Category Archives: Veterans

so much service everywhere

John Ellis Wool, 85, died at his home in Troy, New York on November 10, 1869. Major-General Wool was a veteran of three major North American wars. After volunteering for the War of 1812 he made the U.S. Army his … Continue reading

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survivors still

After the Civil War the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was founded in 1866 as a fraternal organization for Union veterans. According to a web page at the University of Mississippi the Fifty-third National (GAR) Encampment took place September … Continue reading

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stars and stripes and kisses

After the jubilation of Armistice Day and the haggling over the peace treaty, domestic contention seems to have gained more prominence during the summer of 1919. Although New York City celebrated the return of several military units from Europe, there … Continue reading

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death of a wagon master

Right from the get-go there were issues with President Ulysses S. Grant’s cabinet. Six months later there was another problem – Grant’s trusted aide, confidant, and Secretary of War, John A. Rawlins died after a long bout with tuberculosis. From … Continue reading

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“the cereals of August”

A recent post was about a medallion and monument related to the American Civil War that was found on a single page in a newspaper from 150 years ago. And, mirabile dictu, the editors at Harper’s Weekly packed even more … Continue reading

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divergent decoration

150 years ago today a large procession traveled from Manhattan to Brooklyn to honor the memory and decorate the graves of thousands of soldiers who died during the American Civil War. From the June 19, 1869 issue of Harper’s Weekly: … Continue reading

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nationalist reunion

From the January 9, 1869 issue of Harper’s Weekly: THE ARMY REUNION AT CHICAGO THE immense congregation of officers and soldiers assembled at Chicago on the 15th and 16th of December were representatives of our volunteer armies. Many were present … Continue reading

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conservative counterpoise

In an editorial on December 25, 1868 The New-York Times stressed that Christmas was a traditional, family time in a world of great technological change, especially the transportation revolution caused by steam power. The technological innovation led to social change: … Continue reading

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at last

According to History of the World War, by Francis A. March and Richard J. Beamish (1919), American commanders ordered their troops to remain all business the morning before the firing ceased on the Western Front. The last action of the … Continue reading

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decorating the mounds

Civil War general John A. Logan has been in the news a lot lately. As a Representative from Illinois he was one of seven House managers during the Impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. The U.S. Senate eventually acquitted the … Continue reading

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