1861

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January 14, 1861

• The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Monday, January 14, 1861 - Page 1 “Shakespeare - His Life and Text” — “Newspaper readers will remember that when our chess-playing knight-errant—Paul Morphy—had vanquished all the European chess-players who entered the lists with him, he challenged the English champion, Howard Staunton. The latter declined, alleging as a reason that chess playing was his amusement while literature was his profession; that he had some reputation as a player which he did not choose to risk without acquiring his usual skill by practice, and that he had no time for practice, as he was then engaged on an important literary undertaking. Just then chess was the ‘rage’ on this side, and we all felt interest enough in the matter to scrutinize the objections of the Englishman, whose conduct was denounced by all patriotic Americans as at the very least “blamed ungentlemanly.” It was understood then that Mr. Staunton was engaged then in editing the plays of Shakespeare, and by our last files of foreign papers we perceive, the work has been published.” Read More

February 10, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, February 10, 1861 - Page 14 “Chess by Herr Loewenthal”

March 14, 1861

• The Pittsfield Sun Pittsfield, Massachusetts Thursday, March 14, 1861 - Page 1 — “Miscellaneous - Check-Mated”

March 22, 1861

• Bedford Gazette Bedford, Pennsylvania Friday, March 22, 1861 - Page 3 “Letter from Paul Morphy, the Celebrated Chess Player.” — The accuracy of the gifted time-piece given to Mr. Morphy. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

March 23, 1861

• New York Daily Herald New York, New York Saturday, March 23, 1861 - Page 4 “A Probable Rival of Morphy.” / ★ / ★ / ★ —An interesting match is now in progress between Mr. Perrin, the President of the Brooklyn Chess Club, and Mr. W.J.A. Leonard, a youth of nineteen years of age, who has for some time been creating a sensation in New York by his conquests of veterans in Caissa's lists. So far three games have been played, of which Mr. Leonard has won two, and judges of the game anticipate that if this young gentleman goes on at the rate at which he has commenced, the redoubtable Paul Morphy will have to surrender his laurels to his Brooklyn rival.” Read More

April 06, 1861

• Weekly Atchison Champion Atchison, Kansas Saturday, April 06, 1861 - Page 2 “Senate Makes Move” — “…—Yesterday was a day of excitement at the Capital. The Senate made a move on the political chess-board which was like one of the daring innovations of Paul Morphy, carrying terror and dismay with it, and utterly disconcerting all the well-laid plans of the opponent. By it, all old combinations were broken and shattered, prostrated and discomfited… Read More

May 03, 1861

• Birmingham Daily Post Birmingham, West Midlands, England Friday, May 03, 1861 - Page 2 “A New Opponent To Morphy” — “Mr. Kolisch, an eminent metropolitan practitioner, has circulated among provincial chess-players the following resolution, agreed to at a meeting held on the 12th of April, in the St. George's Chess Club, London:— “Mr. Kolish having intimated to several members of the Metropolitan Chess Clubs his willingness to play a match with Mr. Paul Morphy, it was considered most advisable, in order to bring about so interesting an event, that a committee should at once be formed.
  “The following gentlemen having been appointed: Lord Arthur Hay, N. Strode, Esq., Thomas J. Hampton, Esq., St. George's Club; Herr J. Loewenthal, St. James Club; George Maude, Esq., London Chess Club; it was resolved that the above-named gentlemen be requested on behalf of the undersigned to promote and carry out the necessary arrangements for inviting Mr. Paul Morphy to play a match at chess with Herr Ignace Kolisch.”
  [Here follow the signatures of the distinguished London chess-players who co-operate with Mr. Kolisch in his undertaking. The list includes the names of Lord Lyttelton and Mr. Mongredien (the presidents of the leading chess societies), Viscount Cromorne, Sir John Trelawny, &c.]
  The committee has already resolved upon the form and substance of the letter to be sent to Mr. Morphy, and will shortly forward it to that gentleman. In forwarding the circular, Mr. Kolisch states that he would be glad to have a preliminary skirmish with players of the Birmingham or any other chess club that will arrange for his paying them a brief visit.” Read More

