Author Archives: SUMPTER

“A Day of Infamy and Disgrace”

Posted on July 13, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today riots broke out in New York City. The immediate cause was the commencement of the draft in New York Congressional districts. As James McPerson pointed out, most of the New York militia and federal troops were … Continue reading →

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home of the free

Posted on July 12, 2013 by SUMPTER

oh, Canada From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 9, 1863: Results of drafting in the North. The Old Guard, of New York, gives the following specimen of the process of drafting in Michigan: “Of forty-one men drafted in Clinton county, … Continue reading →

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“names ticketed and boxed”

Posted on July 11, 2013 by SUMPTER

… the almost universal expression is that of satisfaction and acquiescence in the wisdom and propriety of the measure. Especially if you can find a substitute or come up with $300 for the IRS From The New-York Times July 11, … Continue reading →

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Deluded

Posted on July 10, 2013 by SUMPTER

Union General Meade wrote his wife 150 years ago today. From The life and letters of George Gordon Mead:…Volume 2 (page 133): HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SOUTH MOUNTAIN PASS, July 10, 1863. Lee has not crossed and does not … Continue reading →

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infernal machinery

Posted on July 9, 2013 by SUMPTER

Here are a couple articles from a Democrat newspaper in the Finger Lakes area of New York State that warn about the coming draft of July 1863. The stories support a couple points made by James McPherson in his discussion … Continue reading →

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“gleams of hope and sunshine”

Posted on July 8, 2013 by SUMPTER

A small town Democrat paper summarized reports about Gettysburg and its aftermath. There was a sense of relief that at least the Stars and Bars weren’t flying over Harrisburg and a bit of concern that the Confederate army was far … Continue reading →

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“buzzards sailing lazily”

Posted on July 6, 2013 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863: The Battle of Gettysburg. (Correspondence of the Philadelphia Age.) GETTYSBURG, July 7, 1863. – The battle of Gettysburg will be one of the longest remembered of all the battles of this … Continue reading →

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Celebrate the day …

Posted on July 5, 2013 by SUMPTER

By whipping the Yankees An Independence Day editorial from Richmond – before the South knew that Vicksburg would surrender and Lee’s invasion was, at the least, stalled. I don’t know if the tone would have changed that much anyway. From … Continue reading →

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Haunted Fourth

Posted on July 4, 2013 by SUMPTER

From The Heart of a Soldier: As Revealed in the Intimate Letters of Genl. George E. Pickett (pages 101-103): On the Fourth – far from a glorious Fourth to us or to any with love for his fellow-men – I … Continue reading →

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(Gradual) death-blow to a social system

Posted on July 3, 2013 by SUMPTER

On July 1, 1863 the Missouri State Convention passed a plan for gradual emancipation beginning in 1870. The following editorial knows why the decision was made – you can’t pretend to be loyal to the Union while still supporting slavery. … Continue reading →

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