Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Month

a productive, destructive August

150 years ago this month the CSS Tallahassee, commanded by Zachary Taylor’s grandson John Taylor Wood, was disrupting Yankee commerce off the northern coast. Here’s a summary from the Navy: After she was commissioned and prepared for sea Tallahassee was … Continue reading

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armistice

A Democrat editorial thought the war was too costly to continue it just for the purpose of abolishing slavery and believed peace negotiations should be the main issue in the 1864 elections. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in … Continue reading

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peace pipe dreams

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 28, 1864: The interview of the “peace Commissioners.” The Washington Chronicle, noticing the failure of the late “peace negotiations,” says: After considerable correspondence between the parties, it was concluded to refer the whole matter … Continue reading

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hub letter

It seems that this civilian correspondent could relate just about all his topics to the war. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: LETTER FROM BOSTON. BOSTON, MASS., July 11, 1864. FRIEND STOWELL: – Now that our “Russian … Continue reading

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halt the juggernaut

crushing the rebellion crushing the Union? A publication in upstate New York called for the end of the war and its great costs in terms of the dead and maimed, the public debt, and the loss of Constitutional liberty. From … Continue reading

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convalescing

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“natal day” blues

SENECA reported that the Union army got pushed out of the Shenandoah Valley again. On July 4th his New York 1st Veteran Cavalry was crossing the Potomac – in retreat, pursued by the rebels. From a Seneca County, New York … Continue reading

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bridge engineers

News filtered back that a soldier from Seneca Falls and his men did good work building a bridge for the Army of the Potomac in June. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July 1864: THE 50TH N.Y. ENGINEERS. … Continue reading

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missing Stonewall

A couple correspondents from the New York 1st Veteran cavalry maintained that the Union occupation of Staunton, Virginia in early June 1864 was quite well-received by the citizens. SENECA said everything was passing off quite smoothly as the Union demolished … Continue reading

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bushwacker aversion

The SENECA correspondent has written many letters about the exploits of New York’s 1st Veteran Cavalry. The following is a different take on the death of Captain Brett, the battle of Piedmont, and the brutal march over the mountains with … Continue reading

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