Category Archives: Siege of Petersburg

capital shells?

Posted on December 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today editors in Richmond mentioned that the Union army might be sending some incendiary shells their way in the near future. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 5, 1864: The preparations for shelling Richmond — experiments with … Continue reading →

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risks of intercourse

Posted on November 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 30, 1864: From Petersburg. During the past two days a good deal of unimportant skirmishing and cannonading has taken place on the Petersburg lines. About one o’clock on Monday, our troops on General Mahone’s … Continue reading →

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“Our pits are in an awful condition”

Posted on November 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

A young man from Seneca County enlisted for one year in August 1864. Instead of the regiment he signed up for, he was sent to the “Orange Blossoms” from downstate. He was finding picket duty in front of Petersburg pretty … Continue reading →

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“though partially successful failed”

Posted on September 30, 2014 by SUMPTER

The September 29, 1864 Union attack at Chaffin’s Farm was audible in Richmond. The Richmond Daily Dispatch was not published on September 30th because Virginia Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith ordered the newspaper’s employees to militia duty on the 29th. … Continue reading →

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heroic 148th

Posted on September 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

You can read all about the September 29, 1864 Battle of Chaffin’s Farm and New Market Heights at Civil War Daily Gazette. During the battle the 148th New York Volunteer Infantry fought as part of General Ord’s XVIII Corps, 2nd … Continue reading →

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calling on negroes, the disabled

Posted on September 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

… and legislators? “X” from Petersburg is concerned about getting more men into the Confederacy’s armies to try to at least partially offset additions to Northern forces. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 12, 1864: From General Lee’s Army. (From … Continue reading →

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“bulldog grip”

Posted on September 1, 2014 by SUMPTER

Things are a bit slower up here in the country, especially when you publish a non-daily paper. Here’s a digest of some recent operations on two major fronts. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper on September 1, 1864: War … Continue reading →

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mechanics of war

Posted on August 26, 2014 by SUMPTER
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“annihilated by their own stomachs”

Posted on August 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

Captain James H. McDonald of the 50th New York Engineers has already served in the war for over three years. He recovered from being wounded in the arm at Fredericksburg. In this recruiting letter he promoted the Engineers as being … Continue reading →

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a whittlin’ in the sun

Posted on August 11, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Richmond newspaper reprinted the following report, in which a British war correspondent doubts that General Grant and the Union forces were going to defeat the South, with its armies motivated by hatred for the enemy and love of states’ … Continue reading →

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