May 05, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, May 05, 1861 - Page 14 “Chess by Herr Loewenthal” — G.R. —“We have heard nothing of the contemplated American Congress. In fact, since the retirement of Messrs. Morphy and Fiske from the editorship of the “Chess Monthly,” there seems to be quite a stagnation in American Chess.” … Paul Morphy and a New York Amateur. “and Mr. Morphy mates in two moves.—Chess Monthly Read More

May 12, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, May 12, 1861 - Page 5 “Chess by Herr Loewenthal” — St. James Chess Club. It was resolved that the Club should give all the aid in its power towards promoting the proposed match between Mr. Paul Morphy and Herr Kolisch.

May 16, 1861

• Belfast News-Letter Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland Thursday, May 16, 1861 - Page 4 “Probable Challenge To Paul Morphy.”—Our chess columns this week contain some correspondence which will create an immense sensation among the lovers of chess and the American public at large. Paul Morphy, one of the greatest chess phenomena that the world has seen, was in Europe; the greatest players suffered defeat at his hands, and the English champion, Staunton, declined to meet him. Now, however, it seems that the great European player, Kolisch, is ready to play him for 5,000 dollars in England, or, if that does not suit, he will come to New York, and here engage our hitherto invincible Morphy. This news will create a great sensation among the kings, queens, knights, and bishops of the game, and we are proud to be the first to lay it before the chess world.—Wilke's Spirit of the Times Read More

June 08, 1861

• The Leeds Mercury Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Saturday, June 08, 1861 - Page 9 “West Yorkshire Chess Association” — … the chief attraction was the presence of Herr Kolisch, who, having beaten most of the best chess players in the Old World, has challenged Mr. Morphy, the American, with the view of crowning his laurels. Other chess celebrities were present.” Read More

June 09, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, June 09, 1861 - Page 5 “To The Editor Of The Era.” — Dear Sir,—In the September number of the ‘Chess Monthly’ for 1860 (vol. IV, pp 262 to 264), Major Jaenisch, in an interesting review of Herr Loewenthal's admirable edition of Paul Morphy's games, shows that the defense to the King's Bishop Gambit, 1 P to K 4th; P to K 4th, 2. P to KB 4th; P takes P. 3 B to Q B 4th; K Kt to B 3d. which Herr Loewenthal supposed to have been invented by Morphy, had been given in the Berlin Schachzeitung for 1850, by a Prussian player, De Hanneken. Major Jaenisch is, however, in error, in attributing the discovery of this move to De Hanneken, for the defense, 3 K Kt to B 3d, is analysed at some length by Ruy Lopez, the Spanish master, whose work was published in 1561, that is 289 years before the publication of the volume… Read More

June 16, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, June 16, 1861 - Page 5 “Great Chess Contest.” — Last Monday evening there was a great gathering of Chess players in the rooms of the Liverpool Club, on the occasion of an exciting contest between the celebrated Hungarian player, Herr Kolisch, and fifteen members of the Club. The whole of the games were simultaneously, and great admiration was excited by the manner in which Herr Kolisch acquitted himself. A large majority of the games were decided in his favour; but it is only right to add, that several of the best players in the Club were absent…We understand that Herr Kolish has challenged Paul Morphy, the champion of America, and if a match should come off between them, the well-proved skill of the combatants would render it very interesting.” Read More

June 30, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, June 30, 1861 - Page 6 “Chess by Herr Loewenthal” — Paul Morphy and F. Perrin — In the following game, Mr. P. Morphy gives the odds of the Queen's Knight to Mr. F. Perrin”

July 06, 1861

• Burlington Daily Times Burlington, Vermont Saturday, July 06, 1861 - Page 1 “A Game of Chess - Players, General Scott and Jeff Davis” / ★ — “A short time ago the chess-playing public was much excited by the skillful games of Paul Morphy with the leading chess-players of the world in which the stakes were reputations of the contestants as masters of the game. The Union is now watching with intense interest…” Read More

July 07, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, July 07, 1861 - Page 14 “Mr. Paul Morphy.” —The following declaration, signed by Mr. Paul Morphy, appears in Wilke's Spirit of the Times. The “contemplated match” referred to, is the proposed trial of strength between Mr. Morphy and Herr Kolisch:— “All I can promise (and I wish it to be understood as a special exception to the rule I have adopted of playing no matches in future) is to arrange my time whenever I may again visit the old world so as to devote a couple of weeks, or more if necessary, to the contemplated match. I must state in this connexion that I positive decline playing for any stake whatever.” (Signed) PAUL MORPHY.” Read More

August 16, 1861

• Daily News London, Greater London, England Friday, August 16, 1861 - Page 2 “Chess” M. St. Amant, the well-known player, publishes the following sketch in the Sport:—“During a late visit to London, we witnessed, at the City Chess Club, a very interesting match between M. Kolisch and M. Anderssen. The latter gentleman, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Breslau, had availed himself of his yearly vacation to make a trip to London, in order to try his strength with M. Kolisch, who had become the terror of chess-players on the banks of the Thames, and whom the laurels of the admirable Morphy also prevent from sleeping. These able players, both Germans, began by a skirmish of four games, the honors of which were equally divided, and then, in order to decide a more serious match, the prize for which (ten guineas) was subscribed by the members of the club, they began a series of games, in which he who should first gain four was to be declared the victor… Read More

August 26, 1861

• Daily News London, Greater London, England Monday, August 26, 1861 - Page 3 “British Chess Association” —The arrangements for the September meeting of this association at Bristol are now completed, and it is expected to be the best and most numerously attended gather of the kind that has ever taken place in England. The presence of the renowned American chess player, Mr. Paulsen, will give unusual zest to the congress. This gentleman surpasses Morphy himself, the acknowledged emperor of the chequered field, in the extent of his blindfold achievements, having frequently conducted twelve games at one time without sight of either board or men; an almost incredible marvel to all who can appreciate the difficulty of playing a single chess game even ordinarily well over the board.… Read More

September 15, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, September 15, 1861 - Page 6 “The Chess Congress at Bristol — “…In all other respects, however that Meeting promised to be one of the best, if not the best they had ever had. (Hear, hear.) The presence of the distinguished American player, Mr. Paulsen (cheers), would alone be sufficient to constitute the present a new era in the history of the game, second only to the time of the visit of his renowned compatriot, Mr. Paul Morphy. (Hear, hear.) It was very satisfactory to see assembled in that room so many distinguished Chess players, who would engage in friendly rivalry… Read More

October 08, 1861

• The Morning Chronicle London, Greater London, England Tuesday, October 08, 1861 - Page 3 — Extraordinary Game of Chess Last Night-A Blindfolded Player

October 15, 1861

• The Courier and Argus Dundee, Tayside, Scotland Tuesday, October 15, 1861 - Page 3 — An Extraordinary Chess Player. ★

October 16, 1861

• The Derby Mercury Derby, Derbyshire, England Wednesday, October 16, 1861 - Page 6 — Great Chess Match in London.

• Aberdeen Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland Wednesday, October 16, 1861 - Page 3 — Extraordinary Chess Match.

