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Units of New Hampshire History
Unit 10: New Hampshire and the Civil War
Find It! New Hampshire and the Civil War

Find It! New Hampshire and the Civil War

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All the resources that appear in this unit are gathered here for you—the photographs, maps, objects, audiovisuals, documents, videos, biographies, and vocabulary words. Click on the image below to see a larger view of each resource with more information about each one. On some of the resources you can even zoom in and get a closer look. So go ahead, dive in, and explore. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking like a historian.

Find It! Scavenger Hunt

Can you help Mason find these items on the page and answer the questions?

Scavenger Hunt

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Biographies in this Unit:

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Biography

Daniel Webster

1782–1852

Caption:

Daniel Webster was one of the most important American politicians of the 19th century. He was known as “the Great Orator,” because he was a talented public speaker. He was very good at convincing people of his point of view. Webster grew up in Salisbury, New Hampshire, in a part of the town that is now the city of Franklin. He graduated from Dartmouth College and became a lawyer. In 1819, he won a very important court case for Dartmouth College. He also represented New Hampshire in the U.S. House of Representatives. Later he moved to Massachusetts, and was elected a U.S. Senator. He was also the U.S. Secretary of State, a very important job. As the country became more and more divided over the issue of slavery, Webster tried to keep the union together by suggesting compromises. His statue is in front of the New Hampshire State House.

Image Credit: Portrait of Daniel Webster by Albert Gallatin Hoit, circa 1850, New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a seated man, looking to the left of the camera. He has a long beard and mustache, and wears a coat with shoulder patches and many buttons.

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Biography

Edward Cross

1832–1863

Caption:

Colonel Edward Cross was one of the hardest-fighting, toughest officers in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. He was originally a journalist from Lancaster, New Hampshire. Later he moved to Arizona, where he ran a newspaper. When the Civil War began in 1861, he returned to New Hampshire to fight in the Union Army. He commanded the Fifth N.H. Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which became known as the “Fighting Fifth.” Colonel Cross led his troops in some of the hardest battles of the war. More soldiers died in the Fifth New Hampshire than in any other Union regiment. Cross himself was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.

Image Credit: Photograph by Kimball and Sons, Concord, NH, undated, New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored painting of a seated white man who is looking at the viewer. He has brown hair, and wears a white collared shirt, a black necktie, black vest, and a black jacket.

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Biography

Franklin Pierce

1804–1869

Caption:

Franklin Pierce was the 19th president of the United States and the only president from New Hampshire. He was born and raised in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, and later moved to Concord. He was a lawyer and a politician. Before he was elected president, he represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Congress. He also served in the U.S. Army in the Mexican-American War. He was president for one term, from 1853 to 1857. This was a very difficult time for the United States. There was a lot of tension between the North and the South over slavery. President Pierce thought it was more important to keep the country together than to abolish slavery. He tried to find a compromise between the two sides, but it did not work and made the problems worse.

Image Credit: Portrait by Adna Tenney, 1852, New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored painting of a white woman with white hair, looking at the viewer. She wears a black dress with long sleeves, and several gold-colored medals on her chest and neck.

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Biography

Harriet Dame

1815–1900

Caption:

Harriet Dame was a famous Civil War nurse. She was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire, and later lived in Concord. When the Civil War began in 1861, she joined the Second N.H. Regiment as a nurse and caregiver. She cooked and sewed for the men, and if they were sick or wounded, she took care of them. Although many women served as nurses during the Civil War, Harriet Dame was different because she traveled with the soldiers and even went onto the battlefield to take care of them. It was dangerous and difficult work. Confederate troops captured her twice, but she was released both times. After the war ended, she was very active in veterans’ organizations. Harriet Dame was the first woman to have her portrait hung in the State House.

Image Credit: Portrait by Caroline L. Ormes Ransom, 1901, at the New Hampshire State House, photograph by Kenneth C. Zirkel

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Biography

John Parker Hale

1806–1873

Caption:

John P. Hale was an important political leader in New Hampshire in the 19th century. He was from Dover. Hale represented New Hampshire in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the Democratic Party, but he disagreed with the party about slavery. Hale believed that slavery was wrong and should not be allowed to spread. He was kicked out of the Democratic Party, but New Hampshire voters elected him to the U.S. Senate anyway. John P. Hale was the first U.S. senator to run for office as an abolitionist. Later he joined the new Republican Party, which was founded in New Hampshire in 1853. There is a statue of John P. Hale on the State House lawn and a portrait of him in Representatives’ Hall.

Image Credit: Photograph circa 1845, New Hampshire Historical Society

Documents in this Unit:

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Document

Anti-Slavery Convention

circa 1855

Caption:

This poster advertised an anti-slavery convention somewhere in New Hampshire. Anti-slavery conventions were common throughout the northern United States during the 1840s and 1850s. Anti-slavery activists could get together and share ideas and strategies, and listen to speeches by leaders of the movement. The quote on this poster, "no union with slaveholders," is by William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was considered a radical abolitionist because he argued that all enslaved people should be freed immediately. Many anti-slavery activists thought that emancipation should be more gradual.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A vertical newspaper advertisement. The advertisement shows several paragraphs of black text on white paper. Some of the words appear in bolded font and in all capital letters.

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Document

Caution Poster

1851

Caption:

This poster warned Black people in Boston to be careful so that "slavecatchers" did not capture them. "Slavecatchers" traveled throughout the North to capture Black people who escaped from slavery and bring them back to their enslavers. Sometimes they kidnapped escaped slaves. Sometimes they kidnapped free Black people. Sometimes the local police helped them, like this poster says.

Image Credit: Library of Congress

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Document

Honest Old Abe Sheet Music

1860

Words by D. Wentworth, music by a Wide Awake, published by Blodgett & Bradford, Buffalo, New York

Caption:

This is sheet music for a song written to support Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election. Campaign songs were very popular in the 19th century. A candidate's supporters would sing them at rallies, parades, and debates. You can listen to a recording of this song by artists Anne Enslow and Ridley Enslow on YouTube or Spotify.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana

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Document

Honest Old Abe Song and Chorus Cover

1860

Words by D. Wentworth, music by a Wide Awake, published by Blodgett & Bradford, Buffalo, New York

Caption:

This is the cover for sheet music for a song written to support Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860. Campaign songs were very popular in the 19th century. A candidate's supporters would sing them at rallies, parades, and debates. Notice that the music for this song was written by "a wide awake." The Wide-Awakes were youth activists who worked to help Lincoln get elected in 1860. They held midnight rallies and marched along the streets with torches. They were very popular and their activities helped Lincoln win the election.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana

Jefferson Davis Letter to Franklin Pierce

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Document

Jefferson Davis Letter to Franklin Pierce

1861

Jefferson Davis

Caption:

Jefferson Davis was a politician from Mississippi. He and his wife became friends with Franklin and Jane Pierce when they all lived in Washington, D.C., when Pierce and Davis were in the U.S. Congress. When Pierce became president of the United States in 1853, he asked Davis to join his government as the secretary of war. Pierce only served one term as president, and then returned to New Hampshire. He and Davis kept in touch. As the country became more and more divided, southern states started seceding from, or leaving, the United States. Davis wrote this letter to Pierce right after Mississippi seceded from the United States. One month later, Davis became president of the Confederate States of America.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A vertical handwritten letter on lined paper.

