Author Archives: SUMPTER

mountain march

Posted on June 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA was pleased as Punch that he could write home about the Union success at Piedmont, but there was a problem even in victory – what to do with the all those captured rebels. Come to find out, the New … Continue reading →

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butter price

Posted on June 13, 2014 by SUMPTER

There’s been a lot of killing and maiming and suffering the last six weeks in the various seats of war … and the price of butter is still too high at the Richmond market. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June … Continue reading →

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“the suppressic veri and the suggestio falsi”

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

going to hurt me more than you? From the June 11, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South: Also 150 years ago this week, a Richmond paper noticed that Union Secretary of War Stanton’s telegrams to General … Continue reading →

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mute on reconstruction

Posted on June 11, 2014 by SUMPTER

On June 7 and 8, 1864 the National Union (Republican) convention in Baltimore nominated a Abe Lincoln and Andy Johnson ticket. Among other things, its platform was strongly in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war and strongly opposed … Continue reading →

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duckin’, dodgin’, and dirt

Posted on June 10, 2014 by SUMPTER

In the trenches at Cold Harbor. The first part of this letter might be an example of gallows humor, especially since Chaplain Scott just missed getting shot in the head. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: LETTERS … Continue reading →

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“glorious victory”

Posted on June 9, 2014 by SUMPTER

Our SENECA correspondent from New York’s 1st Veteran Cavalry sure was happy to be able to report some Union success in the Shenandoah Valley after the defeat at New Market. According to SENECA, a diversionary action by the 1st Veterans … Continue reading →

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a persevering party

Posted on June 7, 2014 by SUMPTER

The first chairman of the Republican party, Edwin D. Morgan, opened the “National Union” Convention in Baltimore 150 years ago today. He fired up the delegates by playing on General Grant’s “I propose to fight it out on this line … Continue reading →

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war without end

Posted on June 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

“until all resistance to the national authority ceases” the national authority embodied by the vote of the people Campaign season was heating up. On May 31, 1864 the Radical Democracy nominated John C. Fremont as its presidential standard-bearer. The Republican … Continue reading →

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relative Sabbath

Posted on June 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

According to the following editorial 150 years ago today was a remarkably quiet Sunday up at the Cold Harbor front. Also, if Grant can’t do to Lee what Lee did to McClellan, then the Confederates must be the best soldiers. … Continue reading →

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brothers’ war?

Posted on June 4, 2014 by SUMPTER

Some Southerners didn’t take kindly to famous native Marylanders who were unabashedly pro-Union. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 3, 1864: Edwin Boot[h] at the North. –This young actor, a native of the State of Maryland, and whose engagements in … Continue reading →

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