Author Archives: SUMPTER

“large personal profits”

April 1865 – surrender, assassination, joy, resignation, despair, mourning. And news of alleged corruption in the military bureaucracy. Four from Seneca County, New York newspapers in April 1865: REMOVAL OF MAJOR HADDOCK. – It is reported that Maj. Haddock has … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

round midnight

It was reported that just before midnight on April 26, 1865 President Lincoln’s funeral cortege arrived in Syracuse, New York. 35,000 people were waiting in the rain to pay their respects with bells, fires, and cannon as the train chugged … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

petition for legal protection

On February 22, 1865 “Tennessee voters approve a new state constitution that abolishes slavery” According to this report, on the same day that President Lincoln was shot, black men in Tennessee petitioned the state senate for legal rights. Freedom wouldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

savior’s progress

Above the entrance to the ferry way appears the inscription: “WASHINGTON, the Father; LINCOLN, the Savior of his country.” 150 years ago today the remains of President Lincoln and his son Willie were conveyed from Philadelphia to New York City. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Philadelphia procession

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

let’s be guided by his spirit

at least the spirit of President Lincoln’s second inaugural I’m pretty sure The Seneca Falls Reveille (in Seneca County, New York) was a strongly pro-Democrat newspaper during the Civil War. 150 years ago today it published an editorial on the … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, Reconstruction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

obsequies

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper on April 21, 1865: OBSEQUIES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. The funeral ceremonies over the remains of the late President LINCOLN took place at the Executive Mansion in Washington on Wednesday, in the presence of … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“too noble a mind”

His was too noble a mind to indulge in a spirit of retaliation or revenge. I think the following might have been published on April 21, 1865. It seems that the editors thought it was still possible that Secretary Seward … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Everybody Loves Abraham

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1865: THE REBEL PRISONERS AT ELMIRA. – It is stated that the rebel prisoners at Elmira were keenly affected by the news of Mr. Lincoln’s assassination, and requested permission to make … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Civil War prisons | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

not indispensable

Our great leader is dead, but our “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” From The New-York Times April 17, 1865: The Effect of President Lincoln’s Death on National Affairs. The … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Northern Society, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment