Research Arsenal

09/12/2025

For our What's it Wednesday this week, we asked you to identify this type of flag and also take a guess as to what it would have cost during the Civil War.
This particular flag is called a Garrison Flag and was the largest flag used by the military. With a 20 foot hoist, this flag was reserved for permanent fortifications and special occasions. The Fort Sumter Garrison Flag is perhaps the most famous of that flag type and measures 20 feet by 36 feet.

According to Special Orders No. 364 dated November 12, 1863, Garrison Flags cost $43.00 plus an additional $2.50 for the halliards (halyards) to raise and lower it. Adjusted for inflation, that would be a cost of $1,166.56 in total today.

To see the fully tagged historic image: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/67300

Second image: Garrison Flag from Fort Sumter: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-fort-sumter-garrison-flag.htm

09/10/2025

For our What's it Wednesday this week, what type of flag is prominently displayed from the balcony in this photograph? And, as an additional bit of trivia, what do you think a flag like that cost during the Civil War? Post your guesses below and check back Friday for the answer!

09/09/2025

We are hiring another person for to help us scan documents at the National Archives in DC! If you live near the DC area and are interested in helping us preserve and digitize Civil War records , please let us know!

Full time or part time, we are super flexible and can work with your schedule! We just want to keep providing these records for everyone, and need help to make it happen!

09/09/2025

Check out the upcoming Fleicher's Auction! This awesome photo is one of the ones of the DC Cav! Do you think this trooper is sporting the "guard" position he learned in drill or just a impromptu pose?

Check out the Auction here:
https://bid.fleischersauctions.com/online-auctions/fleischers-auctions/civil-war-photo-archive-ft-henry-rifle-7792949

Is this soldier demonstrating what he learned in drill? This is an awesome shot of what might be a purposeful photograph demonstrating the "guard" position in the cavalry saber manual. What do you think? This image is part of the upcoming Fleicher's Auction!! Check it out at the link below!

https://bid.fleischersauctions.com/online-auctions/fleischers-auctions/civil-war-photo-archive-ft-henry-rifle-7792949

09/08/2025

At the start of the war, Silas was a member of the Wyoming Coronet Band, which became part of the 52nd Pennsylvania Infantry.

After receiving his pay, Silas Leach and a fellow member of the 52nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regimental Band, Charles Sutton, snuck off to Washington to do some sightseeing.

“While in the city, [Charley] Sutton and I went to the Capitol expecting to see Congress in session. But as usual they had adjourned until Monday. We went into the President and Vice President’s rooms. They were splendid rooms. I recognized the Vice President Mr. Hamlin having seen him in 1856. Charley and I had no pass and had to do some pretty tall dodging to keep out of the way of the patrol. We finally returned to camp. Very glad to get back. We have become so accustomed to walking on the ground that walking on pavements tires us out very quick.”

Silas Leach was born in Pennsylvania in 1836 to Isaiah Leach and Eliza (Kelly) Leach. Isaiah Leach worked as a school teacher and music teacher but passed

09/05/2025

For our What's it (cost) Wednesday this week, we asked you to take your best guess at what a Stable Frock cost in 1863 and also how many were allotted to each cavalry soldier. According to General Orders No. 364 dated November 12, 1863, the cost of a Stable Frock was $1.30. They were issued to cavalry and light artillery soldiers at the rate of one in the first year and another in the 3rd year of service.

09/04/2025

Museums face the difficult challenge of balancing accessibility with preservation: making objects visible to the public while also protecting them for the future. This is the same challenge that private collectors face while being the caretakers of historic artifacts.

And if this is a challenge in museums, it’s really going to be a challenge in personal homes. However, private collectors can follow museum best practices as best they can and that will help prolong the life of their collection.

Safe lighting for exhibiting your collection is an important point to consider when deciding how to display your collection while also protecting it.

09/03/2025

For our What's it Wednesday this week, we're going in a "What's it Cost" direction.... In 1863, what do you think the cost of a Stable Frock was? And how many was a cavalry soldier allotted each year?

Check back Friday for the answer!