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Document

Letter from a Civil War Nurse

1863

Sarah Low

Caption:

Sarah Low was a woman from Dover, New Hampshire, who worked as a Civil War nurse. She served in hospitals in Washington, D.C. She wrote this letter to her sister in December 1863.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Document

Tenting on the Old Campground

1864

Song written by Walter Kittredge, published by Oliver Ditson, Boston

Caption:

This is the cover of the sheet music for a song called "Tenting on the Old Campground." It was one of the most popular songs during the Civil War. It was written by Walter Kittredge from Merrimack, New Hampshire. It was sung in both the North and the South, and was very popular with veterans after the war.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A vertical poster with black text on a light brown background. Some of the words appear in bolded or italicized font, while others are in all capital letters. The words "CHARLESTON/MERCURY/EXTRA" appear in large font above three paragraphs of smaller text. Beneath those paragraphs are then the words "THE/UNION/IS/DISSOLVED!" in large, bolded text.

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Document

The Union is Dissolved

1860

Charleston Mercury (South Carolina)

Caption:

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. That means they separated from the United States. After Abraham Lincoln, a Republican from Illinois, won the presidential election in November 1860, a convention was held in South Carolina. Delegates to the convention were elected by voters. The delegates unanimously agreed to secede from the federal union on December 20, 1860. They were afraid that with Lincoln as president, the federal government would pass laws against slavery. This broadside from a newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina, notified people of the decision to secede. There were parades and bonfires to celebrate the decision. Eventually 10 more southern states seceded from the United States and formed their own country, the Confederate States of America. The new country wrote their own Constitution, which specifically prevented Confederate states from making slavery illegal.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Abraham Lincoln Papers

Turbulent Scenes Mark Pierce Statue Debate

A vertical newspaper article. The title of the article, located along the upper border, reads "TURBULENT SCENES MARK/PIERCE STATUE DEBATE." Beneath the title are two columns of text in a small font.

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Document

Turbulent Scenes Mark Pierce Statue Debate

1911

Manchester Daily Mirror and American

Caption:

This article describes the debate in the New Hampshire House of Representatives about whether the state should pay for a statue of Franklin Pierce to be built and placed in front of the State House. The article appeared in a Manchester, New Hampshire, newspaper on February 23, 1911. It describes how controversial the issue was. Both sides were very passionate and representatives were booing and hissing each other during the debate.

Image Credit: From the collections of the New Hampshire State Library

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Document

Volunteers Wanted

1862

James Davidson

Caption:

Thousands of New Hampshire men fought for the Union during the Civil War. This poster was looking for volunteers to join the army to protect Fort Constitution, which is on New Castle island near Portsmouth.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Explainer Videos and Virtual Field Trips in this Unit:

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Video

Mason Asks: Who Was Franklin Pierce?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Video

Mason Explains: Fighting the Civil War

2023

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Video

Mason Explains: Sectionalism

2023

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Mason Explains: Slavery in the United States

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Video

Mason Explains: Slavery in the United States

2022

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Maps & Charts in this Unit:

A colored horizonal map of the United States. The map is divided into colored sections of red, yellow, green, and gray. The top-right part of the United States is colored in red, the bottom-right in green, the middle part in yellow and blue, and the entire left side of the map in gray. The number "1860" appears above the map. Two pie charts showing sections in red, yellow, green, and blue are to the right of the map. On both charts, the section colored in red is the largest. The top pie chart is labeled as "ELECTORAL VOTE" and the bottom chart is labeled as "POPULAR VOTE." Beneath the pie charts is a map key, showing a list of four names next to colored boxes. From top to bottom, those names are: "Republican (Lincoln)," next to a red box; "Southern Democratic/(Breckinridge)," next to a green box; "Constitutional Union/(Bell)," next to a yellow box; and "Northern Democratic/(Bell)," next to a blue box.

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Maps & Charts

Election of 1860 Results

1860

U.S. Geological Survey and Arch C. Gerlach

Caption:

This map shows the results from the 1860 U.S. presidential election. This was an unusual election because there were four major candidates. The country was very divided at that time, and the Civil War began shortly after. The candidates were Abraham Lincoln, John Breckinridge, Stephen Douglas, and John Bell. There were two Democratic candidates because pro-slavery southern Democrats did not like Douglas. Douglas thought that new states should vote on whether or not to have slavery. Southern Democrats thought that all the new states should have slavery no matter what. Since they did not like Douglas, they nominated their own candidate, John Breckinridge.

Image Credit: From <i>National Atlas of the United States</i>, 1970, file on Wikimedia Commons

A colored map of the United States. The upper half of the country is colored in green and the lower half is colored in purple. There are two sections in the middle of the map, one in yellow and one in pink, which separate the east and west coasts. The title of the map reads: FREE STATES AND SLAVE STATES." A map key is found in the lower left-hand corner of the map. The text in the map key is typed in black ink on a white background. In the lower right-hand corner is a compass rose.

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Maps & Charts

Free States and Slave States

Caption:

During the 1800s, the United States expanded west from the 13 original colonies into a much larger nation. Before the Civil War, whenever a new territory or state joined the United States, there was a big debate over whether slavery would be allowed there. In 1820, it was decided that there would be no more slavery north of the southern border of Missouri. In 1850, it was decided that the people who lived in the New Mexico territory and Utah territory should be allowed to vote on whether they would have slavery, even though some of that land was north of the 1820 line. In 1854, when Franklin Pierce was president of the United States, he signed a law called the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This allowed people who lived in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to vote on whether they would have slavery. This expansion of slavery into new parts of the United States angered people who were opposed to slavery, and helped set the stage for the Civil War.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Reynolds's Political Map of the United States

A colored horizontal map of the United States. The map is divided into colored sections of gray, red, and green. The lower half of the United States is colored in gray, the upper half in red, and the upper-left part in green. The title of the map, located along the upper border, reads "REYNOLDS/POLITICAL MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, THE COMPARATIVE AREA OF THE FREE AND SLAVE STATES."

