Category Archives: Postbellum Society

upriver

Posted on September 15, 2021 by SUMPTER

According to documentation at the Library of Congress, an expedition of exploration set out from a camp in Arizona territory 150 years ago today: In its May 6, 1871 issue Harper’s Weekly provided more information about the expedition: SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. … Continue reading →

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prison break

Posted on August 31, 2021 by SUMPTER

From the August 18, 1871 edition of The New-York Times: SING SING AGAIN. __________ Daring Escape of Twelve Convicts from the Prison. __________ They are Carried off in a Tug, by Preconcerted Arrangement — The Engineer Suspected — One Arrrest … Continue reading →

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another glorious day

Posted on July 4, 2021 by SUMPTER

From the July 8, 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly: An editorial commented on the picture – the Fourth of a July was customarily a noisy, boisterous, and often dangerous holiday: ____________________________ A week later the editors still found the Fourth … Continue reading →

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redecoration

Posted on May 30, 2021 by SUMPTER

From the June 10, 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly: From the The New York Herald May 31, 1871: THE NATION’S DEAD. … The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat The Soldier’s last tattoo, No more on life’e parade shall meet … Continue reading →

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nothing to see year

Posted on January 1, 2021 by SUMPTER

At least not over here. The Chicago Tribune used its January 1, 1871 issue to review the old year. According to the paper, the recent-history-perusing side of Janus would have been kind of bored looking at events in the United … Continue reading →

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guns and egg-nog

Posted on December 25, 2020 by SUMPTER

And the firecrackers look like fun, too As Reconstruction was presumably trudging on, a New York City newspaper provided its readers with a couple glimpses of Christmas celebrations from the land down under, down under the Mason-Dixon line. From Harper’s … Continue reading →

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the three exemptions

Posted on November 26, 2020 by SUMPTER

Apparently 150 years ago the United States was free from pestilence and civil strife: BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas it behooves a people sensible of their dependence on the Almighty publicly and collectively … Continue reading →

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peanut prophecy

Posted on August 8, 2020 by SUMPTER

From the July 16, 1870 issue of Harper’s Weekly: PEA-NUTS. OUR illustration on this page represents a scene which is perfectly familiar to those who have visited our Southern cities; and we dare say some of our readers who have … Continue reading →

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virtual vacation

Posted on June 29, 2020 by SUMPTER

Apparently some people weren’t venturing too far from home 150 years ago. What they might have been missing: I’m so old I sort of remember when they turned off the American Falls when I was going to school. As it … Continue reading →

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lapping it up

Posted on June 15, 2020 by SUMPTER

Here’s a man that might have fit right in with Stonewall Jackson’s foot cavalry – except that he hailed from north of Mason-Dixon. From Harper’s Weekly June 11, 1870: WESTON, THE PEDESTRIAN. WE give on this page a portrait of … Continue reading →

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