Author Archives: SUMPTER

no rest for the winner

Posted on April 11, 2015 by SUMPTER

After the April 9th surrender of General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, President Lincoln sure wasn’t looking for any triumphal celebrations or even resting on his laurels. He told a crowd on April 10th he would deliver a speech the … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , | Leave a comment

puppet show?

Posted on April 10, 2015 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1865 (in same column as the April 9, 1865 written communication between Generals Lee and Grant regarding surrender): JAMES REDPATH, the abolition leader, now the Charleston correspondent of the New York Tribune, … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“a sad peace-offering for us all”

Posted on April 9, 2015 by SUMPTER

From Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in chapters 66 and 67): The head of Lee’s column came marching up there [near Appomattox Station] on the morning of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union soldiers near. … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Maryland Campaign 1862 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

make love, and war

Posted on April 8, 2015 by SUMPTER

Spring’s not a bad time to celebrate the creative arts. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1865: A corporal of the 18th New Hampshire regiment was recently taken ill and sent to the hospital, and in a … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

dropped out at Farmsville

Posted on April 8, 2015 by SUMPTER

From Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in chapter 66): This [General Lee’s letter of April 7th] was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving another letter and wrote him as follows: April 8, 1865. GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

home and way

Posted on April 7, 2015 by SUMPTER

Apparently a Medal of Honor recipient from Seneca Falls, New York was home on furlough during at least some of the dramatic events in the first part of April 1865. Two clippings from Seneca County, New York newspapers in April … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“promenade in blue”

Posted on April 4, 2015 by SUMPTER

The federal occupation of Richmond allowed President Lincoln to see it 150 years ago today. The fall of Richmond also increased volunteer recruits in New York City because it was believed that becoming a Union soldier suddenly was much less … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

this is the end … (apr)

Posted on April 3, 2015 by SUMPTER

Another Monday morning in Richmond. Another pugnacious editorial from the Daily Dispatch? No, as the paper explained eight months later, it went temporarily out of business 150 years ago today as Richmond burned and the Union army entered the city. … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“the disruption of a great Government”

Posted on April 2, 2015 by SUMPTER

“and the ruin of an entire people” 150 years ago today the Union army attacked the outnumbered Army of Northern Virginia along the Petersburg-Richmond front. The rebel army retreated and the rebel government had to evacuate its capital. And Raphael … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Naval Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“a dream of maniacs”

Posted on April 1, 2015 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch April 1, 1865: Saturday Morning…april 1, 1865. The occasional execution of a Confederate officer (alleged to be a spy) in the Northern cities affords the masses at home an opportunity of seeing the death-struggles of … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment