Here are some random chess-related articles I've come across. A couple just concerning the state of the Richmond Chess Club, one describing Paulsen's blindfold exhibition in London, one discussing Paulsen's match with Kolisch, one mentioning Paul Morphy's arrival in Richmond, one mentioning Anderssen's visit to England and one concerning a sort of world record chess match

The Richmond Daily Dispatch December 21, 1860
Chess.
--Amid all the troubles and revolutions of the day, we are glad to hear that this noble and philosophic game retains its hold on the love of our people. In the words of Col. Monroe,  chess "unites so harmoniously the curious, the beautiful and the true, under the form of a recreation, as to confer upon it a title to general appreciation and a long continuance of favor." We learn that the Richmond  Chess Club is highly prosperous, and will enter upon its fourth year in full vigor. A tournament has lately been in progress, in which thirty-two gentlemen have been matched against each other, and the result will indicate "the champion" for next year.

The Richmond Daily Dispatch February 28, 1861
The Richmond Chess Club have extended an invitation to those members of the Convention and the Legislature who are prone to indulge in the intellectual game of  chess, to visit their rooms at Goddin's Hall. Knowing nothing of the fascinations of the game ourselves, except through the representations of others, we are not prepared to say much by way of inducing the "congregated wisdom of the people" to accept the invitation thus courteously extended; but we cheerfully adopt the words of "a stranger," who has been at the rooms of the Club and tried his hand against some of the crack players of Richmond. He tells us: I have visited several of the prominent  Chess Clubs of the Northern cities, and of course have been the recipient of courteous attentions from all, but at none have I been received with more of that genial kindness — so truly characteristic of Virginia gentlemen — than I have at the rooms of the Richmond  Chess Club. I have been tolerably successful, too, in my trials of  chess   skill with the generality of my opponents, but I have been obliged to succumb to the strong players at Goddin's Hall on several occasions. Feeling assured that all who visit the rooms will be equally well received as stringers and  chess players as I have been, I deemed it advisable to give the invitation a more public notice than it might probably otherwise receive.

The Richmond Daily Dispatch August 24, 1861.
Herr Andersen in London.
--Herr Andersen has paid a visit to the St. James Chess Club, and engaged in play with the President. Herr Andersen scored the odd game, winning two to Mr. Löwenthal's one. In a second encounter Mr. Löwenthal proved the victor.-- Mr. Andersen has also played at the Divan, with Mr. Burden [Boden?] and other amateurs.--London Era.

The Richmond Daily Dispatch October 16, 1861.

The Champion chess-player.
--Mr. Paul Morphy, the celebrated  chess player, of New Orleans, has arrived in Richmond, and is stopping at the Spotswood. A good chance is now afforded for our amateurs to try their hands.

The Richmond Daily Dispatch November 22, 1861.

Paulsen's blindfold chess 
Play in England.
--The arrival of Mr. Paulson, the American chess-player, in London, has already been noticed. Mr. Paulson, it will be remembered, played against Paul Murphy 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:

Mr. Paulsen offered to play, blindfolded, ten of the best players of this country, and carry on the games simultaneously, Mr. Paulsen had previously been victorious in a contest on the same terms with fifteen players; but they were not all first class, and after his triumph he expressed a wish to be pitted against ten of the ablest players that could be produced.--The match yesterday has excited great interest in chess circles since the preliminaries were arranged, and when it commenced there was a numerous company in the room, which, it is needless to say, consisted chiefly of chess players. The following are the names of the ten gentlemen who were Mr. Paulsen's opponents, viz: 1. Mr. MacKenzie, amateur; 2. Mr. Sabouroff, Russian Embassy; 3. Mr. Maude, London Chess   Club; 4. Mr. Howard, St. James's Club; 5. Mr. Barnes, St. George's Club; 6. Mr. Burden, amateur; 7. Mr. Campbell; 8. Mr. Robey; 9. Mr. Lamb, amateur; 10. Mr. Wormald, Hon. Secretary St. James's Club.

At two o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Paulsen ascended a platform in the centre of the room and seated himself in a chair. For the instruction of those who are uninitiated in  chess matters it may be stated that literally he was not blindfolded — that is to say, there was no bandage round his eyes; but as his back was towards the players and his face directly towards the window it was physically impossible that he could see anything on the boards of his opponents. He was quite cool and collected, and appeared to contemplate the result without any misgiving. He had the first move in all the games, and he announced king's pawn 2 and all round. The game proceeded slowly, and it soon became apparent that, although Mr. Paulsen had undertaken to combat ten opponents, he was really playing against the most of the gentlemen in the room, who were consulting with his opponents as to the tactics by which he could be defeated.

The match was entirely for honor. Mr. Paulsen, indeed, had a small bet in his own favor with Mr. Mackenzie, but otherwise there was no betting. Now as to the result. At 5 o'clock Mr. Campbell was declared the victor in his game; at 10 o'clock Mr. Sabouroff was equally fortunate, and at half-past 10 Mr. Mackenzie confessed himself beaten and resigned. About half past 12 Mr. Robbey offered to draw, which Mr. Paulsen agreed to, although he had the best of the game, and about five minutes after the game with Mr. Barnes was also drawn. Shortly after 1 o'clock Mr. Lamb's game was drawn. The remaining games were drawn.

During the contest, which lasted nearly twelve hours, Mr. Paulsen was out of his chair for about two minutes, and the only refreshment he partook of was a glass of water.

The Richmond Daily Dispatch December 21, 1861
End of the Great chess   match.
--The  chess   match between Mr. Paulsen, a native of the United States, and M. Kolisch, a German or Pole, which strongly attracted the attention of the  chess players of Europe, in consequence of the parties playing so nearly equally well that until the close it was doubtful who would be the winner, ended in London, on November 15th, in the defeat of M. Kolisch, who gained six games, Mr. Paulsen seven, and fifteen were drawn. The winning of seven games was necessary to decide the contest.

Akron Weekly Pioneer Press (Akron, Washington County, Colorado) Dec. 2, 1921

800 in Chess Match
Details of a monster team chess match, arranged to establish a new world record, have come to hand from London, where 800 players sat down in a contest, 400 on a side, between the North of the Thames and the South of the Thames. The North won by a margin of 85 games on totals of 217.5 to 182.5. Comparatively few games were adjudicated.