Monthly Archives: May 2012

Bull Hamlin?

Yesterday morning I was reading a review of Robert Caro’s latest book on the life of Lyndon B. Johnson. Daniel Patrick Moynihan is said to have described LBJ’s descent from Senate Majority Leader to the sideline job of vice-president as … Continue reading

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Picnic Perfect

Yes, we’re off-topic again:

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Fighting It Out In the Old Dominion

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 16, 1862: Virginia not to be surrendered. Two gratifying papers were communicated to the Virginia Legislature yesterday — a Message from Governor Letcher, and a communication from the President of the Confederacy, giving the … Continue reading

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Valor in Defeat

150 years ago today a Union flotilla, advancing up the James River to assault Richmond, was repulsed by the Confederates at Drewry’s Bluff. The USS Galena absorbed the brunt of the rebel fire. Marine corporal John Freeman Mackie, onboard the … Continue reading

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Big Bad Bronze John

The “intolerant” Yankees are occupying New Orleans just in time for Yellow Fever season; what’s more they are putting a hospital right in a heavily populated section of the city. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 14, 1862: Advance of … Continue reading

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“with a yell that made the woods ring”

150 years ago this week members of the 33rd New York Infantry Regiment were still writing letters home about May 5th’s Battle of Williamsburg. Here’s a couple letters published in a Seneca County, New York newspaper from 1862: Letter from … Continue reading

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“Teeth extracted by Electricity, without pain.”

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 12, 1862: Artificial Teeth–the Cheoplastic and Vulcanite Process. –G. W. Jones, Dentist, having the right for the above mode of making Teeth, and being satisfied of its absolute superiority over all other methods, can … Continue reading

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Truly a Public Servant

Let the old and infirm legislate From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 10, 1862: To the people of Chesterfield county. –On yesterday I resigned my seat as your Representative in the House of Delegates of Virginia. In thus disposing of … Continue reading

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Bombastes Furioso Butler

The gradual, persistent constriction of Anaconda: the Yankees and General Butler have control of New Orleans 150 years ago now. The Dispatch calls names. How can that “oleaginous carcass” be running the South’s largest city? From the Richmond Daily Dispatch … Continue reading

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Baton Rouge Surrenders to Iroquois

With Ben Butler in charge at New Orleans the Union fleet moved up the Mississippi. 150 years ago today Baton Rouge, the Louisiana state capital, surrendered to James Shedden Palmer, commanding the USS Iroquois: After the great victory [New Orleans] … Continue reading

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