Category Archives: Military Matters

Defend the Home of the Blues!

And Earn 50 Dollars Confederate From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 25, 1862: R. L. I. Blues. Rally! men of Richmond, to your country’s call. One hundred men are wanted, at once, to fill up this glorious command, and to … Continue reading

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Guardians of the Technology

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 24, 1862: Guarding the telegraph. The Second regiment E. S. Home Guards, Col. Wilkins, is detailed for duty to guard the telegraph line from Salisbury, Maryland, to Cape Charles, Virginia. Headquarters at Drummond town; … Continue reading

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Sitting on a Seat of War

Not exactly President George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin but here George McClellan and P.G.T. Beauregard appear to be gazing into each others’ eye. This cartoon was published on February 1, 1862 and it is already out of date. By … Continue reading

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Jim Lane: Manservants and Reservations

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 13, 1862: What to do with our slaves. –Jim Lane made a speech last month at St. Louis, in which he said: “There are in the South 680,000 strong and loyal male slaves, who … Continue reading

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Hang On to Your Wallets …

… the Yankees Are Coming As the U.S. Congress debates ways and means to pay for the ever burgeoning war debt a Confederate military officer uses that debt as a recruiting tool. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 13, 1862: … Continue reading

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Shanghaied at the Falls?

A Canadian newspaper is concerned about reports that 1) a Union officer crossed into Canada to try to force a deserter back to the U.S. and that 2) a couple Canadian/British soldiers went to the U.S. side of the river, … Continue reading

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Graft in the Union Army?

The GROWLER takes issue with the practice of Union officers increasing their pay by claiming army privates as servants (wink-wink). From The New-York Times February 9, 1862: The Pay and Overpay of Army Officers. To the Editor of the New-York … Continue reading

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Auf Wiedersehen?

Apparently Stonewall Jackson was not the only well-known general who contemplated retirement in the winter of 1862. Here’s a note from Union General Franz Sigel. From The New-York Times February 8, 1862: A LETTER FROM GEN. SIGEL. The following brief … Continue reading

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Pontoon Games

Last month Yates County, NY, in the Civil War published two interesting letters from soldiers in the 50th New York Engineers. I found a couple articles about the 50th from Seneca County newspapers 150 years ago this month. Penn Yan … Continue reading

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The West Is the Best …

… Target for the Union The editors at The New-York Times have been discussing war strategy with a top man in the Union military, who does not agree with the “On to Richmond” sentiment. This authority believes that a force … Continue reading

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