Author Archives: SUMPTER

the Butler did it

Posted on December 31, 2014 by SUMPTER

Apparently, even Union Secretary of War Stanton had to rely on Confederate newspapers for his first report to General Dix regarding the failed attack on Fort Fisher. From The New-York Times December 29, 1864: WILMINGTON.; THE ATTACK ON FORT FISHER. … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

break before more war

Posted on December 30, 2014 by SUMPTER

An officer who completed his three year gig with the Infantry and then signed back up – with the Engineers. He was able to take a break sometime 150 years ago this month. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

right to privacy?

Posted on December 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

The Civil War was hugely expensive for the federal government, and various tax schemes were imposed to generate the necessary revenue, including an income tax. Here Gotham’s Times was concerned that tax assessors did not keep citizens’ incomes secret: “We … Continue reading →

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

it’s the rebel armies, stupid

Posted on December 27, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Democrat publication looked at the undoubted brilliance of General Sherman’s campaign through Georgia – and found the Lincoln administration wanting. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: The Capture of Savannah. The War Department received dispatches … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

boxing day thanks

Posted on December 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

In didn’t take President Lincoln long to get to his Christmas thank you notes in 1864. Of course, when someone gives you an entire city, it’s probably not a bad idea to make sure you show your gratitude. From The … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

dinner plans changed

Posted on December 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

Two big war events 150 years ago this week were the capture of Savannah and the attempt to capture Fort Fisher. It took a while for the news to make its way up to upstate New York. Here’s an article … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

‘vacant chair’ Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 24, 1864: Saturday morning….December 24, 1864. Christmas. Christmas has come again, and though shorn of some of its old accessories of feasts and frolics, it is Christmas still in all that constitutes its essential … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Southern Society | Tagged , | Leave a comment

shaming the abolitionists?

Posted on December 23, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Democrat publication wondered why, if over two million adult men voted for President Lincoln’s re-election, the President had to threaten a draft to come up with 300,000 more soldiers. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864 or … Continue reading →

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

Hardee not Lincoln

Posted on December 22, 2014 by SUMPTER

When a Richmond paper heard the news about the fall of Savannah, it spun it positive – unlike American forces in Charleston during the Revolutionary War, General Hardee’s army escaped. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 29, 1864: Thursday morning…December … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

reconstruction bill

Posted on December 20, 2014 by SUMPTER

Four years to the day after South Carolina officially seceded from the United States, Richmond citizens could read about a bill in the Yankee Congress to manage the return of the rebel states: slavery would be forever abolished; provisional governors … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Northern Politics During War | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment