Author Archives: SUMPTER

ladies’ night

Posted on November 13, 2013 by SUMPTER

I’m pretty sure the Dispatch editors found the following document historical for the racial component. My added take: it’d be a lot better party by making sure the women got there; therefore, the 50% price reduction? From the Richmond Daily … Continue reading →

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

in pain

Posted on November 12, 2013 by SUMPTER

To paraphrase Shelby Foote: Before the Civil War many Americans said “The United States are …”; after the war they said “The United States is. It’s been well-documented how when the war started many Southerners had to choose between their … Continue reading →

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

that European diet

Posted on November 11, 2013 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 10, 1863: Eat Press [Less] meat. –The great scarcity of meats of all kinds in this Confederacy renders it absolutely necessary that all classes should be exceedingly economical in its use, in order to … Continue reading →

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

Monday theater

Posted on November 9, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today “President Abraham Lincoln attends the theater in Washington, D.C., ironically observing actor John Wilkes Booth perform in The Marble Heart.” According to The Lincoln Log (you can search by the date or the name of the … Continue reading →

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

and yet so far

Posted on November 8, 2013 by SUMPTER

Going on three years now Charleston and especially Fort Sumter have been hugely symbolic (New York City Republicans fired a “miniature Fort Sumter” at a Washington’s birthday celebration back in 1861). The Union has been banging away all year, but … Continue reading →

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

gamblers unanonymous

Posted on November 7, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years before New Yorkers voted for a constitutional amendment that allows as many as seven non-Indian casinos in the state, the Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac was actually trying to discourage gambling among his men (the … Continue reading →

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

sidewalks are for white folks

Posted on November 6, 2013 by SUMPTER

And blacks can’t congregate about their churches, even on Sundays This piece made me think of the white settlers in Humboldt County, California back in April 1861. U.S. troops were fighting and killing the troublesome Indians. An editorial said the … Continue reading →

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

blame boy bureaucrats

Posted on November 6, 2013 by SUMPTER

According to a Richmond newspaper, “There is no wheat in market” because of the government’s “starvation plan of impressment”, or at least the way it was being implemented by “Beardless and senseless boys”. But who else was there? From the … Continue reading →

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

ticket to sew

Posted on November 5, 2013 by SUMPTER

Problem? A Richmond newspaper believes that soldiers’ wives were possibly not being given the preferential treatment they deserved in getting seamstress work at the Clothing Bureau. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 2, 1863: Soldiers’ wives. –Complains are frequently made … Continue reading →

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

union ticket wins big

Posted on November 4, 2013 by SUMPTER

Early returns showed that the New York State Union ticket (Republicans and War Democrats) were winning big across the state after the November 3, 1863 election. (The clipping at the left is from November 5th, when the results were more … Continue reading →

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