Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Week

News from 150 years ago

Peace: Politics and Perceptions

Posted on June 14, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago there were more and more indications that at least a good chunk of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was heading north of Mason-Dixon. A Democrat newspaper apparently thought it would be a good idea to postpone … Continue reading →

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“a rather dismal joke”

Posted on June 13, 2013 by SUMPTER

From The New-York Times June 13, 1863: IMAGINARY FEARS. — One of our neighbors affects great alarm over the “fearful danger of a centralization and consolidation of the Government.” Just at this moment this sounds like a rather dismal joke. … Continue reading →

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“intolerance and bigotry”

Posted on June 11, 2013 by SUMPTER

The South … has never proscribed any man on account of his creed or race From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 11, 1863: The Yankee Know Nothings. A suggestive item of Yankee news has been published in this paper, which … Continue reading →

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Not ’til there’s nothing left to sell

Posted on June 8, 2013 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 6, 1863: General Pemberton to the army. –The Mississippian, of Saturday morning, publishes a speech made by Gen. Pemberton, after repulses of the enemy. It is as follows: You have heard that I was … Continue reading →

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Show Troops?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by SUMPTER

We know that Phineas Taylor Barnum was on the lecture circuit early in 1863, but apparently the South has not heard anything of his exploits since the beginning of the war. A Richmond newspaper from 150 years ago surmised the … Continue reading →

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“the hardest thing I ever saw”

Posted on June 5, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today a detachment from the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock once again to probe Confederate strength on the other side. Members of the 50th New York Engineers tried to build a pontoon bridge as the … Continue reading →

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Norfolk parasol spy

Posted on June 4, 2013 by SUMPTER

I loved watching The Wild Wild West as a scared youngster. I guess back in the 1800s a parasol could be used for more than clunking U.S. agents over their heads. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 4, 1863: The … Continue reading →

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Draft trumps geometry

Posted on June 3, 2013 by SUMPTER

How do you beat the Confederate strategy of using interior lines to concentrate its troops at any threatened point? The New-York Times says to use overwhelming numbers at multiple points simultaneously. The Conscription Act of 1863 is conveniently giving the … Continue reading →

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Back at it

Posted on June 1, 2013 by SUMPTER

And now a corps commander On August 28, 1862, during the Second Battle of Bull Run, Confederate General Richard Ewell’s left leg was “shattered by a Minie ball”. The leg had to be amputated. He convalesced until May 1863 when … Continue reading →

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Heading North … and Back South

Posted on May 31, 2013 by SUMPTER

More Two-Year Men Come Home; Captain Ashcroft Heads back South From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863: The return of the 19th Regiment. This Regiment returned to Auburn on Tuesday [May 23] last, having served out its … Continue reading →

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