Author Archives: SUMPTER

peaceful transfer

The South had its Fire-Eaters, the North had John A. Dix. While briefly serving as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury for a time before Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration, John Dix sent a telegram to Treasury agents in New Orleans ordering them … Continue reading

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pleasant surprise

Sir Isaac Newton isn’t usually the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Christmas. From The Daily Phoenix, Columbia, South Carolina, December 25, 1872: Christmas. The learned have long been divided in opinion as to the … Continue reading

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more or less traditionary

It was becoming a tradition. 150 years ago, for the tenth year in a row, the United States president proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving for a Thursday at the end of November. THANKSGIVING DAY 1872 BY THE PRESIDENT OF … Continue reading

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game day

Lately I’ve been in the habit of visiting the Pilgrim Hall Museum as November makes its annual return. This year I checked out Thanksgiving Touchdown, an article that describes the connection between American football and Thanksgiving and even touches on … Continue reading

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General Meade, R.I.P.

The day after his Commander in Chief was re-elected United States President, General George Meade died at his Philadelphia home. From The Chicago Daily Tribune November 8, 1872: IN MEMORIAM. Honors to the Late General Meade. Washington, Nov. 7.—General Sherman … Continue reading

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irrepressible

On October 10, 1872 former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward died at his home in Auburn, New York. People in the Midwest could read all about it the next day. From the October 11, 1872 issue of The … Continue reading

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three parties … two candidates

1872 was another presidential election year in the United States. Would the Republican incumbent, General Ulysses S. Grant be reelected? President Grant was popular, even though his Administration was involved in several scandals. One possible impediment to Grant’s reelection was … Continue reading

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hot time

150 years ago this summer New York City suffered some very hot weather. From the July 27, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: THE HEATED TERM. THE heated term which ended on the 6th inst, was not only the most protracted, … Continue reading

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dedicated

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated on Memorial Day a century ago (five score years). From the May 31, 1922 issue of The New York Times: WASHINGTON, May 30. – The Lincoln Memorial magnificent and compelling in its … Continue reading

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forget the feud

From the June 8, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: DECORATION-DAY. In the beautiful and touching illustration on our first page this week our artist expresses the universal feeling of the country. While the people have no wish to keep alive … Continue reading

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