April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the makeshift flagstaff at Fort Sumter

Osborn stamp on verso. View of the makeshift flagstaff at Fort Sumter with the sally-port and damaged officers' quarters in the background.

GLC04509.33

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the main sally-port into Fort Sumter.

Osborn stamp on verso. View of the main sally-port into Fort Sumter, taken from outside the fort.

GLC04509.34

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the damage to the western barracks at Fort Moultrie.

Osborn imprint on verso. View of the damage to the western barracks at Fort Moultrie.

GLC04509.35

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of Confederate soldiers posing with captured guns at Fort Sumter.

Osborn stamp on verso. View of Confederate soldiers posing with captured guns at Fort Sumter. Stair tower is visible in the background.

GLC04509.36

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of the shot furnace inside Fort Sumter, which sits below the flagstaff.

Oval pastoral scene of three girls pasted on verso. View of the shot furnace inside Fort Sumter, which sits below the flagstaff. The top of the flagstaff, where the Confederate flag now flies, has been cut off in this photograph.

GLC04509.37

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: interior of Fort Sumter's casemate .

Oval scene of a river valley pasted on verso. Purported to be the only known photograph of the interior of Fort Sumter's casemate, this view shows a row of guns mounted beneath brick archways.

GLC04509.38

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of damage on the interior of Fort Sumter .

Osborn imprint on verso. View of damage on the interior of Fort Sumter by the Iron Clad Battery.

GLC04509.39

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of five Confederate soldiers gathered in the sally-port of Fort Sumter.

Osborn stamp on verso. View of five Confederate soldiers gathered in the sally-port of Fort Sumter.

GLC04509.40

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of southwest side of Fort Sumter

Oval scene of a river valley pasted on verso. View of southwest side of Fort Sumter showing the now-demolished officers' quarters and a row of unmounted cannon barrels.

GLC04509.41

April 1861

Osborn's Gallery

Photograph

Title: View of Fort Sumter's rear parapet .

Oval bust portrait [lithograph?] of a young woman pasted on verso. View of Fort Sumter's rear parapet showing a dismounted gun and a sandbag traverse.

GLC04509.42

13 April 1861

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: New York times. [Vol. X, no. 2983 (April 13, 1861)]

The headline announces the firing on Fort Sumter by Confederate Troops, the beginning of the Civil War. Though the South had already seceded, physical confrontation did not begin until the fort was fired on. The paper reports in detail the events that occurred in South Carolina, and the reaction in Washington to these events. At this time most daily newspapers did not print Sunday editions, and since this was a Saturday there was no paper printed on the following day. However the demand for news of the war was so great that on the Times printed its first Sunday edition the very next week.…

GLC04661.06

February 7, 1861

Bennett, James Gordon, 1795-1872

Newspaper

Title: New York herald. [No. 8917 (February 7, 1861)]

Includes a report that the United States government refuses to comply with the propositions of South Carolina for the surrender of Fort Sumter. Reports on the recent secession of Texas from the Union. Discusses the proceedings of the Washington Peace Congress, called to enact a "speedy settlement of the political differences now distracting this country." Describes the activities of President-elect Abraham Lincoln in detail as he travels through the Midwest.

GLC08726.10

1815-1860

Object

Title: [fern leaves in wooden frame]

Fern leaves in small, thin, handmade wooden frame with cardboard backing. Inscription on verso: "Ferns from the Boquet [sic] on the Flag Staff upon which was raised the National Flag at Ft. Sumpter [sic] at the close of the Civil War in April, 1865."

GLC05136.54

February 26, 1861

Selfridge, T. O. (Thomas Oliver), 1836-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew H. Foote

Selfridge, a commander in the U.S. Navy, writes to Captain Foote to inquire about when supply ships will leave New York, and about Foote's activities outfitting ships for that purpose. Explains how the rebellion breaking out informed him that the country had "many bad men" and comments that "bribery & corruption are our most prominent national sins." Rear Admiral Selfridge commanded the "Mississippi" in 1862.

GLC05059

February 27, 1861

Yancey, William L., 1814-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Pickens

Writes that South Carolina should not attack Fort Sumter without the orders of the Confederacy, since such an action would lead to confusion and panic. "I have been informed...that the troops in Charleston Harbor will assault Fort Sumpter within a day or two...South Carolina if prepared should have done so when the whole matter was under her control. Now that the responsibility has been transferred or taken by the Confederate States...if the Fort shall be assaulted without order of the Executive of the Confederate States, it will produce a confusion, an excitement, an indignation and…

GLC07087

18 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes orders to march, countermarch and counter-countermarch. Says half the regiment is sick although he is healthy and that the monitors have begun attacking Forts Sumter and Wagner.

GLC04558.111

24 August 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Expects to receive order the next day; writes that he has a good view of operations and artillery; says Fort Sumter "is sometimes completely enveloped in a cloud of brick dust[,] smoke, and spray, from our balls and shells." Describes other operations; health of regiment.

GLC04558.112

13 September 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received letter; sends $30. Recovered health and back on duty. Rumors of capture of Fort Sumter, and complete capture of Bragg's army by Rosecrans and Burnside. Relates news that he hopes to be discharged April 1, 1864 with the other 3-year troops.

GLC04558.114

10 May 1861

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Letter signed

Title: to Virgil Hickox

Douglas, serving as a Democratic United States Senator from Illinois, responds to a letter from Hickox, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee (refer to GLC05621.01). States " ... war is being waged against the United States with the avowed purpose of producing a permanent disruption of the Union and a total destruction of its government ... All hope of compromise with the Cotton States was abandoned when they assumed the position that the separation of the Union was complete and final ..." Discusses the first Civil War battle at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, 12-13 April 1861. Cites…

GLC05621.02

1861

Mixter, Calvin Symmes, 1832-?

Diary

Title: [Civil War diary of Calvin S. Mixter]

Signed diary including printed almanac and eclipse calendar in the opening pages. Mixter writes from various locations. Relates the events of 1861, spending most of his time divided between his home in Hanson, Massachusetts, and his workplace in Boston. Reports political affairs, discussing the secession question with colleagues, and holding a Union meeting. Writes to various governmental officials, including Judge John J. Crittenden, but does not discuss the content of the letters. Reports moving to Boston. Records hearing of the attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, 13 April,…

GLC06583.01

29 March 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Cameron

Orders Secretary of War Cameron to send a naval expedition to resupply Fort Sumter. Indicates that specific instructions were in an attached memorandum (not included) and instructs Cameron to cooperate with Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles.

GLC08093

25 April 1861

Nixon, J.O., fl. 1861

Newspaper

Title: New Orleans daily crescent. [Vol. 14, no. 45 (April 25, 1861)]

Published at 70 Camp Street. Front page is filled with military notices and advertisements for men to volunteer for various units. Copy of Robert Anderson's dispatch to Secretary of War Simon Cameron after the fall of Fort Sumter. Telegraphed updates from throughout the country, including one blurb referring to Northern troops as abolitionists: "Abolition Troops at Cairo." Reprint of report from "Charleston Mercury" that describes how the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was received by abolitionists in Washington D.C. Several slave advertisements.

GLC05960.02.12

18 April 1861

Nixon, J.O., fl. 1861

Newspaper

Title: New Orleans daily crescent. [Vol. 14, no. 39 (April 18, 1861)]

Published at 70 Camp Street. Published 6 days after the start of the war. Issue filled with military news, including troops movements. Contains "Full Particulars" of the "First Day's Bombardment of Fort Sumter." Update on the Virginia state convention of secession. Includes news of Confederate policies from Montgomery. Page 2 article on European machinations in Mexico. Page 4 article says "every true Southerner" is subscribing to a loan for the defense of the Confederacy, causing an uptick in the Confederate markets. Page 4 blurb says "Mr. Lincoln's cabinet are very anxious to keep up…

GLC05960.02.08

22 April 1861

Nixon, J.O., fl. 1861

Newspaper

Title: New Orleans daily crescent. [Vol. 14, no. 42 (April 22, 1861)]

Published at 70 Camp Street. Three columns of local military news on front page. Story about a local abolitionist, John Pike, who was arraigned before the New Orleans mayor -- he was released since no one would appear against him. It is believed he left the city directly afterward. Update on secessionists in Missouri. Blurbs state the governor of Delaware has not responded to a call for troops, Major Robert Anderson was presented with a sword to cheers in New York, and the Arkansas state convention will meet on 6 May. Correspondence from Havana, Key West, Texas, and California. Latest…

GLC05960.02.09

24 April 1861

Nixon, J.O., fl. 1861

Newspaper

Title: New Orleans daily crescent. [Vol. 14, no. 44 (April 24, 1861)]

Published at 70 Camp Street. Only has first 4 pages of the usual 8 pages per issue. Article titled "Affairs at Norfolk," reports that Norfolk Navy yard is being evacuated and several ships scuttled to keep them out of enemy hands. Short item lambasting Massachusetts saying "Underlying its selfishness, bigotry, niggardliness and fondness for money-getting, is a veign of envy, which makes it hate everybody more prosperous and happy than itself. Southern gentlemen, attended by numerous slaves, are, in its estimation, the most enviable characters in the world, and constitute a standing reproach…

GLC05960.02.11