Electronic Resources

Civil War: A Newspaper Perspective

This database contains the full text of major articles gleaned from over 2,500 issues of The New York Herald, The Charleston Mercury and the Richmond Enquirer, published between November 1, 1860 and April 15, 1865. The text begins with the events preceding the outbreak of war at Fort Sumter, continues through the surrender at Appomattox, and concludes with the assassination and funeral of Abraham Lincoln. Included are descriptive news articles, eye-witness accounts and official reports of battles and events, editorials, advertisements and biographies. A great effort has been made also to include articles which describe other than military concerns of the day. These include such topics as travel, arts and leisure, geographical descriptions, sports and sporting, social events, etc. Since the major events are described in detail by both Union and Confederate papers, their opposing perspectives are readily available for comparative evaluation.

Part of Accessible Archives.

Holdings: November 1, 1860 -- April 15, 1865.

For USC users only.