Author Archives: SUMPTER

rosy outlook from dismal science

How can the Northern economy be doing relatively well given the labor and wealth wasted on the war? High labor productivity applied to a big and well-endowed country that can take in large numbers of immigrants, who add to the … Continue reading

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big squeeze at the meat market

Hey, civilians have to eat, too From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 6, 1864: The meat Market, in 17th street, was the scene of no little excitement yesterday morning, caused by the appearance of a C. S. officer, who purchased … Continue reading

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resolution

Another army campaign season has drawn to a close and Richmond still hasn’t fallen. The Confederate Congress said thanks. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 4, 1863: Confederate States Congress. The Senate was called to order by Mr. Hunter, of … Continue reading

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cold snap

I thought 3 °F seemed kind of cold this morning – and I sure wasn’t outside for a whole guard shift From a Seneca County, New York in January 1864: During the recent cold snap, eighty soldiers on guard at … Continue reading

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kudos

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1864: GONE TO THE WARS. – The editor of the Seneca County Sentinel, disgusted with the newspaper business, has gone for a soldier, leaving the paper in his absence in the … Continue reading

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objects lesson

In the first month of the new year a conservative editorial from a Democrat paper in the Finger Lakes region of New York State objected to what it saw as the war aims of the Lincoln administration -emancipation, increasing national … Continue reading

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“billowed with their graves”

America in 1863. Democrat newspapers in central New York state thought that General-in-Chief Halleck underestimated the Union loss during 1863 in his year-end report. A couple articles from Seneca County, New York newspapers in December 1863: Our Losses for the … Continue reading

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actions speak louder

The following editorial might very well have been published nearer the time in May 1863 when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony organized the Woman’s National Loyal League (or the Women’s Loyal National League) in New York City. Nevertheless, … Continue reading

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life insurance on property

An advertisement from the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 28, 1863: Slave Insurance Lynchburg Hose and fire Insurance Company. Slaves insured by this company for one or a term of years on favorable terms Wm A Charters, Increase Agent. Office 11th … Continue reading

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riddle me this

The Christmastime issue of Harper’s was full of “Humors of the Day.” Here’s a couple of examples. From the December 26, 1863 issue of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South: What’s the use of a seat of war to … Continue reading

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