October 21, 1861

• The Buffalo Commercial Buffalo, New York Monday, October 21, 1861 - Page 2 — Paulsen Victorious. / ★

October 22, 1861

• Cincinnati Daily Press Cincinnati, Ohio Tuesday, October 22, 1861 - Page 3 “American Chess in England” — We learn, from the late London papers, that Mr. Louis Paulsen, who was the greatest of Morphy's American competitors in the game of chess, has recently come out as the first victor at the recent tournament of the British Chess Association. The contest of the players had narrowed itself down to Mr. Borden, of London, and Mr. Paulsen; and the former gentleman had preferred to stake the laurels of the occasion upon the deciding game instead of the usual three. The game was opened by Mr. Borden, with a Ruy Lopes attack, whereupon Mr. Paulsen adopted what the English reporters call a novel style of defense, which not only bewildered his antagonist, but puzzled all the lookers-on. In a dozen moves the advantage was entirely on the side of the American player, and, preserving it throughout, he was declared, the end of the game, the first prize victor the tournament.
  After this event, a match was made by the London Chess Club between Mr. Paulsen and Mr. Kolisch. They will contend for the first nine games, and the time for the moves is stipulated to be twenty for each two hours and a half. The match will doubtless prove of immense interest, as Mr. Kolisch is the player who recently challenged Mr. Morphy for the sum of £1,000 a side. Mr. Paulsen, though a German by birth, arrived at manhood in this country, and the whole of chess history and training was developed the brilliant school of the United States.— Wilkes's Spirit of the Times ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

October 23, 1861

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Wednesday, October 23, 1861 - Page 2 “The Chess Champions.” —It is a long time since we have heard from Morphy and Paulsen, the chess champions of America. The Dubuque Times learns that Paulsen, whose residence is in that city, has beat them all at the chess tourney of England, at London, winning the first prize, if not the honor of standing first in the world. ★ Read More

October 24, 1861

• The New York Times New York, New York Thursday, October 24, 1861 - Page 5 — Eight Games of Chess To Be Played Blindfolded.

• Sheffield and Rotherham Independent Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England Thursday, October 24, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Soiree. ★

• Richmond Dispatch Richmond, Virginia Thursday, October 24, 1861 - Page 2 — Richmond Chess Club. — A meeting of the members of the Club will be held at their Room, over J.P. Duval's Drug Store, THIS EVENING, (Thursday) 24th inst., at 8 o'clock. Mr. Morphy has kindly consented to be present.

Richmond Chess Club 24 Oct 1861, Thu Richmond Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia) Newspapers.com

This is the tiny reference to Mr. Morphy attending a so-called “confederate” chess club… but there's not a thing printed therein, associated with “politics”! How this got blown out of proportion by Northern Newspapers polarized by extremist Civil War propaganda, from attending the “Richmond Chess Club” to labeled a “rebel” and “bitter secessionist” is utterly —> Stupid.

October 25, 1861

• The Freeman's Journal Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Friday, October 25, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess In Dublin. - A Match by Telegraph / ★

• Mobile Advertiser and Register Mobile, Alabama Friday, October 25, 1861 - Page 1 — Among other strangers visiting Richmond a letter to the Memphis Appeal mentions, “There is also in Richmond a gifted young Alabamian, about the same age with Mr. Morphy, who has achieved a high degree of popularity as a poet. This is Mr. Henry Lynden Flash, of Mobile, whose muse has lately been given to patriotic measures, as a good Southern muse should be.” Read More

October 27, 1861

• The New York Times New York, New York Sunday, October 27, 1861 - Page 5 — Eight Blindfold Games of Chess

• The Sunday Delta New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, October 27, 1861 - Page 2 — From The Seat of War in Virginia (Richmond, Oct. 20, 1861.) — Among the Louisianians now here are Paul Morphy, W.S. Parham, Capt. Swain, of your city, Mr. Johnston of Cox, Johnston & Co., and T. Warren, Esq. D.

October 28, 1861

• Liverpool Mercury, etc. Liverpool, Merseyside, England Monday, October 28, 1861 - Page 3 Chess Match Between Liverpool and Dublin

October 29, 1861

• The Freeman's Journal Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Tuesday, October 29, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Match - Liverpool v. Dublin

• Liverpool Mercury, etc. Liverpool, Merseyside, England Tuesday, October 29, 1861 - Page 9 — Chess Match Between Liverpool and Dublin

• Daily News London, Greater London, England Tuesday, October 29, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Match Between Liverpool and Dublin

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Tuesday, October 29, 1861 - Page 4 — Chess Match in England.