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Maps & Charts

Reynolds's Political Map of the United States

circa 1856

William C. Reynolds and J.C. Jones

Caption:

During the 1800s, the United States expanded west from the 13 original colonies into a much larger nation. Before the Civil War, whenever a new territory or state joined the United States, there was a big debate over whether slavery would be allowed there. In 1820, it was decided that there would be no more slavery north of the southern border of Missouri. This was called the Missouri Compromise. In 1850, it was decided that the people who lived in the New Mexico territory and Utah territory should be allowed to vote on whether they would have slavery, even though some of that land was north of the 1820 line. In 1854, when Franklin Pierce was president of the United States, he signed a law called the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This allowed people who lived in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to vote on whether they would have slavery. This expansion of slavery into new parts of the United States angered people who were opposed to slavery, and helped set the stage for the Civil War.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

A horizontal map of the United States and Cuba. The United States is colored in green, with all of the states outlined in white. Cuba is colored in orange. In the bottom left-hand corner is a zoomed-in image of Florida and Cuba, with the distance between the two labeled as "143 MILES."

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Maps & Charts

The United States and Cuba

Caption:

This map shows the location of the country of Cuba relative to the United States.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A horizontal document showing two colored maps of the United States. The title of the map, located along the upper border, reads "THE UNITED STATES IN 1783 AND 1860." The map on the left is titled "1783" and is colored in gray, blue, yellow, and green. The areas colored in green are outlined in white to show the states located on the eastern side of the country. The map on the right is labeled "1860" and is colored in green and yellow. The areas colored in green are outlined in white to show the states located on the east and west coasts, as well as the states on the right-half of the country.

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Maps & Charts

The United States in 1783 and 1860

Caption:

The United States grew a lot between the end of the American Revolution and the start of the Civil War. Its new states and territories spread from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. There were a lot of differences between all these new states and territories, such as different laws, traditions, industries, and natural resources.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Objects in this Unit:

A statute of a man seated in a large chair. The man wears a collared shirt, a necktie, a vest, a long coat, a pair of pants, and shoes. The photograph of the left shows the statue from the front, and the photograph on the right shows the statue from the back. On the back of the chair is an eagle with its wings spread out wide.

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Objects

Abraham Lincoln Statue (front and back)

1909

Caption:

This statue of Abraham Lincoln is in his hometown of Hodgenville, Kentucky. It was erected in 1909, the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The sculptor was Adolph A. Weinman. The statue is made of bronze and the inscription on the front of the granite base is simply "Lincoln." On the back of the base, it says "Two miles south of this town Abraham Lincoln born February twelfth eighteen hundred and nine. Erected with appropriations made by the legislature of Kentucky and the Congress of the United States."

Image Credit: Front and back view on Wikimedia Commons. Front view image is from between 1995 and 2013 and is part of the National Archives and Records Administration RG 406, Digital Photographs Relating to America

A statue of a group of four men. Three of the men hold muskets, and wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes. The fourth man wears a sailor's cap and holds onto a steering wheel.

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Objects

African-American Civil War Memorial

1998

Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2006

Caption:

Over 200,000 African American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. (Union) Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped end the war and free over four million enslaved people in the South. This memorial to those soldiers and sailors was erected in Washington, D.C., in 1998. The statue was designed by Ed Hamilton and is called "The Spirit of Freedom." The inscription on the front of the base reads "Civil War to civil rights and beyond/This memorial is dedicated to those who served in the African American units of the Union Army in the Civil War/the 209,145 names inscribed on these walls commemorate those fighters of freedom." The inscription on the granite wall behind the statue reads "Who would free themselves must strike the blow/better even die free than to live as slaves/Frederick Douglass March 2, 1863." The curved walls all around the memorial have the names of all the African American men who served in the war. The memorial was paid for by a private foundation, but is now run by the National Park Service.

Image Credit: Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

A long wooden and metal gun, with a large base and thin barrel.

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Objects

Amoskeag Rifle

1864

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

Caption:

The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company made more than textiles over the years. They had a big machine shop where they made all of their own machines for producing textiles, so they were able to make other machines too. During the Civil War, they made rifles for the U.S. Army. There were 300 workers making 125 rifles each day. Altogether Amoskeag made over 27,000 rifles for the U.S. Army from 1861 to 1865.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Several sets of folded pieces of white cloth.

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Objects

Civil War Bandages

circa 1862–1865

Caption:

These bandages were used by Sarah Low, a woman from Dover, New Hampshire, who was a nurse during the Civil War. She worked in hospitals in Washington, D.C., taking care of sick and wounded U.S. Army (Union) soldiers. There were never enough bandages or other supplies. Nurses often had to make their own bandages. Women at home also made bandages and sent them to army hospitals or the battle front as a way to support the soldiers.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A gray drum with a blue and gold border. A large hole appears across the top of the drum.

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Objects

Civil War Drum

1863

David C. Hall

Caption:

This drum was used during the Civil War by Nathan Gove of Concord, New Hampshire. Gove joined the U.S. (Union) Army when he was 11 years old. He played the drum in a regimental band made up other soldiers from New Hampshire. The band performed important work. They played music at funerals, for parades, and while soldiers were marching. Their music inspired the other soldiers. They also played certain music to let soldiers know when to wake up, eat, and go to sleep. During battles, they helped take care of the wounded.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A wooden musket, with a long barrel and a silver trigger.

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Objects

Civil War Rifle Musket

1864

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

Caption:

This rifle was made by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the U.S. (Union) Army during the Civil War. Although the Amoskeag company is known for producing textiles (cloth), they also made locomotives, fire engines, and sewing machines. During the Civil War, the company also made rifles, like this one, for Union soldiers.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A silver oval with an eagle and the words "J. H. CHAPMAN./WINDSOR./N. H." carved into it.

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Objects

Civil War Soldier Identification Tag

circa 1862–1865

Caption:

During the Civil War, the U.S. government did not provide identification tags for U.S. Army soldiers. (These are called "dog tags" today.) Soldiers wanted their families to know if they were hurt or killed on the battlefield. So, many soldiers made or bought their own ID tags. This tag belonged to Joseph C. Chapman, a farmer from Windsor, New Hampshire. Chapman volunteered to serve in the U.S. (Union) Army. He survived the war, went home to Windsor, and died in 1920.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A set of camp cooking gear, including two pots with handles, a plate, a spoon and fork, matches, and a cup.

