Category Archives: American History

hot stove

Posted on January 18, 2016 by SUMPTER

I embrace hibernation. Reconstruction lacks the excitement of the combined naval-infantry assault on Fort Fisher (already a year ago), and it’s harder to find material. I might be historied out, but lying dormant for a bit sure seems good to … Continue reading →

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poll watchers

Posted on November 3, 2015 by SUMPTER

Men vote today as women watch Only going back 100 years for this one. On Election Day in 1915 women’s suffrage was on the ballot in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. It was voted down in all three states. ________________________________________________________________ … Continue reading →

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four hundred pound supper

Posted on September 5, 2013 by SUMPTER

It might not be a coincidence that that the same issue of the Richmond Daily Dispatch that praised the Confederate armies also published a letter written by George Washington that expressed his concern with the seeming apathy of Americans not … Continue reading →

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(Gradual) death-blow to a social system

Posted on July 3, 2013 by SUMPTER

On July 1, 1863 the Missouri State Convention passed a plan for gradual emancipation beginning in 1870. The following editorial knows why the decision was made – you can’t pretend to be loyal to the Union while still supporting slavery. … Continue reading →

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Monday Holiday

Posted on February 23, 2013 by SUMPTER

150 years ago yesterday President Lincoln thought it propitious that Washington’s Birthday coincided with the Christian sabbath. This article encourages Gothamites to make it a long weekend – despite the snowstorm. From The New-York Times February 23, 1863: LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.; … Continue reading →

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Death of a Free Soiler

Posted on July 25, 2012 by SUMPTER

150 years ago yesterday Martin Van Buren died at the age of 79. He was the first president who was not born a British subject. He began his political career as a Democrat and served in Andrew Jackson’s administration as … Continue reading →

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Bull Hamlin?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by SUMPTER

Yesterday morning I was reading a review of Robert Caro’s latest book on the life of Lyndon B. Johnson. Daniel Patrick Moynihan is said to have described LBJ’s descent from Senate Majority Leader to the sideline job of vice-president as … Continue reading →

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Missed Photo Op

Posted on January 26, 2012 by SUMPTER

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, this must be like War and Peace. I wish I knew about this image back in August. I copied an article from The New-York Times about Matthew Brady’s return from the Battle of … Continue reading →

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Janus Looking Ahead

Posted on January 1, 2012 by SUMPTER

At first I thought the following would be great to include in yesterday’s post because it referred to 1861. But really this must have been a poem filled with faith and hope for the future because the Union armies had … Continue reading →

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Remembrance Day

Posted on November 11, 2011 by SUMPTER
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