Author Archives: SUMPTER

“counties bounties”, &c.

Posted on February 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February 1864: What it Costs New York to Raise Men for the Army. From the report of LOCKWOOD L.DOTY, Chief of Military Statistics, recently sent into the Assembly, may be obtained some … Continue reading →

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

peace is the word

Posted on February 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

Back in January New York Democrat Representative Fernando Wood gave a speech in the U.S. House of Representatives in which he advocated an immediate peace. He criticized both Republicans and Southerners for being in favor of dissolution. ” Those who … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

groggy

Posted on February 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

Richmond’s grogshops were under attack as the reason for much of the city’s “vast increase of crime and demoralization”. The war put a crimp in the supply of real coffee, and many caffeine-free substitutes had been suggested. To top it … Continue reading →

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

flags, fireworks, and a fair

Posted on February 22, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today New York City celebrated George Washington’s birthday, and a sanitary fair opened in Brooklyn to support the United States Sanitary Commission. From The New-York Times February 23, 1864: WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY.; CELEBRATION IN THIS CITY AND VICINITY. Opening … Continue reading →

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

February interlude

Posted on February 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

Things had been pretty quiet in Northern Virginia. 150 years ago today (pages 166-167) General Meade, the North’s commander in the theater, wrote a letter to his wife explaining that “I returned from Washington to-day, very much fatigued and worn … Continue reading →

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

unending Lent

Posted on February 20, 2014 by SUMPTER

As scarcity increased in the South, the Richmond Daily Dispatch continually shared ideas for substitute products and ways to stretch the food that was available. 150 years ago today it published a bit of persevering humor: the fastings and sacrifices … Continue reading →

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

state of the confederacy

Posted on February 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

We’re used to the U.S. president presenting a state of the union address in January each year. 150 years ago this week the first Congress of the Confederate States completed its term. The day before the final adjournment the legislators … Continue reading →

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

Confederate naval school ship

Posted on February 18, 2014 by SUMPTER

During the same week that the Confederate navy made history, one of its sailors was murdered in Richmond. He was serving on the CSS Patrick Henry. In May 1862 the ship “was modified for use as a school ship, and … Continue reading →

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

can’t go back

Posted on February 17, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago yesterday abolitionist Wendell Phillips spoke in New York City about his views on the Union after the North presumably won the shooting war. He seemed to imply that reconstruction would be complete when the South was an … Continue reading →

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

no more prisoners?

Posted on February 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

For over three months the New York First Veteran Cavalry had been stationed at the cavalry depot near Washington, D.C. In early February 1864 the regiment left the capital and headed to the Harper’s Ferry area. Our SENECA correspondent wrote … Continue reading →

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