• The Morning Chronicle London, Greater London, England Tuesday, October 29, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Match Between Liverpool and Dublin.

October 30, 1861

• The Caledonian Mercury Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Match Between Liverpool and Dublin.

• The Courier and Argus Dundee, Tayside, Scotland Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 3 — Liverpool Chess Club

• Belfast News-Letter Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 4 — Chess Match - Liverpool v. Dublin.

• The Buffalo Commercial Buffalo, New York Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 1 — Painful Rumor

• The Weekly Mississippian Jackson, Mississippi Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 3 — Paul Morphy, the renowned chess player, was in Richmond on the 16th.

• Daily News London, Greater London, England Wednesday, October 30, 1861 - Page 2 “The Chess Tournament at Bristol”

October 31, 1861

• Evening Star Washington, District of Columbia Thursday, October 31, 1861 - Page 4 — MORPHY.—A meeting of the members of the chess club will be held at their room, over J P Duval's drug store, this evening, Thursday, 24th instant, at 8 o'clock. Mr. Morphy has kindly consented to be present.—Richmond Dispatch.

Morphy 31 Oct 1861, Thu Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.com

November 01, 1861

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Friday, November 01, 1861 - Page 1 “Paul Morphy in Virginia” — Paul Morphy, the chess player, was in Richmond, Va., last week. ★

• Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut Friday, November 01, 1861 - Page 2 “Paulsen's Blindfold Chess-Play in England” — Mr. Paulsen, it will be remembered, played against Paul Morphy at the chess tournament held in New York some time since. He now appears in London as a blindfold player, beating no less than ten opponents simultaneously. The London Star has this account of his wonderful performances… ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

• The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Friday, November 01, 1861 - Page 1 — Paulsen's Blindfold Chess-Play in England ★

November 02, 1861

• Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Saturday, November 02, 1861 - Page 2 “Paulsen's Blindfold Chess Play in England”

• Evening Star Washington, District of Columbia Saturday, November 02, 1861 - Page 1 “Paulsen's Blindfold Chess Play in England” ★ / ★

• The Buffalo Commercial, Buffalo, New York, Saturday, November 02, 1861 - Page 2 — A Bad “Move.” — It is reported in a Richmond paper that Mr. Paul Morphy, the famous chess-player, “has kindly consented to be present” at the meeting of a rebel chess-club in the Confederate capital. The Evening Post thinks that this is the worst movement that Mr. Morphy has made, and he need not be surprised to find himself check-mated at the end of the game. It is not a safe “opening.” Read More

A Bad Move 02 Nov 1861, Sat The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com

So begins the decades of ensuing white supremacist “Northern” propaganda, defamation and stalking of Mr. Paul Morphy. Northern associates now spell the destruction of his once aspiring chess celebrity.

November 04, 1861

• Cincinnati Daily Press Cincinnati, Ohio Monday, November 04, 1861 - Page 1 “A Bad ‘Move.’” — It is reported in a Richmond paper that Mr. Paul Morphy, the famous chess player, “has kindly consented to be present” at the meeting of a rebel chess-club in the Confederate Capital. This is the worst movement that Mr. Morphy has made, and he need not be surprised to find himself checkmated at the end of the game. It is not a safe “opening.” ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

November 05, 1861

• The Daily Milwaukee News Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tuesday, November 05, 1861 - Page 2 — Paulsen Blindfold Chess-Play In England

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Tuesday, November 05, 1861 - Page 1 — Brilliant Chess Feats

• The Bury and Norwich Post Bury, Suffolk, England Tuesday, November 05, 1861 - Page 1 — Telegraphic Chess

November 09, 1861

• The New York Times New York, New York Saturday, November 09, 1861 - Page 5 “The Paulsen Chess Club”

