Category Archives: Military Matters

cop-out confederacy?

Walter Taylor, Lee’s Adjutant, observed a collapsing Confederacy. In a letter he wrote to his beloved Bettie 150 years ago today, Colonel Taylor objected to Confederate leaders blaming the people for why the war could not go on. After all, … Continue reading

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doubtless

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 3, 1865: The Richmond and Petersburg lines. Everything remains quiet on these lines, and is so likely to continue while the rain and mud lasts, and of these there seems to be no end. … Continue reading

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capture the flags

Some time after the Union Army of the Shenandoah captured most of Jubal Early’s rebel force at the Battle of Waynesboro, Union General Sheridan sent Major Compson of the 8th New York Cavalry to Washington, D.C. to deliver captured battle … Continue reading

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poor conscription

After four years of war it was hard to scrounge up enough new recruits to satisfy the Union government’s draft quotas. The Seneca Falls supervisor was recruiting in New York City. Men were available, but there wasn’t enough money to … Continue reading

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draft dilemmas

150 years ago this month another Union draft was rapidly approaching, but a local town still didn’t know what its quota would be. The town supervisor was down in New York City headhunting for recruits to fill his town’s requirements. … Continue reading

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fishy business

A presumably Democrat paper criticized President Lincoln for using his power of pardon to release a former Baltimore Provost Martial who was convicted of abusing his power. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February 1865: COL. FISH PARDONED. … Continue reading

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from the quagmire

The Civil War has changed America in some ways over the last four years, but Yankees are still firing off cannon to honor Washington’s birthday. And rain makes Virginia “one vast quagmire” – the Dispatch doesn’t anticipate General Grant trying … Continue reading

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old news …

Not exactly good news for the rebel cause From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1865: The War in the Southwest. CAIRO, Feb. 21. – The Memphis Bulletin learns from gentlemen who left Selma, Ala., on the 14th ult., … Continue reading

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Cumberland catch

150 years ago today a rebel raid surprised a couple Union generals, who were then sent off to Libby Prison for a month. General-in-Chief Lee reported that no shooting was necessary From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February … Continue reading

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Save Our South!

I guess desperate times really do call for desperate measures. In its Monday morning editorial the Dispatch calls for the Confederate Congress to let General Lee use slaves as soldiers in exchange for their freedom. As you can read, the … Continue reading

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