Author Archives: SUMPTER

lotta hate going around

Posted on December 3, 2013 by SUMPTER

“I hate victims who respect their executioners.” – Jean-Paul Sartre 150 years ago a Southern newspaper tried to reconcile rebel guerrilla attacks against civilians with notions of Southern chivalry. How to do it? Blame the Yankees- William Quantrill and his … Continue reading →

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handoff in Dalton

Posted on December 2, 2013 by SUMPTER

“In an emotional ceremony, General Braxton Bragg surrenders command of the Army of Tennessee to General William J. Hardee at Dalton, Georgia” From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 8, 1863: Farewell order of Gen. Bragg. The following is Gen. Bragg’s … Continue reading →

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vast left-wing conspiracy

Posted on November 30, 2013 by SUMPTER

Power of the Press In the 1863 fall elections the Union ticket (Republicans and War Democrats) swept all New York statewide offices. Here a Democrat newspaper believes the problem to be Abolitionists sending their journals to families across the country … Continue reading →

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138 miles

Posted on November 29, 2013 by SUMPTER

After their victory at Chattanooga Federal troops pursued the retreating rebels into Georgia. 150 years ago today the “Sallust” correspondent of the Richmond Daily Dispatch telegraphed home a description of the situation. It was published last in a series of … Continue reading →

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sewer escape

Posted on November 28, 2013 by SUMPTER

Morgan’s Raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio during June and July of 1863 ended when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan was captured on July 26th. He escaped from the clink about four months later. From The New-York Times November 29, … Continue reading →

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managing well in North Carolina

Posted on November 27, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today a Richmond newspaper published a portion of an address by North Carolina Governor Zebulon Baird Vance to the state legislature. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 27, 1863: Governor Vance’s message. –The North Carolina Legislature assembled … Continue reading →

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NYC “wore a holiday face”

Posted on November 26, 2013 by SUMPTER

A “purposely observed” Thanksgiving President Lincoln proclaimed it back in October. 150 years ago today the North celebrated a “day of thanksgiving and prayer”. Here’s a bit from a pretty much pro-Lincoln Administration newspaper in New York City. It was … Continue reading →

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“glorious victory”

Posted on November 25, 2013 by SUMPTER

The only extant cutting in the Seneca Falls, New York library’s big notebook of Civil War local newspaper clippings regarding the late November battles around Chattanooga is a reproduction of General Montgomery C. Meigs’ official report to Secretary of War … Continue reading →

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railroaded in Ireland?

Posted on November 23, 2013 by SUMPTER

A Southern editorial that found the British hands-off policy regarding Union recruiting efforts in Ireland not exactly neutral: From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 23, 1863: Yankee recruiting in Ireland. From the intercepted letter of Mr. De Leon, which the … Continue reading →

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pasteboard nation

Posted on November 22, 2013 by SUMPTER

From Harper’s Weekly November 21, 1863: A QUESTION OF ENDURANCE. THE war has now reached a point at which the continued resistance of the rebels is a mere question of endurance. They are suffering privations as severe as were ever … Continue reading →

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