Four diary entries from the Civil War document the evolution of holiday experiences of a soldier from Pennsylvania's Coal Region.
Four Christmases – Holiday excerpts from Henry Keiser’s Civil War diary
“A very thrifty, interesting place” – A visit to Tamaqua during the Civil War
A travel writer made a detailed entry about Tamaqua, Pennsylvania in the summer of 1862.
A powerful letter on slavery and the Civil War from a one-time resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania
"ABOLISH SLAVERY" - A remarkable letter from an Irish-American soldier in the Civil War and his evolving anti-slavery beliefs.
A racist conspiracy theory found root in Schuylkill County in 1862
Some white residents of Schuylkill County believed former slaves were going replace them in the coal mines during the Civil War.
A Pottsville editor’s letter to Abraham Lincoln in support of the Emancipation Proclamation
Editor Benjamin Bannan vehemently supported the end of slavery in the summer of 1862.
Letters from the Battle of Fredericksburg – December 1862
The Pittston Gazette published three letters detailing the bloody carnage at Fredericksburg in December 1862.
“This community sustains a great loss” – A fatal mine disaster in Wiconisco Township during the Civil War
On February 7, 1862, a roof collapsed inside the Short Mountain Colliery killing a respected miner and wounding several others.
Miners’ revolt in Schuylkill County during the Civil War caused headaches for Abraham Lincoln
Shortly after the Battle of Antietam in 1862, the Lincoln administration faced a crisis on the home front in Pennsylvania.
“Revolutionary Disloyalty” – A coal miners’ rebellion in Schuylkill County during the Civil War
In October 1862, Irish miners in Pennsylvania staged an armed revolt against the government. Their actions foreshadowed even bloodier events.
“Very disagreeable on board” – An unpleasant voyage down the Chesapeake Bay during the Civil War
In April 1862, the 96th Pennsylvania embarked aboard steamers and sailed to the front near Yorktown, Virginia. The voyage took two weeks.
Wynning History 