Author Archives: SUMPTER

historic “cause of irritation”

April 9, 1866 marked the first anniversary of General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. On that same day the United States House of Representatives overrode President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. In conjunction with the Senate’s … Continue reading

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this just in

On April 2, 1866 President Andrew Johnson proclaimed the American Civil War officially ended, finished, no more. You read the document at the Library of Congress and at The American Presidency Project. Here’s a bit of it: … Whereas there … Continue reading

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planes, trains, and auto trucks

On March 9, 1916 Francisco (Pancho) Villa’s“guerrilla militia” attacked a United States army outpost at Columbus, New Mexico and killed several Americans. In response General John J. Pershing lead the Villa Punitive Expedition into Mexico. Despite pulling out seemingly all … Continue reading

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nay-a-gainsayer

In February 1866 President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau extension act. On March 27th he vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Here’s an 1896 summary from The Struggle between President Johnson and Congress over Reconstruction by Charles Ernest … Continue reading

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Pancho and Black Jack

As Walter Stahr explains in his biography of William H. Seward, after the American Civil War ended, famous Union generals were eager to invade Mexico and drive the French and Maximilian I out of North America. Ulysses S. Grant “was … Continue reading

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subsidized limbs

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1866: FREE LIMBS. – Soldiers who have lost limbs in the service of the United States, are entitled to artificial substitutes, that can be procured upon the presentation of evidence of … Continue reading

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“large hearts and corresponding purses”

[I missed this last month.] During the war many fairs were held to benefit the Sanitary Commission. On February 22 and 23, 1866 the Young Ladies’ Aid Society of a small town on one of the Finger Lakes in New … Continue reading

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no respect

It was pitiful enough to find so much idleness, but it was more pitiful to observe that it was likely to continue indefinitely. The war will not have borne proper fruit, if our peace does not speedily bring respect for … Continue reading

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at any cost, except

We covet peace, and shall preserve it any cost but the loss of honor. For a little variety … A year and a half after the First World War began and during the week when the Battle of Verdun began … Continue reading

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birthday bashing

Back in 1861 even small towns celebrated Washington’s Birthday with cannon fire and bells. Five years later there were definitely some fireworks in Washington, D.C. as a crowd looked for a speech from President Andrew Johnson. It was a couple … Continue reading

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