Tag Archives: 50th New York Engineer Regiment

oysters for the vet

Even Sumpter will rouse himself for a delicious meal. Also, the following reminded me of local charity dinners nowadays. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in (probably) January 1866: DONATION TO A SOLDIER. – A donation and oyster supper … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Aftermath, Veterans | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“devout joy at the salvation of the country”

From The New-York Times July 6, 1865: THE CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY. The observance of the National Anniversary was characterized everywhere throughout the country by a sober heartiness and earnest enthusiasm, in perfect keeping with the peculiarities of the occasion. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Northern Society, Reconstruction, Veterans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Elmira bound

Three from Seneca County, New York newspapers in June 1865: There are 50,000 sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals throughout the country. It is estimated that 120,000 men will be mustered out of the service of the United States … Continue reading

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

Brevet Major McDonald

Most of the 50th New York Engineers are still participating in the siege of Petersburg and James H. McDonald of Seneca Falls is still in the news. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1865: BREVETED [sic] MAJOR. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

break before more war

An officer who completed his three year gig with the Infantry and then signed back up – with the Engineers. He was able to take a break sometime 150 years ago this month. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Crosses’ purpose

fought for “the U.S. Army In the War of the Rebellion” When I started wandering through Restvale Cemetery in Seneca Falls, New York looking for old grave stones decorated with new American flags, I was naturally drawn to a plot … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“annihilated by their own stomachs”

Captain James H. McDonald of the 50th New York Engineers has already served in the war for over three years. He recovered from being wounded in the arm at Fredericksburg. In this recruiting letter he promoted the Engineers as being … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

bridge engineers

News filtered back that a soldier from Seneca Falls and his men did good work building a bridge for the Army of the Potomac in June. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July 1864: THE 50TH N.Y. ENGINEERS. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

good time in the grove

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: FOURTH OF JULY IN TYRE. – The patriotic citizens of Tyre have procured a monument which is to be erected to the memory of the deceased Soldiers from that town. It … Continue reading

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

Brothers at Cold Harbor

If I’m reading this right, a soldier mortally wounded at Cold Harbor had his remains back home and buried a week later. It probably helped that his brother could identify him and take charge of his embalmed body. From the … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment