Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Week

News from 150 years ago

crowned

Posted on December 13, 2013 by SUMPTER

Walt Whitman seemed fascinated by it. The Statue of Freedom’s top-most section was put into place in the early days of December 1863. Whitman’s “Genius of Liberty” was on top of the Capitol Dome. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December … Continue reading →

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Bonds, Town Bonds

Posted on December 12, 2013 by SUMPTER

Men in Seneca Falls, New York might have been voting mostly Democratic in the early 1860’s, but citizens apparently didn’t mind issuing bonds to help pay bounties to encourage recruits for the military. People still wanted to save the Union … Continue reading →

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Chase report

Posted on December 11, 2013 by SUMPTER

The following is an editorial that assessed Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase’s annual report to Congress. The issuance of greenbacks has been a success and has not increased the money supply beyond the underlying value in the economy. … Continue reading →

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carpetcutters

Posted on December 10, 2013 by SUMPTER

As winter approached the South was short of blankets for its soldiers in the field. Here’s a way for the Confederate citizenry to help out. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 10, 1863: Blankets are much needed by our soldiers … Continue reading →

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watering Washington

Posted on December 5, 2013 by SUMPTER

Here’s a photograph that was apparently taken 150 years ago today, “The day when water was first turned into the aqueduct”: And here’s some supporting evidence from The New-York Times December 6, 1863: NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. … OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON … Continue reading →

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holy lawsuit …

Posted on December 4, 2013 by SUMPTER

… a distinct possibility Beware the dilapidated bridge. Inflation was hitting lumber prices in the Richmond area, but bridge owners were better off paying for repairs to avoid more costly lawsuits in the future. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December … Continue reading →

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lotta hate going around

Posted on December 3, 2013 by SUMPTER

“I hate victims who respect their executioners.” – Jean-Paul Sartre 150 years ago a Southern newspaper tried to reconcile rebel guerrilla attacks against civilians with notions of Southern chivalry. How to do it? Blame the Yankees- William Quantrill and his … Continue reading →

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handoff in Dalton

Posted on December 2, 2013 by SUMPTER

“In an emotional ceremony, General Braxton Bragg surrenders command of the Army of Tennessee to General William J. Hardee at Dalton, Georgia” From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 8, 1863: Farewell order of Gen. Bragg. The following is Gen. Bragg’s … Continue reading →

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138 miles

Posted on November 29, 2013 by SUMPTER

After their victory at Chattanooga Federal troops pursued the retreating rebels into Georgia. 150 years ago today the “Sallust” correspondent of the Richmond Daily Dispatch telegraphed home a description of the situation. It was published last in a series of … Continue reading →

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sewer escape

Posted on November 28, 2013 by SUMPTER

Morgan’s Raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio during June and July of 1863 ended when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan was captured on July 26th. He escaped from the clink about four months later. From The New-York Times November 29, … Continue reading →

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