Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Month

A young man’s fancy turns to …

Posted on April 25, 2013 by SUMPTER

Swordplay? This photograph from April 1863 is titled “Falmouth, Virginia. A muss at headquarters, Army of the Potomac” Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Locksley Hall” “narrates the emotions of a weary soldier come to his childhood home” and contains the following lines: … Continue reading →

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arms control

Posted on April 19, 2013 by SUMPTER

Back on April 9th Seven Score and Ten published an interesting article by Frederick Douglass that encouraged black men to enlist in the Union army. Here’s part of it. From the Douglass’ Monthly April 1863: WHY SHOULD A COLORED MAN … Continue reading →

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The greenbacks are coming!

Posted on April 17, 2013 by SUMPTER

Last year I wondered how a local newspaper could know very accurately how much money was being sent home by Union volunteers. Apparently much of the money was funneled through a soldier’s captain, and the captain told the press. From … Continue reading →

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Corporal Corpulent?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1863: A Young Corporal. The Rochester Union says that a private letter from an officer in the 20th Reg. N.Y.S.V., to a friend in that city states that a Corporal in … Continue reading →

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Anticipation

Posted on March 29, 2013 by SUMPTER

More soldiers from the New York 33d Voluntary Infantry visited visited home 150 years ago, only two or three months before their two year commitment would be completed. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1863: LIEUT. PRICE … Continue reading →

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Present Arms

Posted on March 28, 2013 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper, presumably sometime in early 1863: Presentation to Capt. McDonald. Capt. JAS. H. MCDONALD, of the 50th Regiment, received on Monday evening, a very substantial present at the hands of his fellow-citizens, for gallant … Continue reading →

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Burnside Exiled?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by SUMPTER

I guess if you’re a strongly Democratic party newspaper you have to pretty much criticize everything the Lincoln administration does. After the Battle of Fredericksburg a Seneca County, New York newspaper blasted the Lincoln and his War Department for the … Continue reading →

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Sambo and Coffee

Posted on March 26, 2013 by SUMPTER

A Democratic Party oriented newspaper maintained that blacks would have to be drafted to fight for their freedom. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1863: Drafting the Negroes. All the highly colored stories concerning negro volunteers at … Continue reading →

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anger management

Posted on March 25, 2013 by SUMPTER

Sometimes when I reproduce racist articles I feel like me and 150 years are ganging up on the people in the story – I have no idea what my thoughts and actions would be like if I lived so long … Continue reading →

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A lynching in Montgomery

Posted on March 23, 2013 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 23, 1863: A Spy Hung. –Saturday morning last the Vigilance Committee resumed the examination of Dan’l S. E. Starr, who was charged with having written an Abolition book, which we believe, was found in … Continue reading →

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