Author Archives: SUMPTER

peace signs

Posted on January 22, 2015 by SUMPTER

About 150 years ago people up in this neck of the woods could read about some rumored peace maneuvers. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: More Peace Rumors. The telegraph of Thursday evening gives us more … Continue reading →

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bored of war

Posted on January 21, 2015 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today Richmond’s Dispatch was full of Northern accounts of the the fall of Fort Fisher. The editors spun the resultant closing of the port of Wilmington as economically advantageous: The fall of Fort Fisher, and the subsequent … Continue reading →

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friendly request

Posted on January 19, 2015 by SUMPTER

President Lincoln was trying to please his son Robert, his wife Mary, and his general Grant. He seems pretty confident that the war will soon and finally come to an end. From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume … Continue reading →

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“The Rebels fought like fiends”

Posted on January 17, 2015 by SUMPTER

John Arnett, a young man from Seneca Falls, New York serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, has already had some notable experiences. His ship the Westfield was blown up on New Year’s Day 1863 during the Battle … Continue reading →

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break: cold comfort

Posted on January 16, 2015 by SUMPTER
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“put our trust in the God of Battles”

Posted on January 15, 2015 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1865: PATRIOTIC LETTER FROM AN IRISH SOLDIER. The following is an extract from a letter written by John Graham, of this village, to his friend James Hughes, dated City Point, Va., Jan. … Continue reading →

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don’t jump

Posted on January 14, 2015 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: Heading off the Bounty Jumpers. The Elmira Advertiser says Maj. J. Ladd, Paymaster U.S. Army, has been stationed at Elmira, for the purpose of taking charge of the money received … Continue reading →

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“An army of harmless Yankees”

Posted on January 13, 2015 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: STATISTICS OF LIBBY PRISON. – An army of harmless Yankees have passed through Richmond within the year just expiring. – From the statistics of the clerk of Libby Prison, Mr. … Continue reading →

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Big Data

Posted on January 12, 2015 by SUMPTER

The average Union soldier had more girth than the average Rebel? Recently I read about the importance of statistics and statisticians to the British government during World War II. Here’s some evidence that during the American Civil War a Northern … Continue reading →

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summarized judgment

Posted on January 10, 2015 by SUMPTER

Seneca Falls papers during the Civil War seemed to lean strongly Democrat. Here one of the publications has no criticisms of President Lincoln for firing the political General Butler. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: Exit … Continue reading →

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