Historic Newspapers: Battles of the Civil War

NEW HAMPSHIRE JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, Manchester, 1861  The title reflects the theme of this issue, being primarily a farming-related newspaper with agricultural concerns taking much of the front… more

NEW HAMPSHIRE JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, Manchester, 1861  The title reflects the theme of this issue, being primarily a farming-related newspaper with agricultural concerns taking much of the front… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 12, 1861  Much of front page is taken up with a print of: "Major Anderson, U.S.A., Commanding At Ft. Sumter" with a biography of him. Also in this issue is a dramatic… more

THE PALMETTO FLAG, Philadelphia, March 30, 1861 

* Very rare pre-Confederate Northern publication
* Pro Southern secession - Civil War about to start

An exceedingly rare newspaper as only… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 30, 1861  The full front page is a print titled: "April Fool's Day In New York, Opposite the Astor House". Inside has a page with prints of New Orleans: "View In… more

THE CHARLESTON MERCURY, South Carolina, April 13, 1861  

* Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor
* Best publication to be had ? - very rare as such

When it comes to collecting historic events… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 20, 1861  The front page shows: "Hon. Charles F. Adams, U.S. Minister to England" as well as a view of: "The Confederate Batteries Opposite Fort Pickens, Florida".… more

NEW YORK HERALD, April 28, 1861  

* Near the start of the Civil War
* Maryland & Pennsylvania map
* Troops forming for battle 

The front page features a nice map titled: "THE SEAT OF WAR" showing… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 4, 1861  The full front page is taken up with a famous print: "The House-Tops in Charleston During the Bombardment of Sumter" showing men & women viewing the battle in… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 11, 1861  The front page has prints of: "Colonel Ellsworth of the Fire Zouaves" and "Colonel Wilson of Wilson's Brigade" with related text.
Inside has many… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 25, 1861  The full front page is a dramatic print: 'Willard's Hotel, Washington, Saved by the N.Y. Fire Zouaves' showing fireman battling the blaze.
Other prints… more

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1861  

* American Civil War era 

Much front page reporting on the Civil War including: "Death of Col. Ellsworth" "News From Baltimore"… more

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… more

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… more

NEW YORK TIMES, June 20, 1861  

* Battle of Boonville, Missouri

Among the front page column heads on the Civil War: "HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS" "The Particulars of the Battle of Booneville, Mo." "Utter… more

THE NEW YORK HERALD, June 21, 1861

* Piedmont, West Virginia
* Savannah, Missouri 
* Early in the Civil War

This genuine newspaper has a wealth of Civil War reporting from during Abraham… more

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, June 22, 1861  

* Very nice full front page map of Virginia 
* Early months of the American Civil War

The entire front page is taken up with a huge Civil War map,… more

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 27, 1861  Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: "THE GREAT REVOLT" "Conflicts With the Rebels" "The United States Forces Victorious" "General Scott's… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 29, 1861  The entire front page is taken up with a Winslow Homer print titled: "The War--Marking Havelocks For the Volunteers". Among the full page prints inside are:… more

STEAMER BULLETIN--FOR THE ATLANTIC STATES AND EUROPE, San Francisco, California, July 1, 1861

* Rare steamship - steamer publication 
* First year of the American Civil War

"Steamer editions"… more

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… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 6, 1861  The full front page is a print: "Constituent Convention of Virginia Assembled in the Custom House at Wheeling, Ohio Co." Among the full page prints within… more

THE WORLD, New York, July 12, 1861 

* Battle of Laurel Hill - West Virginia
* Battle of Carthage, Missouri

Among the front page  column heads on the Civil War are: "The Southern Rebellion" "A Battle in… more

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, July 13, 1861  The format of this title at this time was advertisements on the front page with the wealth of Civil War reporting on inside pages. 

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… more

NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED NEWS, July 15, 1861  Formatted much like the popular Harper's Weekly, but a much scarcer title.
The full front page shows: "Capture of a Picket After Heroically Defending Himself… more

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… more

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… more

NEW YORK TIMES, July 19, 1861 

* Battle of Bull Run prelude
* Manassas VA Virginia

The front page has some great column heads on the Civil War including some just preceding the historic Battle of Bull… more

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… more

NEW YORK TIMES, July 22, 1861  This would be the premiere report on the Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the Civil War and reported just one day after it happened. Plus, reported on… more

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… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 27, 1861  The front page is taken up with prints of "General Prentis" "Brigadier-General Williams" and a scene of: "Departure of General Lyon & His Command from… more

NEW YORK TEIMES, July 28, 1861  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War: "THE GREAT REBELLION" "No Military Movements at Washington" "Gen. McClelland Preparing to Take Command" "Strength… more

The DAILY PROGRESS, New Bern, North Carolina, Aug. 2, 1861 

* Very rare Confederate publication

This is a single sheet newspaper with just a one column masthead, not uncommon from the Confederacy… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 3, 1861  The front page features two prints on the Civil War, captioned: "The Death of the Rebel General Garnett, at the Battle of Laurel Hill" and "Bringing in the… more

STOCKTON DAILY INDEPENDENT, Stockton, California, Aug. 5, 1861

* Battle of Bull Run
* Civil War

Page 2 has a lengthy editorial: "The Late Battle--It's Moral Effects" which is nearly a column.… more

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,… more

THE NEW YORK HERALD, Aug. 9, 1861 

* Battle of Athens MO Missouri
* Post Bull Run casualties

Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: "THE REBELLION" "The Rebels Throwing… more

 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… more

THE WORLD, New York, Aug. 17, 1861  

* Abraham Lincoln presidential proclamation (86)
* "Prohibiting Commercial Trade with States in Rebellion"

Among the first column heads on the Civil War… 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:… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY dated August 17. 1861 (print only)

This is a single-page print. The page contains two engravings entitled "A Fire Zouave Relating His Experience of the Battle of Bull Run in the… more

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… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 24, 1861  Half of front page shows: "Presentation of Prince Napoleon by Secretary Seward to the President", which shows Abraham Lincoln. Other prints within include a… more

THE NEW YORK HERALD, August 28, 1861 

* Battle of Kessler's Cross Lanes 

Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: "THE REBELLION", "Important From the Upper Potomac",… more

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… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Aug. 31, 1861 Nice full front page print of: "General Lyons At the Battle of Springfield" showing him on horseback. Full pg: "Lt. General Scott & the Major Generals of the… more

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… more