Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Month

brief furlough

Posted on April 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1864: AT HOME. – Lieut. WM. VAN RENSSELEAR of the 50th Engineer Regiment, is at home on a brief furlough.

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marry the family

Posted on April 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

Mary, the family In April 1864 a Democrat newspaper in Seneca County, New York reprinted some alleged investigative journalism by a New York City publication: Treason at the White House. The Tribune a few days ago asserted that Mrs. J. … Continue reading →

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Aprilpole

Posted on April 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

A photograph of the “Military telegraph construction corps” taken by Alexander Gardner in April 1865: You can read more about this photograph at the Cornell Library. Apparently as the Overland campaign began in May 1864 a new insulated wire began … Continue reading →

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plus … and minus

Posted on March 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

The army reported on the number of troops it added from January 1863. A Democrat publication said the net gain needed to be adjusted for re-enlistments and lost men. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: The … Continue reading →

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rebel strength

Posted on March 28, 2014 by SUMPTER

As the undoubted spring campaign approached, a northern journalist tried to ascertain the rebel strength. He came up with numbers in all the southern armies and suggested that “Anaconda” might be squeezing the South into much greater self-reliance. From a … Continue reading →

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potpourri

Posted on March 27, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago this month a grab bag of miscellaneous news was dominated by the war. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: News Miscellany. No less than 500 of our prisoners in Richmond died during February. … Continue reading →

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diggin’ for the CSA

Posted on March 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

This notice has been running in the Dispatch most of the month. The Confederate Niter and Mining Bureau was tasked with supplying necessary minerals and metals to the South’s military. As white men continued to get killed and wounded and … Continue reading →

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reprieve

Posted on March 20, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: SENTENCED TO BE SHOT. – At a recent court martial, presided over by Capt. Winfield Scott, of the 126th Regiment, private Chas. Audler, of the 108th Regiment, was tried, convicted, … Continue reading →

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pacific theater

Posted on March 18, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: PROMOTED. – The friends of Lieut. HENRY B. SEELY, of the U.S. Navy, will be pleased to learn that he has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander. An 1857 graduate of … Continue reading →

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Ensign Arnett

Posted on March 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

A sailor from Seneca Falls had a rough fortnight to begin 1863. His ship was blown up during the Battle of Galveston on New Year’s Day; on the 11th his new ship was sunk by the CSS Alabama. Here’s some … Continue reading →

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