Primary Sources

History is best understood by examining the documents and reading the words of those involved in the events one is studying. When these documents, photographs and other items were actually written at the time of the event, they are known as primary sources. From the Declaration of Independence, to the Emancipation Proclamation and through letters, diary entries, and military orders you’ll find scores of primary sources here to read what people wrote at the time.

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Battle

220 items


Civil War "On St. Simon's Island - 1862" Susie King Taylor was born into slavery in Georgia and was secretly taught to read and write by...	Reminiscences of Two Years with the Colored Troops The following account given by Capt. Addeman discusses the trails and tribulations his regiment...	Civil War Samuel Cabble Letter Samuel Cabble, a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry (colored), was a slave before he...	General Order, No. 143 General Order, No. 143 established a military body to regulate the recruitment, training and...
Christmas Night of '62 A poem by Confederate soldier William Gordon McCabe giving his thoughts on Christmas Night 1862	Christmas in the Confederate White House Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, wrote this article describing how the...	Civil War Abraham Lincoln's 1862 Annual Message to Congress, Final Remarks As Lincoln concluded his 1862 Annual Message to Congress he reflected on the importance of adopting...	Civil War Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of Thanksgiving On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation designating “the last Thursday of...
Thirteenth Amendment The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery and was ratified on December 6, 1865.	Civil War Christmas on the Rappahannock There was no worse time to be a soldier than the dead of winter. Far from home and freezing cold,...	Civil War Civil War Monument Speeches Following is a collection of speeches and remarks made for the dedication of Civil War monuments...	Theodore Roosevelt’s Dedication Speech to the New Jersey State Monument at Antietam Governor Murphy, Veterans of New Jersey, men of the Grand Army, I thank you of New Jersey for the...
Senator Albert J Beveridge’s Address on the Dedication of Indiana’s Monuments in Shiloh Since all must die, how fortunate to die for an undying cause and under the approving eye of...	Chamberlain’s Address for the 20th Maine Monument at Gettysburg Dedication Speech by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: A quarter of a century ago on this rugged crest...	Sixth Dedication Speech for the Unveiling of the South Carolina Monument on the Chickamauga Battlefield Dedication speech of Union General Henry V. Boyton, for the dedication of the South Carolina...	Civil War Fifth Dedication Speech for the Unveiling of the South Carolina Monument on the Chickamauga Battlefield Dedication speech of former Confederate Brigadier General Bishop Ellison Capers, for the dedication...