Search

Search for books and authors

Henrico County
Henrico County
First explored by colonists in 1607, the territory that was to become Henrico County was the site of the second English settlement in the colony of Virginia. Settled in 1611, Henrico was named for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Henrico was the site of the first college and the first iron works in the New World and is one of the original shires, or counties, in Virginia. Extending along the James River from its junction with the Appomattox River to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Henrico was eventually subdivided into nine-and-a-half counties and three independent cities. During 1861 to 1865, 18 major battles and numerous heavy engagements were fought on Henrico soil. From the end of the Civil War until World War II, agriculture was the backbone of the county's economy. After the war, the county experienced a surge in population that resulted in the growth of service industries. Today it is a vibrant urban county.
Preview available
Henrico County
Henrico County
First explored by colonists in 1607, the territory that was to become Henrico County was the site of the second English settlement in the colony of Virginia. Settled in 1611, Henrico was named for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Henrico was the site of the first college and the first iron works in the New World and is one of the original shires, or counties, in Virginia. Extending along the James River from its junction with the Appomattox River to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Henrico was eventually subdivided into nine-and-a-half counties and three independent cities. During 1861 to 1865, 18 major battles and numerous heavy engagements were fought on Henrico soil. From the end of the Civil War until World War II, agriculture was the backbone of the county's economy. After the war, the county experienced a surge in population that resulted in the growth of service industries. Today it is a vibrant urban county.
Preview available
Lincoln's Last Speech
Lincoln's Last Speech
What did Abraham Lincoln envision when he talked about "reconstruction?" Assassinated in 1865, the president did not have a chance to begin the work of reconciling the North and South, nor to oversee Reconstruction as an official postwar strategy. Yet his final speech, given to thousands gathered in the rain outside the White House on April 11, 1865, gives a clear indication of what Lincoln's postwar policy might have looked like-one that differed starkly from what would emerge in the tumultuous decade that followed. In Lincoln's Last Speech, renowned historian and author Louis P. Masur offers insight into this critical address and its vision of a reconstructed United States. Coming two days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox and a week after the fall of Richmond, Lincoln's speech was expected to be a victory oration. Instead, he looked to the future, discussing how best to restore the seceded states to the national government, and even endorsing limited black suffrage. Delving into the language and arguments of Lincoln's last address, Masur traces the theme of reconstruction as it developed throughout his presidency, starting with the very earliest days of the war. Masur illuminates the evolution of Lincoln's thinking and the national debate around reconstruction, touching on key moments such as the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction on December 8, 1863, and Lincoln's pocket veto of the Wade-Davis bill in July 1864. He also examines social reconstruction, including the plight of freedmen and the debate over the place of blacks in society; and considers the implications of Lincoln's speech after April 1865, when Andrew Johnson assumed office and the ground was laid for the most radical phases of the postwar policy. A nuanced study of Lincoln's views on national reconciliation, this work gives us a better understanding of the failures that occurred with postwar Reconstruction and the eventual path that brought the country to reunion.
Available for purchase
Richmond on the James
Richmond on the James
One of the nation's most historic cities, Richmond was first visited by colonists in 1607 and officially established as a town in 1742. Throughout its long and lively history, Richmond's landscape has been dotted with notable monuments and statues, prestigious institutions of higher learning, lush parks, tranquil cemeteries, and thriving commercial and residential communities. Images preserved on early twentieth-century postcards reveal many facets of this remarkable city, from the original State Capitol building designed by Thomas Jefferson to the nineteenth-century Governor's Mansion, which still serves as home to Virginia's chief executive, and from the Edgar Allan Poe Museum located in Richmond's oldest home to the oldest Masonic building in the United States.
Preview available
15th Virginia Infantry
15th Virginia Infantry
Preview available
Richmond Volunteers
Richmond Volunteers
Gives histories of the companies and lists of their members.
Preview available
The History of Henrico County
The History of Henrico County
The present geographical-political area, known as Henrico County can trace its origins back to 1634. In that year, it was established as one of the eight original shires of Virginia and included all the land on both sides of the James River from Charles City County west to the mountains. In time, nine counties, part of another county, and the city of Richmond would be cut from Henrico. Today, the county is 245 square miles in size. -- Pg. [1].
Preview available
North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: a Roster, Volume 13
North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: a Roster, Volume 13
Acclaimed as "the finest state roster ever published" and a "magnificent achievement," North Carolina Troops is an invaluable resource for scholars, local historians, genealogists, and Civil War enthusiasts. Each indexed volume contains unit histories and the names and service records of approximately 7,000 North Carolinians who served in the Civil War.
Preview available