A Visit to Chatham
Two weeks after the Battle of Fredericksburg, a correspondent from the New York Tribune visited the former antebellum estate known as the "Lacy House." He provided a sobering account of the devastation inflicted upon on the manor, which was being used as a hospital for the wounded. .
New York Tribune, January 1, 1863
The Execution of Private John Lanahan, 46th Pennsylvania
It is estimated that as many as five hundred military executions occurred during the American Civil War. The following account of the execution of Private John Lanagham from the 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry is not unusual and may even be considered one of the most deserving of cases.
What makes Lanagham’s execution unique is that it was conducted as a public spectacle, with newspaper correspondents present to witness the event. Several accounts of the execution were published, including one by a correspondent from the New York Times, who noted Lanagham's stoic demeanor as he faced the hangman's noose.
New York Times, December 26, 1861 and the Berkshire Eagle, January 2, 1862
Christmas, 1862
The Winter of 1862 was an incredibly challenging time for the Army of the Potomac. This period marked the replacement of their favored leader, George B. McClellan, and included the humiliating defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Additionally, many officers left the army, facing the prospect of enduring a harsh winter in quarters along the Rappahannock River. The Christmas holiday of 1862 was the first one spent under difficult field conditions. Several war correspondents were present to remind the Northern public of the deprivations and hardships experienced by soldiers who, for the first time, faced the holidays away from home and loved ones.
New York Tribune, December 27, 1862
Sir William Howard Russell reports on the War
The Times correspondent Sir William Howard Russell of London describes the scene of McDowell’s army preparing to advance, July 19, 1861.
By William Howard Russell (1861)