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Objects

Civil War Soldier's Mess Kit

1861–1865

Caption:

These items would have been carried by a Civil War soldier. Clockwise from the top, this photo shows a lantern, a frying pan, folding silverware, a plate with a hardtack biscuit on it, a match safe to keep the matches dry, and a tin cup.

Image Credit: Virginia Dell Sours Atkinson, C. F. Ray Sours, and John A. Sours, National Museum of American History, ©Smithsonian Institution

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Objects

Daniel Webster Statue

Caption:

Daniel Webster was one of the most famous American politicians in the 19th century. He was born in New Hampshire and started his political career there. Later, he moved to Massachusetts and continued to work in politics. He was a U.S. senator and the U.S. secretary of state, which meant that he represented the United States with other countries. In 1886, a statue of him was placed in front of the State House in Concord. It was such an important occasion that the state government held a big celebration. Over 30,000 people attended!

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A blue collared coat with buttons and blue pants.

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Objects

Drummer Boy's Uniform

1862

Caption:

This coat was worn by 14-year-old John Johnson during the Civil War. Johnson was a drummer boy in the U.S. (Union) Army. Drummer boys were really important for communication on the battlefield. Drumbeats told soldiers when and where to march and helped them stay in formation. Drumbeats also communicated orders from officers to troops on the battlefield.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A tall statue of a man with his right hand on his right hip, and his left hand on a short pillar covered in an American flag. He wears a high-collared shirt, necktie, vest, pants, and long coat. Over his shoulders is draped a large collared coat.

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Objects

Franklin Pierce Statue

1914

August Lukeman

Caption:

After Franklin Pierce died in 1869, many Granite Staters thought he deserved to have a statue at the State House. Pierce had been a popular politician with many friends. Not only had he represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Congress, he was the only person from New Hampshire to be elected president of the United States. Other people disagreed and felt that he had made too many mistakes as president. Finally in 1914 this statue of Franklin Pierce was placed at the front corner of the State House lawn.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A bronze statue of a man standing on a pedestal. He wears a long cape over his coat and rests his right hand on a fabric-covered stool.

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Objects

Franklin Pierce Statue in Concord

Photo by Carol M. Highsmith

Caption:

After Franklin Pierce died in 1869, many Granite Staters thought he deserved to have a statue in front of the State House. He was the only person from New Hampshire to have been elected president of the United States. Other people disagreed and felt he had made too many mistakes as president. In 1914 this statue, designed by August Lukeman, was placed at the front corner of the State House lawn.

Image Credit: Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

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Objects

Hardtack Biscuit

1865

Caption:

This is a piece of hardtack from the Civil War. Hardtack is a simple biscuit or cracker made from flour, water, and salt. It is inexpensive to make and lasts a long time, so it was often eaten by sailors and soldiers. This hardtack was brought home by a U.S. Army (Union) soldier from Hanover, New Hampshire, at the end of the Civil War. It was part of his military rations. Rations are a fixed portion of food that soldiers receive each day from the army. Union soldiers' rations were usually a pound of bread or hardtack and a pound of meat, like salt pork (like smoked bacon).

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Two sides of a cloth banner. The banner on the left shows a white man riding a white horse down a dirt road, while four Black men carrying a white man on a raised board run after him. The road ends at a large white building with columns on the front of it. Beneath the image in white text on a red background are the words: "THE PEOPLE'S VERDICT." Above the image are the words: "HONEST OLD ABE IS BOUND TO WIN." The banner on the right shows the words "LINCOLN & LIBERTY/FOREVER./BREKENRIDGE & SLAVERY/NEVER. OLD DERRY IS ALL RIGHT." The words all curve in the shape of a circle.

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Objects

Honest Old Abe Is Bound to Win

1860

Edward L. Custer

Caption:

This is a campaign banner from the presidential election of 1860. The front of the banner is on the left side and the back of the banner is on the right. It was painted by an artist from Manchester, New Hampshire. The figure on the top, riding a horse, is Abraham Lincoln. The figure on the bottom is John Breckinridge. Breckinridge was from Kentucky, and he was the southern Democratic candidate for president in 1860. Many southern politicians felt that the first Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglas from Illinois, was not pro-slavery enough so they nominated their own candidate. What do you notice about the way the artist represents the two candidates?

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Objects

John Hale Statue

Caption:

John Parker Hale was the country's first abolitionist senator. He was a politician from New Hampshire who spoke out against slavery and the expansion of slavery into new territories in the United States. In 1892, a statue of him was placed in front of the State House in Concord.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A rectangular wooden box, with a red colored inside. A sign on the inside lid of the case reads "MEDICINES CONTAINED IN THIS CASE."

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Objects

Medicine Case

circa 1861–1865

Caption:

This small wooden medicine case was used by Dr. Stillman J. Quinby, a U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War. Civil War medicine was very dangerous and difficult for wounded soldiers. At that time, doctors didn't understand yet how to prevent infections. They did not wash their hands or clean their medical instruments between surgeries. Many wounds became infected. There was no medicine back then, like antibiotics such as penicillin, to cure infections. Many soldiers became sick and died from infected wounds. Also, diseases spread rapidly among the troops, and there were no medicines to cure them. More soldiers died from illness during the Civil War than from battle injuries.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A cloth banner that hangs from a wooden rod. Painted writing on the banner reads "PRESENTED TO THE/CLAREMONT/REPUBLICATION/by the/KEENE REPUBLICANS./A TROPHY OF MARCH 15TH/1860."

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Objects

Republican Banner

1860

Caption:

This is an early example of a Republican campaign banner. The Republican political party was founded in New Hampshire in 1853. It was formed by a group of political leaders in New Hampshire who did not want slavery to spread into any places in the United States where it did not already exist. Soon this party spread into other northern states. By 1860, Republicans had won elections for many offices in New Hampshire, including governor.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A statue of a man in a flat cap, a long coat, a pair of pants, and shoes. The man looks downwards to the left and holds a musket in his hands. Beneath the man's statue are the words "ERECTED/IN THE HONOR OF THE/SOLDIERS OF/CLAREMONT/WHO DIED IN THE REBELLION OF 1861-1865/BY THEIR GRATEFUL/FELLOW CITIZENS" carved into the pedestal.

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Objects

Soldier at Rest

1869

Caption:

This is a Civil War memorial statue called "Soldier at Rest" in front of the city hall in Claremont, New Hampshire. It was put up by the people of the town of Claremont in 1869, not long after the Civil War ended. The plaque on the front says "erected in honor of the soldiers of Claremont who died in the rebellion of 1861-1865 by their grateful fellow citizens." There are plaques on the other three sides of the statue as well. Each of those plaques has a list of names. The names are of soldiers from Claremont who died in the Civil War. The statue was designed by an artist named Martin Milmore, who also designed Civil War memorials in Amherst, Keene, and Peterborough. This photo is from 2021.

