Tag Archives: Siege of Petersburg

James River battle

Posted on January 24, 2015 by SUMPTER

In January 1865 the Confederate navy on the James River attempted to attack and destroy the Federal supply depot at City Point in order to help lift the siege of Richmond and Petersburg. The Confederate fleet was stopped at the … Continue reading →

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new year’s lottery

Posted on January 6, 2015 by SUMPTER

A Richmond editorial maintained that the South would always enjoy a “superabundance of bread and meat.” Apparently that superabundance wasn’t always making it to the front. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 6, 1865: The soldiers’ New-year’s dinner. Camp first … Continue reading →

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capital shells?

Posted on December 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today editors in Richmond mentioned that the Union army might be sending some incendiary shells their way in the near future. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 5, 1864: The preparations for shelling Richmond — experiments with … Continue reading →

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risks of intercourse

Posted on November 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 30, 1864: From Petersburg. During the past two days a good deal of unimportant skirmishing and cannonading has taken place on the Petersburg lines. About one o’clock on Monday, our troops on General Mahone’s … Continue reading →

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“Our pits are in an awful condition”

Posted on November 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

A young man from Seneca County enlisted for one year in August 1864. Instead of the regiment he signed up for, he was sent to the “Orange Blossoms” from downstate. He was finding picket duty in front of Petersburg pretty … Continue reading →

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supporting the people’s choice

Posted on September 18, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Republican-oriented newspaper reprinted a letter from a soldier at the front admonishing his son in New York City to avoid being a Copperhead. From The New-York Times September 18, 1864: … To the Editor of the New- York Times … Continue reading →

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calling on negroes, the disabled

Posted on September 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

… and legislators? “X” from Petersburg is concerned about getting more men into the Confederacy’s armies to try to at least partially offset additions to Northern forces. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 12, 1864: From General Lee’s Army. (From … Continue reading →

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“bulldog grip”

Posted on September 1, 2014 by SUMPTER

Things are a bit slower up here in the country, especially when you publish a non-daily paper. Here’s a digest of some recent operations on two major fronts. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper on September 1, 1864: War … Continue reading →

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mechanics of war

Posted on August 26, 2014 by SUMPTER
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“annihilated by their own stomachs”

Posted on August 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

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 →

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