Newspaper Articles on the Civil War’s First Year: 1861

Newspapers furnished extensive coverage of the American Civil War, with eyewitness correspondents providing uncensored, on-the-spot military reporting. In addition, newspapers printed letters to and from the fighting men, as well as lists of battle casualties, battlefield sketches, maps, wide-ranging news stories, editorials, political cartoons, and advertisements. Reading Civil War-era newspaper articles is an interesting way to see how the news was presented and perceived while the war itself was ongoing, as the following examples show. These articles highlight some of the events during 1861; click on any title to read more.

Jan. 9: Attack upon ‘Star of the West’–Actual First Shot of the Civil War?
Jan. 9: Mississippi Becomes Second State to Secede from the Union
Jan. 21: Jefferson Davis Resigns from the U.S. Senate after Miss. Secedes
Jan. 29: Kansas Statehood Marked by Violence
Feb. 4: Confederate States of America: The Beginning
Feb. 8: Confederate States of America Adopt Provisional Constitution
Feb. 9: Jefferson Davis Elected Provisional President of the Confederacy
Feb. 11: U.S. House Promises: No Interference with Slavery
Feb. 18: Jefferson Davis Inaugurated as Provisional President of the Confederacy
March 1: Revolutionary War Veteran Laments Secession of South Carolina
March 11: Constitution of the Confederate States of America Adopted
March 21: Torn Allegiance for German-Americans before Attack on Fort Sumter
March 24: Touching Letters between Scotch Friends before Battle of Fort Sumter
April 4: Optimistic Letter from Fort Sumter: Civil War Propaganda?
April 6: Letter from Charleston Six Days before Fort Sumter Attack
April 8-12: Confederate Telegrams Leading to Fort Sumter Attack
April 9: Wall Street Despairs at Approach of Civil War
April 10: Excited Letter from Charleston on Eve of Fort Sumter Attack
April 12: Dramatic Newspaper Coverage of the Battle of Fort Sumter
April 12: Negotiations Fail: Fort Sumter Attack Begins the Civil War
April 12: Abolitionist Newspaper Slams South on Eve of Civil War
April 13: Fort Sumter Surrenders, Ending the Civil War’s First Battle
April 13: Southern Chivalry during Civil War’s Opening Battle
April 13: Pessimistic Northern Editorial as Civil War Begins
April 15: U.S. Capital Prepares for War after Fall of Fort Sumter
April 17: Confederate President Davis Encourages Privateers
April 18: Letter Describes Excitement of Louisiana Confederates
April 19: Baltimore Mob Riots, Attacks Union Troops
April 20: Robert E. Lee Quits U.S. Army to Serve Virginia
April 28: Letter Reveals Southern ‘War Spirit’ as Civil War Begins
April 29: Women in the North Rally to Lincoln’s Call
May 17: Union Soldier Describes Daily Life in Civil War Camp
June 8: Tennessee Secedes: Last State to Join the Confederacy
July 18: Undisciplined Union Troops at First Battle of Bull Run
July 19: News Reports Two Days before First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)
July 20: Impatient North Pressures Lincoln for Action before Civil War’s First Major Battle
July 21: Confederates Rout Union Army at First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
July 21: N.Y. Crowds React to News of First Battle of Bull Run
July 22: Northern Newspaper Reports Defeat at First Battle of Bull Run
July 23: Scathing Northern Editorial after the First Battle of Bull Run
July 24: Editorial Celebrates Confederate Victory at First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
July 26: After Defeat of First Bull Run, Lincoln Turns to McClellan
Aug. 10: Wilson’s Creek: Confederates Win First Major Battle in the West
Aug. 10: Gray-Clad Union Troops Cause Confusion at Battle of Wilson’s Creek
Nov. 1: A Worried Lincoln Appoints McClellan Head of All Union Armies
Nov. 8-Dec. 27: ‘Trent Affair’ Crisis during the U.S. Civil War
Dec. 21: Union Backs Down from War with England

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