Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Week

News from 150 years ago

Medical Alcohol?

The war caused governments North and South to increase restrictions on civilian rights. As Encyclopedia Virginia points out, on March 1, 1862 President Jefferson Davis declared martial law in Richmond, and “The Confederate government also prohibited the sale of liquor … Continue reading

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Soul-Stirring in Georgetown

As Civil War Daily Gazette explains, 150 years ago today Abraham Lincoln signed into law a measure that freed all slaves in the District of Columbia. The following little story tends to show the southern attitudes that still existed in … Continue reading

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Sharpshooters and “balloon reconnoissance”

From The New-York Times April 13, 1862: THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.; The Weather once more Favorable for Military Operations. Heavy Reinforcements Received by the Rebels. SUCCESSFUL BALLOON RECONNOISSANCE. Compliments to the National Troops. NEAR YORKTOWN, Saturday, April 12. The sun … Continue reading

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Trading Barbs and Bullets

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1862: Letter from Lieut. Brett. Camp Near Yorktown, Va. April, 11th 1862. Since I last wrote, we have had some pretty sharp fighting. Our brigade thus far has done all the skirmishing … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving in April

It seems that proclamations calling for days devoted to prayer and fasting or thanksgiving were pretty common in the Civil War era – both North and South. 150 years ago today President Lincoln issued the following: PROCLAMATION RECOMMENDING THANKSGIVING FOR … Continue reading

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“an elephant at a bridge”

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch April 10, 1862: Yorktown. There is yet nothing from Yorktown indicating an immediate fight. The enemy, now believed to be under McClellan, had, instead of attacking, after sending a few shot at long range, commenced … Continue reading

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“A Probable Siege of Two or Three Days”

From The New-York Times April 8, 1862: IMPORTANT WAR NEWS; Gen. McClellan Before Yorktown with the National Army. The Water Batteries on York River Shelled Out by Our Gunboats. Gen. Magruder in Yorktown with 30,000 Rebel Troops. Shipping Point in … Continue reading

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Shirker

A couple paragraphs that made me ask a lot of questions: From the Richmond Daily Dispatch April 7, 1862: A leap for liberty. –On Saturday a colored individual, named John Williams, was carried before the Mayer for the rather novel … Continue reading

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Big Tow Operation

150 years ago this fortnight a native son of Seneca Falls, New York wrote some letters home from far, far away at the mouth of the Mississippi River. JOHN was a mate in the Union navy that was preparing for … Continue reading

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Yorktown Naval Battery

150 years ago today General George McClellan began the Union army advance up the Virginia Peninsula.The rebels say they are ready for a “second battle of Yorktown.” From the Richmond Daily Dispatch April 4, 1862: The army of the Peninsula. … Continue reading

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