Author Archives: SUMPTER

it’s a sham

Posted on February 14, 2015 by SUMPTER

it’s a shame Southern people aren’t doing anything about it From The New-York Times February 14, 1865: The Present Fatuity of the South. Was there ever such infatuation as that which now possesses the South? Did any people, on the … Continue reading →

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cornerstones as stumbling blocks

Posted on February 13, 2015 by SUMPTER

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price. – Benjamin Franklin 150 years ago this week news of President Lincoln’s report to Congress about the peace negotiations at Hampton Roads would have made its way to upstate New … Continue reading →

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more rebel defiance

Posted on February 12, 2015 by SUMPTER

Another home remedy? – for the uncommon cold? From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 11, 1865: A medical opinion. –Hall’s Journal of Health, which claims to be high authority in medical science, has taken a stand against married people sleeping … Continue reading →

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freedom on offer?

Posted on February 11, 2015 by SUMPTER

On February 9, 1865 Richmond held a meeting to take stock of the unsuccessful peace negotiations held earlier in the month and to discuss what to do next. Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin was one of the speakers. He … Continue reading →

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bewildered

Posted on February 10, 2015 by SUMPTER

As a local paper in the Finger Lakes region began compiling information about the early February fight around Hatcher’s Run, it criticized someone’s praise of General Grant’s tactics in an action that cost 800 Union casualties. From a Seneca County, … Continue reading →

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unerasable

Posted on February 9, 2015 by SUMPTER

a milky way There were a lot of home remedies during the Civil War (for example, blackberry brandy). The South might have been getting shorter and shorter on supplies, but if someone could spare some milk a letter from a … Continue reading →

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out of the scabbard

Posted on February 7, 2015 by SUMPTER

The South should be invincible because it is fighting to defend its own soil, not to mention that that the Army of Northern Virginia “was never stronger, physically and morally, than at this very hour.” The people just need to … Continue reading →

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review board

Posted on February 6, 2015 by SUMPTER

Many states and localities were dissatisfied with the quotas assigned them under the December 19th call for 300,000 more soldiers. President Lincoln ordered a board to determine fair quotas so the draft could proceed speedily. I do not know if … Continue reading →

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“the Yankees were moving”

Posted on February 5, 2015 by SUMPTER

As “Lee’s Adjutant”, Walter Taylor, wrote to his girlfriend, 150 years ago today he had to leave church service early because he received word that, groundhog-like, the Union army had aroused itself from winter slumber and was on the move. … Continue reading →

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pledging allegiance

Posted on February 4, 2015 by SUMPTER

States’ Rights was dying hard in the South, a couple Virginia regiments were still full of fight. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 4, 1865: Saturday morning…February 4, 1865. … Rebellion. Even Lord John Russell confesses his inability to see … Continue reading →

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