Author Archives: SUMPTER

Got Doctor’s Note?

Don’t Matter From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August 12, 1862: Doctors’ certificates of no avail. The Albany Evening Journal says: We are requested by the Surgeon General to state, “that doctors’ certificates of disability will be of no earthly avail … Continue reading

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Popinjay Power

In response to President Lincoln’s July, 1862 call for 300,000 more volunteers, a 58 year old patriot from Auburn, New York recruited a regiment. Here’s an editorial arguing against that patriot’s reported decision (and apparent power) to imprison a citizen … Continue reading

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“question of pure brute force”

A newspaper from Albany, New York says it’s time for the North to get tougher. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August 9, 1862: A Blast from Seward’s organ — Lesson for the War. The Albany Evening Journal (Seward’s organ) thinks … Continue reading

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“casting about” for substitutes

An editorial in the Boston Journal via the Richmond Daily Dispatch of August 8, 1862 encourages Boston’s more successful men to volunteer instead of paying for substitutes: Leading men wanted in the Federal army. The Bottom [Boston] Journal has an … Continue reading

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Sent express to Rip Raps

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August 7, 1862: In the hands of the Lincolnites. –James Clarke, the money clerk of the Southern Express Company, started from Richmond several weeks since, to visit his parents in Baltimore. He was met on … Continue reading

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Counterfeit

Beet vendors beware Before the Civil War banks could issue their own notes redeemable in specie. The National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 in the North changed that. One of the legislation’s goals was to create a national, less … Continue reading

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“grayish beard … all over his face”

Sketching some CSA leaders From the Richmond Daily Dispatch August 1, 1862: Camp Notes. –A letter from near Richmond to a Southern paper says: We saw Gen. Lee on the field, the 27th June. We have hitherto spoken of the … Continue reading

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From lager beer and dog-fights …

To oppressing the good people of Norfolk I really can’t believe everything I read in the newspaper anymore: apparently there was not as much Union sentiment in Norfolk as a previous article indicated. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 31, … Continue reading

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“bodies … become offensive”

Wait for cold weather, please From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 31, 1862: Disinterment of dead bodies. We daily observe at the railway stations boxes containing the bodies of deceased soldiers, which have been disinterred by their friends, under the … Continue reading

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TYPO from Bachelor’s Creek

Union “soldier mob” demolishes rebel shooter buildings; detachment sent to clean out guerrilla band. The 19th New York Volunteer Infantry completed its conversion to the 3rd New York Artillery and arrived in North Carolina in the spring of 1862. Here’s … Continue reading

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