5, 1861 | Photograph
October 13, 1861 | Letter
In this letter from October 13, 1861, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and daughter while they are traveling to visit relatives in Rock Island, Illinois. He states that there has been no "excitement politically or financially" at home aside from a proclamation by a Captain Danforth of the "we have laid down the lanset and taken up the sword kind."
October 12, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the October 12, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a railway accident on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad.
September 22, 1861
In this letter from September 22, 1861, Anna R. Benedict writes to her brother, Samuel Reed, discussing the drop in prices for farm products as a result of the "national troubles." She states that it "scarce seems possible that this war can last very long." She notes that her family has been practicing the "strictest economy," but still needs to hire help to accomplish all that is necessary on the farm. She expresses surprise at Reed's claim that he has been doing all the farm work himself, but advises him not to sell pieces of his farmland until after the "present panics have passed over."
July 12, 1861 | Letter
In his July 12, 1861 letter, John McConihe writes to his business partner, John Kellogg, lamenting his financial losses in his Denver speculation scheme and from the government's failure to pay him what he is owed. McConihe asks for Kellogg's patience in awaiting repayment and reports that he has joined the army as a captain to support himself.
July 6, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the July 6, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Harper's Ferry after its evacuation by Confederate troops.
July 6, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the July 6, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the destruction of the Potomac railroad bridge near Harper's Ferry by Confederate troops.
May 18, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the May 18, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the "Lady Davis" steamship, a warship of the Confederate States of America.
May 18, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the May 18, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Rhode Island artillery being unloaded from the steamship "Bienville" at the Washington, D.C. arsenal.
May 11, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the May 11, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts members of the Eigth Massachusetts Regiment repairing bridges on the railroad from Annapolis, Maryland to Washington, D.C.
May 11, 1861 | Illustration
This image from the May 11, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts members of the Seventh Regiment aboard the steamship "Boston," en route to Annapolis, Maryland.
May 6, 1861 | Letter
In this May 6, 1861 letter from John McConihe to his friend and business partner, John Kellogg, McConihe tells of his lack of success in freighting goods to Denver (a failure he blames on the Civil War curtailing westward migration) and his decision to quit the venture. He also expresses his disappointment in the territorial government and about the handling of the Civil War. He closes the letter on a happier note, congratulating Kellogg on his impending marriage and graduation from the "Bachelor circle".
March 15, 1861 | Letter
In this March 15, 1861 letter from John McConihe to friend and business partner John Kellogg, McConihe mentions a few general business transactions and tells of organizing another freight load to send to Denver.
March 8, 1861 | Letter
In this letter from March 8, 1861, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing the prospects for employment on a railroad in the near future. He states that he would prefer working for Mr. Thielsen to working on the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad as he does not believe that railroad will be capable of "doing anything as long as those troubles between the north and south exist." Boyle also notes that he rejected an invitation to work on the Cedar Rapids Railroad, believing it would be better to "stay on our farms than work on a R Road that has no money." He declares that if the troubles between the North and South were settled, there would be more work available.
February 22, 1861 | Letter
In this February 22, 1861 letter from A. J. Rux to E. H. Stokes, Rux describes the sale of a female slave named Harriett for $1,000. He confides to Stokes that he is "ashamed" of the low price he received, but notes that Harriett's "same old complaint" and break out attempts were so frustrating that "I sold her where I don't think we will ever hear from her again."
February 19, 1861 | Letter
In this letter from February 19, 1861, H. Thielsen writes to Samuel Reed offering high praise of both his and John R. Boyle's abilities as contractors. He states that he believes the prospects of commencing work in the spring appear "slender," as orders to undertake work on roughly 55 miles of the lines from Ottumwa, Iowa to Chariton, Iowa were withdrawn when the Secession Crisis occurred. He tells Reed that the "character of the work though is what a contractor would call magnificent."
February 18, 1861 | Letter
In this February 18, 1861 letter from A. J. Rux to E.H. Stokes, Rux briefly describes the state of the slave market in New Orleans.
1861 | Photograph
Construction corps at work on the Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg Railroad.
1861 | Photograph
A trestle railroad bridge built by the United States Military Railroad Construction Corps.
1861 | Photograph