09/02/2025

William Henry Harrison “Tip” Wilson was born in 1840 to Ann Adeline (Neblett) Wilson and Joseph Hannibal Bonaparte Wilson of Paris, Tennessee. He was named after politician William Henry Harrison whose nickname “Tippecanoe” during his presidential campaign inspired William Wilson to receive the same nickname, often shortened to “Tip.”

Tip Wilson enlisted as a private in Company C, 5th Tennessee Infantry on May 20, 1861. He was soon promoted to lieutenant an then to Captain of Company A before the regiment was finally mustered into service in August 1861. It was then consolidated with the 4th Tennessee Infantry in December, 1862.

The Research Arsenal collection for Tip Wilson also include letters written by his future wife, Naomi Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cox and one letter written by Tip Wilson’s sister, Elizabeth Buckner, after the war.

Tip Wilson enlisted as a private in Company C, 5th Tennessee Infantry on May 20, 1861. He was soon promoted to lieutenant an then to Captain of Company A

08/31/2025

08/31/2025

Wanting to find proof that soldiers carried their tin cups on their haversack (among many other methods)?

This is a great way to show the value of the Research Arsenal. Simply search the keyword "Canteen on Haversack" and you will find more than a dozen photos of soldiers carrying their cup/dipper on their haversack.

While it may not be specified in the regulations, and while certain commanders ordered soldiers not to do that from time to time (i.e.-when trying to march quietly), this is photographic proof at least some did!

Search any number of keywords in the photographs to find weird on-off photos!

This one is my favorite: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/4869

08/29/2025

Today marks the anniversary of the Second Battle of Bull Run, fought from August 28-30, 1862 in Virginia. Much like the First Battle of Bull Run, the fight was a decisive tactical victory for the Confederate Army and another demoralizing defeat for the Union. The Union Army suffered over 14,000 casualties including 1,747 killed; 8,462 wounded; and 4,263 men captured or missing.

Several letters in our collection were written by survivors of the battle, including one by Private David Walker Beatty of Company K, 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry which during that time was part of General Philip Kearny’s division of the III Corps.

Writing to his mother on September 1, 1862, Private Beatty described the battle and the losses of his regiment:

“…we got on transports and went to Alexandria and there we took the cars and went to Warrenton Junction above Manassas Junction and stayed there a few days. Then the Rebel Gen. [Stonewall] Jackson got in our rear with about 50 thousand men and we had to start back to drive him out and we met him last Wednesday evening [27 August] and had a fight with him near Manassas and drove him back. Our Third Sergeant, commanding the company, was wounded in the arm. He was the only man hurt in our company. We lay on the battlefield that night and the next morning [28 August] started in pursuit again and went as far as Centerville and lay there all night. Hooker’s Division engaged him for about an hour that night [at Brawner’s Farm] and the next morning [29 August] we again started after him and engaged him near the Blue Ridge Mountains. This was on Friday.

We had a very severe engagement that day [29 August]. We lost about one hundred and forty-six men in killed, wounded, and missing and some of my best friends have been killed and I still remain untouched. We were in the fight all day but was only engaged in a regular fight about half an hour and from the number of men we lost in that time, you can judge we had a pretty hot time of it. Our Colonel [William S. Kirkwood] was wounded and our Major was wounded but worst of all is the killed.

Daniel Young was killed instantly by a ball passing through his stomach and breaking his backbone. Jacob Keith was killed and John Green was wounded and had to be left on the field. I think his wounds are mortal. He was shot through the leg and through the stomach. Please to read this letter to Young’s folks. James Menold was wounded in the leg not very severely and Robert Orr was slightly wounded in the foot. He will soon be well. Please to tell his folks about him. There is several more killed and wounded of our company but this is all you know except Joseph Coxen. He had the end of his nose shot off.”

David Beatty continued to serve in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry until his death in 1863.

We recently highlighted his collection of letters in our database with an article on our blog which you can read here. https://researcharsenal.com/david-walker-beatty-63rd-pennsylvania-infantry/

David Beatty letter: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/85101

Photo: View on Bull Run, Crossing of Orange and Alexandria Railroad: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/67976