November 12, 1861

• The Freeman's Journal Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Tuesday, November 12, 1861 - Page 3 — Chess Match. - Dublin v. Liverpool

November 14, 1861

• The Plymouth Democrat Plymouth, Indiana Thursday, November 14, 1861 - Page 1 “Paul Morphy in Richmond” — “Paul Morphy, the celebrated chess player, was in Richmond on the 24th instant, and played at one of the chess clubs there.” ★

November 22, 1861

• New-York Tribune New York, New York Friday, November 22, 1861 - Page 7 — Chess Items.-The interest in chess, created three years ago by the wonderful performances of Paul Morphy…

• Richmond Dispatch Richmond, Virginia Friday, November 22, 1861 - Page 1 — Paulsen's Blindfold Chess Play in England

November 24, 1861

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, November 24, 1861 - Page 14 — Mr. Paul Morphy. — Mr. Morphy, of whose whereabouts so much curiosity has been expressed, has turned up at last, apparently in attendance of the rebel Court at Richmond. The Richmond Dispatch of the 24th inst. invites the members of the Chess Club to meet on that evening, at their room, as Mr. Morphy has kindly consented to be present. We hope we shall soon have Mr. Morphy “en prise.” —Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Read More

Mr. Paul Morphy 24 Nov 1861, Sun The Era (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

December 01, 1861

• The Era, London, Greater London, England, Sunday, December 01, 1861 - Page 4 “Mr. Paul Morphy” — Now that so many distinguished players have had an opportunity of displaying their powers in this country, and under the eye of our most eminent Amateurs, an opportunity has been afforded of comparing Mr. Morphy's play with that of others of the highest pretensions, and the conclusion which is come to on all hands, even by these eminent players themselves, is that Mr. Paul Morphy stands on a pedestal far above any other living player. We ourselves have long maintained this opinion; but we will not conceal that we have been most anxious to see Europe vindicate its old prestige. However, at present, it must be admitted that America boasts the Chess Champion of the World. Mr. Morphy's games have exhibited in the very highest degree of pre-eminence of skill in every branch. His extraordinary quickness of perception, his power of combination, the accuracy of his strategy, and the genius and originality which characterizes the whole conduct of his play, combine to render him a perfect prodigy of power as a Chess player. It is hoped that efforts will be made to secure Mr. Morphy's presence in London during the Grand Congress next year. We feel sure that every Chess Amateur in the country will hail his coming with satisfaction.” Read More

December 05, 1861

• The Times-Picayune New Orleans, Louisiana Thursday, December 05, 1861 - Page 2 — “The gallant Col. Pegram, now in Fort Warren, Boston, who is one of the most accomplished and agreeable men living, writes cheerfully to his friends in Richmond—he is allowed six lines in each letter—and recently sent his regards to Paul Morphy, with the message that he was not checkmated, but casemated.” ★ ★ Read More

December 30, 1861

• Birmingham Daily Post Birmingham, West Midlands, England Monday, December 30, 1861 - Page 2 — “British Chess Association.” — The conductors of this institution have determined upon holding, in the approaching summer, a grand London congress on the model of that got up in connection with the Great Exhibition of 1851. Messers. Morphy, Anderssen, Heydebrand, Jaenisch, and other eminent foreign players will be invited, and no doubt most of them easily persuaded, to come over and engage in a tournament, at which the leading English practitioners will assist. Co-operative committees are being organized in this and other towns to collect funds and promulgate information on the subject among circles. A programme of proceedings will be issued as soon as the preparations are a little further advanced. In the meantime, lovers of this scientific diversion should be doing what they can towards rendering the meeting successful. The science of chess, and consequently the pleasure of chess players) depends so much upon the great efforts made on an occasion like this that all amateurs may be considered interested in them. If it were not for the contests of distinguished combatants, such as are about to be assembled, the literature of chess would scarcely occupy a chapter. Read More