Category Archives: American History

Monday Holiday

Posted on February 23, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago yesterday President Lincoln thought it propitious that Washington’s Birthday coincided with the Christian sabbath. This article encourages Gothamites to make it a long weekend – despite the snowstorm. From The New-York Times February 23, 1863: LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.; … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American History, Northern Society | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Death of a Free Soiler

Posted on July 25, 2012 by SUMPTER

150 years ago yesterday Martin Van Buren died at the age of 79. He was the first president who was not born a British subject. He began his political career as a Democrat and served in Andrew Jackson’s administration as … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American Culture, American History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bull Hamlin?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by SUMPTER

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 →

Posted in American History, American Society, Lincoln Administration, Northern Politics During War | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Missed Photo Op

Posted on January 26, 2012 by SUMPTER

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, this must be like War and Peace. I wish I knew about this image back in August. I copied an article from The New-York Times about Matthew Brady’s return from the Battle of … Continue reading →

Posted in American Culture, American History | Tagged | Leave a comment

Janus Looking Ahead

Posted on January 1, 2012 by SUMPTER

At first I thought the following would be great to include in yesterday’s post because it referred to 1861. But really this must have been a poem filled with faith and hope for the future because the Union armies had … Continue reading →

Posted in American Culture, American History, Northern Society | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Remembrance Day

Posted on November 11, 2011 by SUMPTER
Posted in American History | Tagged | Leave a comment

Grim Reaper?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 29, 1861: Non-extension of M’Cormick’s reaper patent. The Commissioner of Patents has declared adversely on McCormick’s application for the extension of his reaper patent of 1847, for the following reasons: 1. 1st. That the … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American History, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

George Mason’s Will

Posted on October 15, 2011 by admin

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 16, 1861: A Patriot’s charge to his Sons. –Col. George Mason, the author of the first Constitution of Virginia, died at his residence in Fairfax county, near Alexandria, on the 7th of October, 1792, … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment