appeal To the Soldiers" which is stirring (see images). Also much reporting headed: "The Battle In Kentucky" "Interesting Account of the Battle" "Desperate Charge Of Our Forces" "Unparalleled Heroism &…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 13, 1861 The front page features: "Battle of Boonville, Missouri" and smaller illustrations of: "Brigadier-General Lyon, U.S.A." and "The late Captain Ward".
Inside prints include a full page: "The Cabinet at Washington" showing Abraham Lincoln and the others. Also featured is a full page Winslow Homer print: "Crew of U.S. Steam-Sloop Colorado"; a full page: "How Volunteers Are Treated in Philadelphia" showing four scenes; a full page: "A Slave Auction at the…

NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, March 13, 1862  

* The Monitor vs. the Merrimack
* Battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia
* Civil War map & print

Page 5 has a report with heads: "The Engagement in Hampton Roads" "The Rebel Official Report' "The Merrimac Badly Damaged" "Her Prow Shot Away" with the entire detailed report taking over a full column.
Plus, the back page has a nice diagram headed: "The Rebel Monster Merrimac" with descriptive text, as well as a map of the war headed: "Field Of…

RICHMOND ENQUIRER, Virginia, Sept. 18, 1862 

* Robert E. Lee proclamation to Marylanders 
* Prelude to the Battle of Antietam - Sharpsburg
* From the capital of the Confederacy 

The front page has: "General Lee's Proclamation To the People of Maryland" which presents his reasons for the Confederate army being in that state. Remember that the battle of Antietam was fought just the day before, although not reported in this issue.
There is a lengthy introductory document spewing much…