Blue Gray Review

150 years ago the people of Seneca Falls, New York got fooled real good. The culprit? – A Democratic party-oriented publication pointed its finger at the Lincoln Administration.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

The Capture of Richmond.

Our village on Sunday last was the scene of the most uproarous demonstrations, over the reported capture of the Confederate capitol. The news was circulated at an early hour, and soon after almost everybody was in the streets discussing the probability of the occurrence. To doubt its truthfulness was treason, or one desired that it should not be so. “General MILLER brings the news from Albany,” and, exclaims our Abolition friends, “he is too much of a Copperhead to circulate such a story, unless it were true.” “He believes it,” and, as a matter of course, they believed it, and the more affair was discussed, the firmer the belief in its truthfulness. The exuberance of patriotism was very great, and only equalled by the excess of that kind of enthusiasm which is retailed at so many different places in our village, at five cents per glass. Everybody was jubilant, except a few prominent Abolitionists, who were greatly displeased because Copperheads rejoiced. Hundreds of guns were fired during the day, the church and ship bells were rung, and altogether there was a grand fen de joie. On Monday morning pretty much all business was suspended, and the people awaited with breathless anxiety the arrival of the morning papers, – but alas, with disappointment. The reported capture of Richmond was a cruel and wicked hoax. No such event had happened. It was only one of the many attrocious [sic] and inexcusable lies, circulated by the Lincoln Administration. [sic] to draw the attention of the people from Hooker’s inglorious and disastrous defeat. Inexcusable, did we say? It might have been excusable, had it restored to us the brave men fallen in that awful struggle, or assuaged the woes and lamentations of the widows and orphans of this weary war. God save us from an Administration that so trifles with an afflicted and sorrow-stricken people.

I’m not totally sure the date of this misguided celebration was May 3rd, but on the same date rumors were rife in the Confederate capital. The people of Richmond were antsy, apparently on account of the Union cavalry raid.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 4, 1863:

The “Situation”–a Yankee raid.

The city yesterday was in a high state of excitement, which was caused by a number of reports of a Yankee raid made on a scale which has heretofore been unapproached by them. In the afternoon several thousand persons were congregated at the depot of the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad, anxiously awaiting the news expected to arrive by the train. The train, however, was destined not to arrive. The rumors which circulated yesterday might be extended in the sensation style to several columns, but, reduced to the absolute facts of the case, may be stated as follows:

Yesterday the Yankees entered Columbia, Fluvanna county, Va., and destroyed the canal banks there.

At 7 o’clockyesterday evening a force of Federals was within eight miles of Farmville, with the intention of destroying the High Bridge, on the Southside railroad.

In the morning the Federals entered Ashland with a large force of cavalry and artillery, and, it is stated, burnt the town, which consists of a hotel and some twenty or thirty cottages.

In the evening they were reported to be at a station on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, eight miles distant from the city. This report is supposed to be correct, though nothing was heard of them afterwards. It is more likely that after the raid at Ashland they turned their attention to the Central Railroad, which last night at 9 o’clock had been torn up near Peak’s, about six miles from the city. The party performing this feat is evidently on its way down the Peninsula to secure a safe retreat within their lines. On their way they will meet General Wise’s command, and may be overpowered by it and captured.

When the raid on Ashland was consummated our ambulance train, with 198 sick and 69 wounded, was captured, and it is stated that the cars were burnt after the prisoners were paroled.

A gentleman who arrived here last night states that a body of Yankees, numbering 15,000, (an exaggeration doubtless,) were at Deitrick’s Store, in Goochland county, yesterday, and were taking all the horses and negroes to be found in the neighborhood.

From Gen. Lee’s army we learn that on Friday we met the enemy at Chancellorsville, in Spotsylvania county, defeated them and drove them back five miles. Among the killed on our side was Major Chauning R. Price, of Richmond, Aid to Gen. Stuart. Among the wounded was Col. Harris, of the 16th Mississippi. It was stated that yesterday there was heavy fighting along the lines; but, as the telegraph lines were down, and there was no railroad communication, of course the report is not to be relied on.

The Central train last night, at 7½ o’clock, brought down 59 prisoners captured on Friday.

The city has now troops enough within its limits to defend it from any raid of the nature above described, and enough we hope to catch the raid makers. Last night, on the public square, several regiments of citizens were formed, in accordance with the general desire to have a hand in protecting Richmond against the invaders, should they attempt to come to the city.

And 150 years ago today Abraham Lincoln was also wondering what was going, as he telegraphed the Army of the Potomac’s chief of staff, Daniel Adams Butterfield. From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six:

GENERALS LOST
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. BUTTERFIELD.

WASHINGTON, D. C., May 3, 1863. 4.35 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL BUTTERFIELD:

Where is General Hooker? Where is Sedgwick Where is Stoneman?
A. LINCOLN.

It’s too bad for the folks in 1863 that CNN hadn’t been invented yet. Thankfully, today we can read all about Day Three of Chancellorsville at Civil War Daily Gazette.

generals’ keeper – General Butterfield at Falmouth in April 1863