Category Archives: Aftermath

a good word

for a bête noire There was a report 150 years ago last month that the ex-Vice President of the Confederacy admired the incumbent U.S. President, U.S. Grant. From the December 25, 1873 issue of The Valley Virginian (page 1): Alexander … Continue reading

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new governor

It was a new year with a new governor for Virginia. 150 years ago a Richmond newspaper looked back with appreciation on the exiting governor – even though he was a northerner – and looked forward to the incoming governor … Continue reading

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gradual recovery

President Ulysses S. Grant’s fifth presidential Thanksgiving proclamation per Pilgrim Hall Museum: BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION The approaching close of another year brings with it the occasion for renewed thanksgiving and acknowledgment … Continue reading

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spreading the news

As the American Civil War ended, federal troops took control of Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865 General Gordon Granger used a military order to announce that more than two years earlier President Abraham freed the slaves in Texas and … Continue reading

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more or less traditionary

It was becoming a tradition. 150 years ago, for the tenth year in a row, the United States president proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving for a Thursday at the end of November. THANKSGIVING DAY 1872 BY THE PRESIDENT OF … Continue reading

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General Meade, R.I.P.

The day after his Commander in Chief was re-elected United States President, General George Meade died at his Philadelphia home. From The Chicago Daily Tribune November 8, 1872: IN MEMORIAM. Honors to the Late General Meade. Washington, Nov. 7.—General Sherman … Continue reading

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irrepressible

On October 10, 1872 former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward died at his home in Auburn, New York. People in the Midwest could read all about it the next day. From the October 11, 1872 issue of The … Continue reading

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forget the feud

From the June 8, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: DECORATION-DAY. In the beautiful and touching illustration on our first page this week our artist expresses the universal feeling of the country. While the people have no wish to keep alive … Continue reading

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upriver

According to documentation at the Library of Congress, an expedition of exploration set out from a camp in Arizona territory 150 years ago today: In its May 6, 1871 issue Harper’s Weekly provided more information about the expedition: SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. … Continue reading

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another glorious day

From the July 8, 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly: An editorial commented on the picture – the Fourth of a July was customarily a noisy, boisterous, and often dangerous holiday: ____________________________ A week later the editors still found the Fourth … Continue reading

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