Monthly Archives: July 2011

Papers, Rock, Scissored

Posted on July 30, 2011 by SUMPTER

We found out a couple days ago that the 19th NY Volunteer Infantry had arrived in Pleasant Valley, Maryland. General Nathaniel P. Banks, having taken command of Robert Patterson’s Union army, decided to move it north of the Potomac River. … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Bishop on Jeff’s Chessboard

Posted on July 29, 2011 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today we Yankees could have read the proclamation of Leonidas Polk upon taking command of Confederate Department No.2. From The New-York Times July 29, 1861: PROCLAMATION OF MAJOR-GENERAL POLK The annexed proclamation appears in the Memphis Avalanche … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters | Tagged | Leave a comment

Souvenirs

Posted on July 28, 2011 by SUMPTER

Making Pipes from “Sacred Soil” On July 15, 1861 New York’s 19th Regiment marched with the rest of General Robert Patterson’s Union Army to Bunker Hill, now in West Virginia. Patterson’s army was about 13 miles from Winchester, Virginia, where … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Spy? Without a Country?

Posted on July 27, 2011 by SUMPTER

The bulk of the following article details the legal wrangling in the Richmond trial of William Henry Hurlbert. The judge’s decision is reproduced here. From The New-York Times July 27, 1861: THE CASE OF MR. W.H. HURLBURT WM. H. HURLBURT, … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Greetings from Gloucester Point!

Posted on July 26, 2011 by SUMPTER

OK, I admit it. When I read the title of this article my first thought was, “What are the rebels doing in Massachusetts?” That’s one advantage of being me – there’s always plenty of new stuff to learn. Gloucester Point … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged | Leave a comment

Death by Cannon Ball

Posted on July 25, 2011 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca Falls, New York newspaper in 1861: Death of Another Volunteer We are pained to learn that CALVIN COLGROVE, a former resident of our village, was killed during the battle near Manassas on Sunday the 21st. For the … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bull Run Brings Out Bears

Posted on July 23, 2011 by SUMPTER

Securities Down 4% on Wall Street From the Northern perspective, the first reports from the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run) were positive. That all changed as the Confederates stopped the Union advance on Henry Hill cold. This piece details … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Most “Instrumental” Brigade

Posted on July 22, 2011 by SUMPTER

General Thomas J. Jackson writes his wife about the First Battle of Bull Run, where Jackson earned the “Stonewall” nickname: Manassas, July 22d. My Precious Pet, — Yesterday we fought a great battle and gained a great victory, for which … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“the wounded jumped”

Posted on July 21, 2011 by SUMPTER

On July 21, 1861 Confederate forces at Manassas Junction, Virginia beat back and eventually routed the Union army at the First Battle of Bull Run. Here’s a Union participant’s letter to his parents ten days after the battle. From a … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Like Dan Rather at Tiananmen Square

Posted on July 20, 2011 by SUMPTER

If I had put down my TWO CENTS for a copy of The New-York Times 150 years ago today, I could have read a dispatch from a reporter with General McDowell’s Union army at Fairfax Court House. I’m assuming H.J.R., … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, First Manassas - Bull Run, Military Matters | Tagged , | 1 Comment