Civil War Richmond is an online research project designed to collect documents, photographs, and maps pertaining to Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War.
By using actual documents from the time, we can accurately present life inside the Confederate Capital categorized and in chronological order for the reader. The main categories include Hospitals, Prisons, Other Sites, People, Events, Culture and the Military. These written accounts provide a vivid picture of the people, places and events in Richmond during the Civil War.
About Civil War Richmond
Civil War Richmond, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation engaged in historical research into the City of Richmond during the Civil War. We are dedicated to making this research easily available to other historical researchers and the public.
The original website was launched in the summer of 1997 as an ongoing research project into the City of Richmond during the Civil War. To continue and expand on that goal, this new website was developed in 2014. The purpose is to collect and preserve primary historical sources (documents, photographs, maps, etc.) together in a logical manner, fully cross-referenced.
This website has been developed in consultation and close collaboration with the historian, Michael D. Gorman of Richmond, VA, (Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1998; Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003; National Park Service, 1999-present.) Mike is responsible for applying the highest standards of historical methodology in conducting exhaustive research, the transcription of documents and the collection of information necessary to produce the materials available on this website.
Mike transcribes the documents that are presented here so this website cannot, out of necessity, ever be finished – it is a constant work in progress. The documents speak for themselves.
The overall thrust of Civil War Richmond is focused on actual documentation– it is not a genealogical site, although much of the information here will be useful to genealogists. To break down the overwhelming volume of material, it was decided to use the documents to focus on various categories of Richmond life and allow the reader to come to their own decisions about their meaning - a central purpose was to present these materials and documents without commentary, trusting the individual to make whatever use of them is appropriate.
Why did the Confederates pick Richmond as their capital?
Mike Gorman of the Richmond National Battlefield Park explains why in this edition of The Civil War in 4 Minutes.
In July 2019, Civil War Richmond began transcribing all of the articles from the Richmond Dispatch's front page column "Local Matters". The articles start at July 15, 1864. This ongoing effort will provide a vivid picture of daily events in Richmond during the Civil War.
Latest newspaper articles
- 1879-08-27, further details on the burning of Castle Thunder. No lives lost, extensive account of insurance of various buildings
- 1866-09-13, notes on cemetery interments from Cholera at Shockoe and “Mechanics” (colored) Cemeteries, notes that the Freedmen’s Bureau uses Mechanics Cemetery for burials of “deceased negroes” (Chimborazo)
- 1879-08-26, Richmond Dispatch; Castle Thunder and adjoining building burn down spectacularly. Important and lengthy description of the fire. United States Hotel mentioned
- 1871-05-31, description of Decoration Day at Richmond National Cemetery. “Three colored volunteer companies” and “an immense crowd (consisting for the most part of colored persons)” take part in the festivities
- 1872-03-30, Patrick Hart, Superintendent of Richmond National Cemetery, transferred to the Battle-Ground National Cemetery, D. C. William Wright of Fort Harrison National Cemetery to transfer to Richmond.
- 1872-04-10, Major Patrick Hart has been reinstated as Superintendent of Richmond National Cemetery “in recognition of his services as a battery commander in the Federal army.”
- 1875-08-16, fight between R. A. Wallace, superintendent of the Richmond National Cemetery, and another man on 17th street. Both men arrested.
- 1875-05-10, Major B. F. Hart, superintendent of Richmond National Cemetery, has horse accident on Main Street, not hurt
- 1869-05-22, official notice of the Decoration Day festivities at Richmond National Cemetery. Coaches running from the “eastern terminus of the city railway.” Col. H. S. Merrill of the Freedmen’s Bureau is on the Committee of Arrangements.
- 1866-05-08, Cold Harbor National Cemetery has been dedicated by a flag-raising. Cemetery is “on the farm of Mrs. Slaughter”
- 1868-06-01, W. A. Hoppe, former keeper of the Chimborazo Bath House, and Richmond Unionist, states that he is only the half brother of the man in the Trueman-Hoppe case
- 1868-06-01, General Schofield, military commander of Richmond, leaves Richmond to accept office of Secretary of War. Praise for him having “carried out the reconstruction laws faithfully”
- 1868-06-01, description of Decoration Day activities at Richmond National Cemetery. Article slightly critical of the proceedings, notes that 3000 participants, only 400 white and that the speakers used words “libelling us and insulting our own noble dead”
- 1870-05-31, description of Decoration Day at Richmond National Cemetery - notes that "many colored people" attended the ceremonies
- 1876-05-31, description of Federal Decoration Day at Richmond National Cemetery, with lengthy description of the cemetery and details of burials
- 1868-05-30, Belvedere Baptist Church, where Bread Rioters once met, now too small for church purposes, and “is in wretched repair.”
- 1865-10-07, Anglo-African; Union spy Mary Jane Richards, using pseudonym 'Richmonia Richards,' describes wartime Richmond to an audience in New York.
- 1865-09-25, Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle; Union spy Mary Jane Richards, using pseudonym 'Richmonia R. St. Peirre,' describes Richmond during the war.
- 1864-09-05, Richmond Dispatch; Mayor's Court cases reported on September 5, 1864
- 1864-09-05, Richmond Dispatch; Man robbed by Yankee deserters - being a negro he is incompetent to testify against white men so the robbers are released
A Rebel War Clerk's Diary
James Robertson wrote in the Editor's Preface: "Michael D. Gorman, who knows more about the citizens of Civil War-era Richmond than anyone who ever lived, was of inestimable assistance. Scattered throughout the notes are references to individuals that only Mike could have identified. He is truly a credit to the National Park Service."
Civil War Richmond, Inc. is a 501(c)(3 ) non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible. If you enjoy the site, please help support it.
What's New
Latest articles added to the site from all sources..
"Richmond in 1865"
Michael Gorman talks about Richmond, Virginia, in 1865 and what historians could learn from photographs from the period on CSpan
A Conqueror or a Peacemaker? Abraham Lincoln in Richmond
MICHAEL D. GORMAN
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 123, No. 1 (2015), pp. 2-88
The Fall of Richmond
Mike Gorman talks about the fall of Richmond that began April 2, 1865 and the evacuation fire that followed.
Lincoln in Richmond
Mike Gorman talks to The Richmond History Podcast host Jeff Majer about President Abraham Lincoln’s historic trip to Richmond less then 48 hour after the evacuation of the Confederate Government.
Reconstruction at Chimborazo
Mike Gorman talks about reconstruction in Richmond focusing on what was the former Chimborazo Hospital.
Civil War Life in Richmond
Mike Gorman discusses life in Richmond during the Civil War on the Richmond History Podcast