Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Week

News from 150 years ago

the wolf/sheep party

Posted on January 27, 2014 by SUMPTER

If this war ever ends, I’m going to miss the rhetoric in the Richmond Dispatch. I’m certain … I’m pretty sure sometime in the last three years I’ve read an editorial that maintained Northern Democrats were bigger threats to the … Continue reading →

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staunch

Posted on January 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 25, 1864: Siege of Charleston. –This is the two hundredth day of the siege of Charleston. The Courier, of Thursday last, says: The enemy continues the bombardment of the city with slight intermissions. The … Continue reading →

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skating … or not

Posted on January 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

Here a Northern newspaper acknowledged the huge contrast between the suffering soldiers and the still luxurious life at home. For all the people in New York could tell, the fighting might just as well have been in China. The least … Continue reading →

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Pope Pius for Peace

Posted on January 23, 2014 by admin

I heard President Obama is going to visit Pope Francis in March. 150 years ago today citizens in Richmond could have read some correspondence between their president and the Roman pontiff. Both leaders seem to agree that war is cruel … Continue reading →

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kill ’em with kindness

Posted on January 22, 2014 by SUMPTER

Families at home trying to survive during a seemingly unending war in which important supplies for the army are questionable – there are reasons for a Confederate soldier to consider deserting, even if they are treated well by their commanders. … Continue reading →

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help the maimed

Posted on January 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 21, 1863: Association for the relief of maimed soldiers. –A meeting was held in the Hall of the House of Delegates on Tuesday night last, having for its object the organization of an Association … Continue reading →

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“childish despondency”

Posted on January 17, 2014 by SUMPTER

Late in 1863 the Confederate Congress abolished substitution – those conscripted could no longer hire replacements to serve in the CSA army. The Congress went further (third paragraph) in January 1864 by requiring “that men who had hired substitutes report … Continue reading →

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using that Union instinct

Posted on January 16, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago earlier this month Frederick Douglass made the case that the Civil War had to be primarily a war for abolition; there could never be a return to the old Union with its acceptance of slavery in the … Continue reading →

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“salutary school of affliction”

Posted on January 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

It’s been almost two years since we’ve put up a report on Frederick Douglass speaking at New York City’s Cooper Institute. 150 years ago this week he spoke there again. The war was dragging on, and it had to be … Continue reading →

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“a question of numbers and of time”

Posted on January 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

While on winter break in Philadelphia 150 years ago this week, General Meade, commander of the Union Army of the Potomac, was serenaded. He used the occasion to encouraged the walking wounded in the audience to rejoin the army and, … Continue reading →

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