Image Credit: Wikimedia User Kenneth C. Zirkel, 2021

A statue of a man seated on a horse. The man wears a hat, a coat with lots of buttons, pants, and boots. The statue sits on top of a hill in a field.

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Objects

Ulysses S. Grant Statue

1918

Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, circa 1980–2006

Caption:

This is a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, who commanded the U.S. (Union) Army during the Civil War. Later he was elected president. This statue is located in Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Vicksburg was the site of a famous Civil War battle in 1863. Grant led the Union forces to victory. This gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and was important in the defeat of the Confederacy. This statue was erected in 1918 and the sculptor was F. C. Hibbard.

Image Credit: Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

Photographs & Prints in this Unit:

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Photograph/Print

A Camp Fire at the Weirs

1897

From History of the Sixteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers by Luther Tracy Townsend

Caption:

After the Civil War ended, New Hampshire soldiers went home. Some of them found that they missed their fellow soldiers and wanted to talk with them about their experiences in the war. Starting in the 1870s, New Hampshire's Civil War veterans began to meet each year for a reunion at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. They would bring their families to camp, socialize with other veterans, sing songs and dance, and share stories and memories.

Image Credit: Internet Archive

A black and white illustration of a group of four men running on a curved road. The road ends at a large buildings with columns on the front. Three of the men have speech bubbles drawn next to their mouths. One of the men is drawn much larger than the other three, and leaps over the other men on the road. Behind the men is a large crowd of cheering people. The title of the illustration, located along the upper border, reads "A POLITICAL RACE."

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Photograph/Print

A Political Race

1860

Caption:

This political cartoon about the 1860 U.S. presidential election shows a running race between all of the candidates. Abraham Lincoln is the winner and the finish line is the White House. John Bell is saying, "Bless my soul I give up." Bell was the nominee from the Constitutional Union party. John C. Breckinridge is saying, "That long legged Abolitionist is getting ahead of us after all." Breckinridge was from Kentucky and he was the nominee from the southern Democrats. Stephen Douglas is saying, "I never run so in my life." Douglas, from Illinois, was the nominee from the northern Democrats. The 1860 presidential election was very unusual because there were four nominees.

Image Credit: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

A black and white drawing of a large crowd of angry people standing in a street lined with multi-storied buildings. An American flag hangs across the street from a rope that hangs between two of the buildings.

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Photograph/Print

Attack on a Newspaper Editor

1861

From The Soldier in our Civil War: A Pictorial History of the Conflict, edited by Paul F. Motteley and T. Campbell-Copeland, 1890

Caption:

Not everyone in the North supported the Union during the Civil War. Some northern newspapers printed articles that supported the Confederacy and criticized the Union government or Union soldiers. Sometimes Union supporters attacked those newspapers. For example, a crowd in Concord, New Hampshire attacked the editor of a newspaper called the Democratic Standard in August 1861. This picture shows a similar attack on a newspaper editor in Massachusetts a few weeks later.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored drawing of a large group of men carrying muskets who are fighting in a field. Several men are lying on the ground, while others ride on horseback.

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Photograph/Print

Battle of Gettysburg

circa 1870

James Walker

Caption:

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most important battles of the Civil War. It took place in July 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Over 900 soldiers from New Hampshire fought with the Union army in this battle. The Union won the battle. Their victory prevented the Confederate army from marching further north, and made it more likely that the Union would win the war. The battle lasted for three days, and more than 50,000 soldiers from both armies were killed, wounded, captured, or went missing.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

1863

Currier and Ives

Caption:

The Battle of Gettysburg was an important turning point in the Civil War. It took place in Pennsylvania in July 1863. It was the bloodiest battle of the war and lasted for three days. More than 50,000 soldiers on both sides were killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The Union won the battle, which helped the North eventually win the war. A New Hampshire regiment, the "Fighting Fifth," played an important role in the Battle of Gettysburg by helping to stop a Confederate attack. Many of the men in the Fifth were killed, including the commander, Colonel Cross.

Image Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, bequest of Adele S. Colgate, 1962

A black and white drawing of a fight between people on foot and people with muskets on horseback. Some of the people are lying on the ground.

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Photograph/Print

Bleeding Kansas

1858

Albert D. Richardson, Beyond the Mississippi, 1867

Caption:

There was a big argument over Kansas when Franklin Pierce was president. The argument was about whether Kansas should become part of the United States as a free state (meaning it would not allow slavery) or a slave state (meaning it would allow slavery). Eventually the federal government decided to let the people who lived in Kansas vote on the issue. Thousands of people from both the North and the South moved to Kansas to try to influence the vote. Violence broke out between the two sides and there was a civil war in Kansas. It became known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Image Credit: Internet Archive

A colored drawing of a two-storied building surrounded by water. The building is being attacked with explosive devices from ships floating in the water.

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Photograph/Print

Bombardment of Fort Sumter

1861

Currier and Ives

Caption:

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a federal fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. The federal government owned the fort and U.S. (Union) Army troops were stationed there. The Confederacy captured the fort.

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of a group of men working with logs. They all stand in a clearing next to a row of half-built shelters and piles of logs.

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Photograph/Print

Building Winter Housing

circa 1864–1865

Caption:

This photo shows U.S. (Union) Army soldiers during the Civil War. They are building housing for the winter at Fort Brady. Fort Brady was on the James River in Virginia.

Image Credit: Civil War Photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing among three large cannons. All of the men wear wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Battle

1862

James F. Gibson

Caption:

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of several rows of triangle-shaped tents.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Encampment

circa 1862–1863

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. This photo shows an encampment of New Hampshire volunteers stationed in South Carolina.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men and boys sitting around a picnic table. To the left of the group is a boy sitting on a drum, holding drum sticks, and a man holding a ladle next to a large pot. Behind the group are rows of triangle-shaped tents. All of the men and boys wear wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Soldiers Eating

1862

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. This group of soldiers was stationed in South Carolina. They were part of the band. The band performed important work. They played music at funerals, for parades, and while soldiers were marching. Their music inspired the other soldiers. They also played certain music to let soldiers know when to wake up, eat, and go to sleep. During battles, they helped take care of the wounded. In this photo, members of the band are eating lunch together.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing and sitting in a field, all looking at the camera. Behind the men are large tents. All of the men wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Soldiers Hospital Detail

circa 1862–1863

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. This group of soldiers was stationed in South Carolina. They are sitting and standing in front of tents and a cabin. The tents and cabin were the hospital for this regiment, where sick or wounded soldiers received medical care.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing in lines, all facing the camera. All of the men wear wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes. Some of the men carry muskets, while others carry a sword. In the background are several triangle-shaped tents.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Soldiers in Formation

1862

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. This group of soldiers was stationed in South Carolina. This photo shows them standing in formation. A formation is a particular way for soldiers to line up in order to do roll call, hear information or orders, or to march into battle.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of three men with their backs to the camera. They stand inside a U-shaped structure made out of branches. They face outwards behind a tall wall.

