Civil War Era Primary Sources

Civil War Era Newspapers

 
Newspapers were the main form of media of the Civil War era. The largest publications were Baltimore’s Sun, New York’s Herald and Tribune, which achieved circulations in the tens of thousands. Civil War-era newspapers did not just record American history in this period, but actively shaped that history.

Prior to the Civil War, newspapers had a few paid reporters, but it was during the Civil War that newspaper reporting dramatically changed. As the war began, the need for reporters grew. The major papers sent reporters all across the country to cover the war. For example, the New York Herald had more than forty reporters in the field covering the events.

Two of the most successful papers were Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper and Fletcher Haper’s paper, Harper’s Weekly. These illustrated newspapers would contain what would be the precursor for modern-day photographs in papers. Artists such as Thomas Nast, Alfred Waud, and Winslow Homer would create sketches of the war and they would be transferred to the illustrated newspapers.

American Union 

New South 

Palmetto Herald 

Soldier’s Journal 

Winchester Army Bulletin