Author Archives: SUMPTER

“Yankee exploding ball”

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 15, 1864: Accident from fire-arms. –Yesterday afternoon, a little free negro boy, named Lewis Harris, was seriously injured in one of his hands by the explosion of a Yankee exploding ball, in the Second … Continue reading

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leaden sky ledger

As a Richmond paper tallied the military balance sheet for 1864, the conclusion was inescapable – the South had had a great year. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: The Military Account Current Between North and South … Continue reading

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no relief

Secretary of State William H. Seward was not going to let the British distribute aid to rebels in Union prison camps. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 12, 1864: The British Relief Fund for Confederate prisoners — Seward Refuses to … Continue reading

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grand idea

Actually, over two grand From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: Arrested for Forgery. Lieut. H.C. Furniss, of Waterloo, is now under arrest at Elmira, charged with forging the name of Provost Marshal Knapp, of this district, … Continue reading

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“true olive branch”

The December 10, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South was impressed by General Sherman’s operations in Georgia. Here’s an excerpt: SHERMAN’S MARCH. THE campaign of General SHERMAN is striking and daring, but not more so than … Continue reading

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“virtual defeat”

A Democrat-leaning publication in upstate New York was skeptical about claims of a Union victory at the Battle of Franklin. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: The Battle at Franklin. The battle of Franklin, Tenn., on … Continue reading

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Samuel Oliver

Apparently 150 years ago this month the body of a soldier arrived home before word of his death. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in December 1864: DEATH OF A SOLDIER. – The remains of Corporal Samuel Oliver of … Continue reading

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behavioral economics

And General Sherman (hey, it’s December 1864). On the same day that President Lincoln nominated Salmon P. Chase to serve as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court he presented Congress with his annual message. You can read about Mr. … Continue reading

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capital shells?

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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“We usually take five at a load”

From The New-York Times December 4, 1864: HOSPITAL SCENES.; How the Soldiers Are Buried How Their Remains May be Recovered. Correspondence of the New-York Times. UNITED STATES GENERAL HOSPITAL, FORTRESS MONROE, Va., Thursday, Nov. 17, 1864. BURYING THE DEAD. EXHUMING … Continue reading

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