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Photograph/Print

Civil War Soldiers Near Richmond

1865

E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., American and Foreign Stereoscopic Emporium

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. They often fought frightening, dangerous battles far from home. This photo is from near the end of the war. U.S. Army soldiers are getting ready to attack a fort that protected the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, called Fort Mahone. The Union troops were able to take the fort and a few days later captured Richmond. The Confederate army surrendered a week later.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of a group of men standing outside of a covered shelter. Some of the men wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes, while others were an apron over a long-sleeve shirt, pants, and shoes. One of the men in an apron stands next to a large pot, holding a ladle.

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Photograph/Print

Cook's Galley, Civil War Encampment

1862

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Daniel Webster Addressing the United States Senate

A black and white drawing of a large group of men sitting at desks in a semi-circle. They are all looking at a man with one of his arms raised in the right-hand corner of the drawing. The title of the drawing, located along the bottom border, reads: "DANIEL WEBSTER ADDRESSING THE UNITED STATES SENATE/IN THE GREAT DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND THE UNION 1850."

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Photograph/Print

Daniel Webster Addressing the United States Senate

circa 1860

Caption:

Daniel Webster was a political leader who worked to keep the United States together in the years before the Civil War. He was born in New Hampshire and represented the Granite State in the U.S. House of Representatives. Later he moved to Massachusetts and was elected a U.S. senator. He was known for being an excellent public speaker. This drawing shows him giving an important speech in the U.S. Capitol about the Compromise of 1850.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana

A black and white illustration of a group of four men ripping apart a map of the United States. All of the men wear collared shirts, neckties, vests, jackets, pants, and pointed shoes.

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Photograph/Print

Dividing the National Map

1860

Caption:

This political cartoon shows the presidential election of 1860. This was an unusual election because there were four major candidates. The country was very divided at this time, and the Civil War began shortly after. The person on the far left is Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate. Next to Lincoln is Stephen Douglas, the northern Democratic candidate. John Breckinridge is in the middle. He was the southern Democratic candidate. He was from Kentucky and would later join the Confederate States of America. The person on the far right is John Bell. He was the presidential candidate from the Constitutional Union party.

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A colored drawing of groups of soldiers marching in straight lines, with several men on horseback. Behind the men are rows of white tents and a forested mountain range. The title of the drawing, located along the bottom border, reads: "CAMP CASEY, NEAR BLADENSBURG, MD/4TH REGT. R.I.V. COL. J.P. RADMAN. 5TH REGT. N.H.V. COL. EDWARD CROSS."

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Photograph/Print

Fifth N.H. Regiment at Camp

circa 1861

E. Sachse and Company

Caption:

Nearly 35,000 New Hampshire men fought for the Union during the Civil War. Thousands of them were volunteers. The Fifth N.H. Volunteer Regiment was one of the most famous regiments in the entire Union Army. They were known as the "Fighting Fifth." They fought in some of the hardest battles of the Civil War, and lost more men in battle than any other regiment. This illustration shows them at Camp Casey in Maryland. The left side of the image is a regiment from Rhode Island, and the right side shows the Fighting Fifth.

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of a group of men marching in straight lines. They all carry muskets and backpacks with rolled-up blankets.

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Photograph/Print

First N.H. Regiment

circa 1861

Caption:

There were 18 volunteer New Hampshire regiments in the U.S. (Union) Army during the Civil War. The first group of volunteers was organized into the First N.H. Infantry Regiment. They trained in Concord. This photo shows them marching on Main Street, a few blocks south of the State House. The First N.H. Regiment fought in Virginia.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

Colored portrait of a man looking to the left. He has wavy brown hair, and wears a high white collared shirt, a black neck-tie, and a black jacket.

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Photograph/Print

Franklin Pierce

circa 1853

Ulysses D. Tenney

Caption:

This is a portrait of Franklin Pierce, the only person from New Hampshire to ever become president of the United States. He was born in Hillsborough in 1804 and later moved to Concord. Pierce was a lawyer and a politician, and represented New Hampshire in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He also served in the U.S. Army in the Mexican-American War. He was elected president in 1852 and served one term, from 1853 to 1857. He died in 1869.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a man facing to the left. He has curly hair parted on the side. He wears a high-collared shirt, a necktie and jacket.

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Photograph/Print

Franklin Pierce, 1861

1861

Caption:

Franklin Pierce was president of the United States from 1853 to 1857. Then he returned to Concord, but he was not very popular in New Hampshire. Many northerners were angry that he had sided with southerners about allowing slavery in Kansas. When the Civil War began, he was even less popular.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored painting of a group of men standing in a room. Most of the men wear blue uniforms with gold buttons, while two of the men wear gray uniforms. One of the men in a gray uniform shakes hands with one of the men in a blue uniform.

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Photograph/Print

General Lee Surrenders

1865

Reproduction of a painting done by Thomas Nast in 1895

Caption:

The Civil War ended with a Union victory in April 1865. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. This painting shows him shaking hands with Union General Ulysses S. Grant, who would later go on to become president of the United States. Confederate soldiers are wearing gray uniforms, and Union soldiers are wearing blue uniforms.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A colored drawing of groups of soldiers marching in straight lines, with several men on horseback. Large crowds of people watch the parade of soldiers from both sides of the road. Behind the soldiers is a large raised seating area that is decorated with many American flags. Behind the seating area is a large white building.

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Photograph/Print

Grand Review of the Armies

1865

E. Sachse and Company

Caption:

The Grand Review of the Armies was a big military parade and celebration of the Union victory in the Civil War. About 145,000 soldiers marched down the streets of Washington, D.C. Huge crowds filled the streets and both the soldiers and the people watching sang patriotic songs. Political and military leaders, including President Andrew Johnson, watched the parade from in front of the White House.

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white photograph of a woman looking to the left of the viewer. She wears a dress with long sleeves and a checkered apron.

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Photograph/Print

Harriet Dame

1864

Caption:

Many New Hampshire women served as nurses during the Civil War, but Harriet Dame was unusual. She traveled with the soldiers of the Second N.H. Regiment. She camped with them in muddy, cold fields, and took care of them on the battlefield. She stayed with them for the entire war. She was even captured twice by the Confederates, but they let her go. The soldiers in the Second Regiment loved and respected her, and they called her "Aunt Harriet."

Image Credit: U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center at Carlisle Barracks

Infantry Unit at Grand Review of the Armies

A black and white photograph of a group of soldiers holding muskets, marching on a road. Large crowds of people watch the parade of soldiers from both sides of the road. A domed building can be seen in the background.

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Photograph/Print

Infantry Unit at Grand Review of the Armies

1865

Matthew Brady

Caption:

The Grand Review of the Armies was a big military parade and celebration of the Union victory in the Civil War. About 145,000 soldiers marched down the streets of Washington, D.C. Huge crowds filled the streets and both the soldiers and the people watching sang patriotic songs. The infantry was so large that it marched 12 soldiers across on the streets. The celebration lasted for two days, May 23–24, 1865. When it was over, the troops were sent home.

Image Credit: Library of Congress

A black and white photograph of a man looking at the viewer. He wears a white collared shirt and a black necktie and jacket.

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Photograph/Print

John Parker Hale

circa 1845

Caption:

John Parker Hale was a politician from New Hampshire in the 1800s. He was a Democrat who disagreed with Franklin Pierce about slavery. Hale believed that slavery should not exist in the United States, and that the federal government should not support it. He was elected to Congress in 1844 and tried to stop slavery from spreading into new American states. Later he became the first abolitionist senator. That means he was the first person in the U.S. Senate to say that the federal government should end slavery even in the southern states.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white drawing of a group of men standing in a camp ground. They all stand and look at a man who stands on a large barrel.

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Photograph/Print

Kansas-Nebraska Act

1854

James D. McCabe, The Pictorial History of the United States, 1893

Caption:

There was a big argument over Kansas when Franklin Pierce was president. The argument was about whether Kansas should become part of the United States as a free state (meaning it would not allow slavery) or a slave state (meaning it would allow slavery). Eventually the federal government decided to let the people who lived in Kansas vote on the issue. Thousands of people from both the North and the South moved to Kansas to try to influence the vote. The two sides held large demonstrations, gave speeches, and even physically attacked one another.

Image Credit: Internet Archive

A colored painting of two men and two women sitting in chairs, facing away from the viewer. They all look at a performance that is happening on a stage in front of them. In the left-hand corner of the painting is a third man, who aims a small gun at the head of the man sitting closest to him.

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Photograph/Print

Lincoln Assassination

1865

Based on a mechanical glass slide by T. M. McAllister, restored by Adam Cuerden

Caption:

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just a few days after the Civil War ended. John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, shot him as he watched a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. The Vice President, Andrew Johnson, became president.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A black and white drawing of a man standing behind a podium on a stage. He speaks to a large group of people seated below the stage.

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Photograph/Print

Lincoln at Cooper Union

1860

Caption:

Abraham Lincoln visited the northeast in the winter of 1860 and gave several speeches. This illustration shows him giving a famous speech at Cooper Union in New York City. A few days later, he arrived in New Hampshire, where he gave speeches in Manchester, Concord, Dover, and Exeter to huge crowds. In these speeches, Lincoln said that slavery should not be allowed to expand westward. These speeches were really important because they introduced Lincoln to voters in the east. A few months later, he was nominated for president.

Image Credit: From the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum

Manchester Locomotive Works Steam Engine

A colored drawing of a train with a large steam engine. The train is black, gray, and gold, and has red wheels.

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Photograph/Print

Manchester Locomotive Works Steam Engine

circa 1855

Drawn by Lorenzo Luthy and Louis Meyer, printed by John H. Bufford

Caption:

Although New Hampshire is best known for manufacturing textiles, many other products were made in New Hampshire in the 1800s. Some examples are stagecoaches, shoes, and paper. There were also companies that made steam engines for trains. During the Civil War, New Hampshire factories made steam engines that were used by the army. This steam engine was made by the Manchester Locomotive Works.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a boy facing the camera. He stands and leans his right arm against a pillar. He wears a jacket with buttons, pants, and shoes.

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Photograph/Print

Nathan Gove

circa 1861–1865

Kimball Studio

Caption:

This photo shows Nathan Gove, who played his drum with a U.S. (Union) Army band during the Civil War. Gove was from Concord, and he was only 11 years old when he went off to war. His father and his older brother also played with the band. They were part of a regiment, or group, of soldiers who were all from New Hampshire.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A black and white photograph of a group of men and boys looking at the camera. The row of men in the back of the group all stand, while the group in front sits in chairs. All of the men and boys wear wear flat caps, long coats with many buttons, pants, and shoes. They all hold musical instruments, like trumpets, horns, and drums.

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Photograph/Print

New Hampshire Regiment Band

1862

Henry P. Moore

Caption:

This photo shows the band of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment Volunteers, a group of soldiers from New Hampshire who fought with the U.S. (Union) Army during the Civil War. This regiment was based at Hilton Head, South Carolina. There were 23 members of the band. The band performed important work. They played music at funerals, for parades, and while soldiers were marching. They also played certain music to let soldiers know when to wake up, eat, and go to sleep. The boy sitting on the drum in the front is Nathan Gove, a young drummer boy. The boy leaning against the large drum on the right is Billy Seabrook. Billy had run away from his enslaver and the regiment hired him to carry the drum.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored postcard of a brown multi-storied building with a domed tower and a large porch. An American flag hangs from a flag pole behind the building. The title of the postcard, located in the upper left-hand corner, reads: "N.H. Soldiers' Home, Tilton, N.H."

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Photograph/Print

New Hampshire Soldiers' Home

circa 1908

Atkinson News Co.

Caption:

The state of New Hampshire created the New Hampshire Soldiers' Home in 1890 in Tilton, New Hampshire. It gave Civil War veterans a place to live if they could not live on their own because of their wartime injuries, illness, or old age. Today it is known as the New Hampshire Veterans' Home.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

New Hampshire Union Soldiers on Morning Duty

A colored illustration of a large group of men dressed in long blue coats and pants. All of the men carry either a shovel, a pick-axe, a pitch fork, or a rake. They all walk in straight rows past three large triangle-shaped white tents.

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Photograph/Print

New Hampshire Union Soldiers on Morning Duty

circa 1890

Illustration by W. T. Crane, published in The Soldier in Our Civil War: A Pictorial History of the Conflict by Frank Leslie

Caption:

When the Civil War began in April 1861, thousands of men from New Hampshire volunteered to fight in the U.S. (Union) Army. This group of soldiers was stationed in South Carolina. In this picture, they are reporting for their morning duties. The picture is from a book written about the Civil War in 1890.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Veterans' Association Campgrounds, Weirs Beach

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New Hampshire Veterans' Association Campgrounds, Weirs Beach

circa 1898–1931

Detroit Publishing Company

Caption:

Starting in the 1870s, New Hampshire's Civil War veterans began to meet each year for a reunion at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. They would bring their families to camp, socialize with other veterans, sing songs and dance, and share stories of their experiences during the war. More than 1,500 veterans and their families attended these reunions. Eventually the veterans' groups built permanent buildings to stay in during these reunions. This postcard shows the main entrance to the campground.

Image Credit: New York Public Library Digital Collections

A black and white photograph of a church with a tall steeple. The church's main building is two-stories tall. There is a road in front of the church, which is lined with trees. Surrounding the church is a picket fence.

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Photograph/Print

Old North Meeting House

circa 1860

Caption:

In 1845, a very important debate was held at the Old North Meeting House in Concord, New Hampshire. The debate was between two famous New Hampshire politicians, Franklin Pierce and John Parker Hale. They debated the issue of slavery and whether the federal government had the right to end it. Over 1,000 people attended the debate. Newspapers all over the country printed stories about the debate.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored, vertical poster of two men in circular portraits. Both men wear hihg white collared shirts, black neck ties, and balck jackets. Beneath the portrait on the left are the words "FRANKLIN PIERCE", and underneath the portrait on the right are the words "WILLIAM R. KING." The portraits are placed in the center of the poster. Above the portraits are draped American flags and a large eagle. The poster is framed by draped red curtains along the upper border. Beneath the portraits are curving gold and white ribbons.

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Photograph/Print

Pierce Campaign Poster

1852

Nathaniel Currier

Caption:

This campaign poster from the election of 1852 shows candidates Franklin Pierce for president and William King for vice-president. Pierce was a dark horse, or unexpected, candidate. The Democratic Party chose him because he did not take a firm position either for or against slavery, and they thought he had the best chance to win. Pierce did win the election, and became the only person from New Hampshire to be president of the United States.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

A colored painting of a group of Black men, women, and children dressed in white clothing working in a field surrounded by palm trees. The field is covered in green bushes with white and yellow blossoms. Several of the people place the white blossoms into sacks or woven baskets. There are two lines of text, typed in black text on white paper, that border the painting. The top line of text reads "PROGRESS OF COTTON No. 1" and the bottom line reads "COTTON PLANTATION."

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Photograph/Print

Plantation Slavery

1840

Lithograph after J. R. Barfoot

Caption:

Slavery was a labor system in America where Black people were taken from Africa to this country and forced to work for whites. Enslaved people had no freedom and could not leave. When they had children, the children were enslaved too. This image shows plantation slavery, where enslaved people had to work in the fields to plant and harvest a cash crop, like cotton. Slavery in the United States was not outlawed until 1865, after the Civil War, when the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

Image Credit: Courtesy of the Wellcome Collection

A colored photograph of a statue of a man on a horse that is rigged up to a crane. Several people watch what is happening from the sides of the road.

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Photograph/Print

Removal of Stonewall Jackson Statue

2020

Caption:

After the Civil War, many monuments and memorials were put up in both the North and the South to remember important generals as well as regular soldiers. People disagree about whether some of these statues should stay up. Statues of former Confederate leaders honor people who fought in favor of slavery and against the Union. For that reason, many people believe these statues should be removed. This photo shows the removal of a statue of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in Richmond, Virginia.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons user Mk17b

A black and white drawing of a large group of people standing in front of a two-storied building.

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Photograph/Print

Republican Convention

1856

Caption:

A new political party was founded in New Hampshire in 1853. It was founded on the idea that slavery should not spread into any states where it didn't already exist. It became known as the Republican Party. By 1856 it had grown large enough to have a national meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to nominate a candidate for president. This image shows people gathering outside the convention hall where the meeting was held.

Image Credit: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

A colored photograph of a three-storied, domed building in the middle of a grassy lawn. Surrounding the lawn are multi-storied buildings. The building's dome is gold-colored and the rest of the building is gray. The front of the building juts out and is decorated with a row of columns.

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Photograph/Print

State House Aerial View

Caption:

This photo shows the State House lawn from above. You can see three of the five statues: John Stark, Daniel Webster, and John Parker Hale. John Stark is a famous Revolutionary War general. Daniel Webster and John Parker Hale were politicians from New Hampshire in the years before the Civil War.

Image Credit: Adobe Stock user Wangkun Jia

A black and white drawing of three snakes with human heads starring at a woman in a long dress. She carries a sword and a shield that says "UNION."

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Photograph/Print

The Copperhead Party

1863

Harper's Weekly

Caption:

"Copperheads" was a nickname for a group of anti-Union Democrats during the Civil War. They were northern Democrats who were opposed to President Lincoln and wanted the war to end immediately. Northern Republicans, who supported Lincoln and the war, called them "copperheads" after a type of poisonous snake. Republicans in New Hampshire called Franklin Pierce a copperhead. This newspaper cartoon shows a group of snakes, or copperheads. They are threatening a woman, who represents the Union.

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A black and white drawing of a woman wearing a bonnet, a long dress, and a cape sitting on a bed. She is writing a letter. Next to the woman is a man lying down. Behind them are several rows of beds. Another woman stands in front of one of the beds. Next to her is a man with only one leg, who holds crutches in his hands.

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The Letter for Home

1863

Winslow Homer

Caption:

This drawing shows a Civil War nurse helping a wounded soldier write a letter home. Nurses were very important during the Civil War. They provided medical care for sick and wounded soldiers. They also fed the soldiers, read to them, prayed with them, and helped them write letters. They also managed supplies, cooked, and cleaned. Many women from New Hampshire traveled to Washington, D.C., to work as nurses in the large Union hospitals there.

Image Credit: New York Public Library Digital Collections

A colored painting of two ships with tall masts in the middle of a body of water. The ship on the left has black smoke coming out of a tall smoke stack. The ship on the right is sinking into the water.

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Photograph/Print

USS Kearsarge

Print of an oil painting by Xanthus Smith

Caption:

Shipbuilding was an important New Hampshire contribution to the Union during the Civil War. This picture shows a famous naval battle during the Civil War. The ship on the left, the USS Kearsarge, was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It has attacked and sunk the ship on the right, a Confederate ship called the CSS Alabama. This battle took place in June 1864.

Image Credit: New Hampshire Historical Society

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GAME SETTINGS

Find It! New Hampshire and the Civil War

Find It! Scavenger Hunt

Click On An Icon To Find A Resource!

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