Author Archives: SUMPTER

Little Mac’s chances

Posted on July 16, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Southern publication succinctly rated the odds of George B. McClellan winning the 1864 presidential election. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 16, 1864: McClellan on the old flag. –McClellan, who stands about as much chance for succeeding Lincoln in … Continue reading →

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invasion digest

Posted on July 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Democrat paper recapped Jubal Early’s July invasion. Lee had Grant stymied at Petersburg, so the Confederate force could drive north and achieve some well-defined objectives. By the time this article was published the rebels had already recrossed the Potomac. … Continue reading →

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“natal day” blues

Posted on July 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA reported that the Union army got pushed out of the Shenandoah Valley again. On July 4th his New York 1st Veteran Cavalry was crossing the Potomac – in retreat, pursued by the rebels. From a Seneca County, New York … Continue reading →

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disloyalty?

Posted on July 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 12, 1864: Local matters. … Application for a discharge from military service. –Through his counsel, Hon. James Lyons and Gen. Geo. W. Randolph, R. D’Orsey Ogden, manager of the Richmond Theatre, made an application … Continue reading →

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conscientious objector?

Posted on July 11, 2014 by SUMPTER

Life could be dangerous for an enrolling officer, even if he was armed and had guards. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 11, 1864: Local matters. Attempt to murder an enrolling officer. –On Thursday last an attempt was made to … Continue reading →

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pump for patients

Posted on July 10, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 9, 1864: Additional from the North. From Northern papers; of the 4th inst, we gather a variety of interesting intelligence, which we condense in the summary below: … With the consent of Gen Grant, … Continue reading →

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horseless cavalry

Posted on July 9, 2014 by SUMPTER

Here’s another one paragraph letter from H.B. Compson, a young Cavalry officer, describing “one of the greatest raids of the war”, in which Compson and others lost their horses as they covered a ‘retrograde movement’ and had to make their … Continue reading →

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justices for the poor

Posted on July 8, 2014 by SUMPTER

Apparently county judges in Virginia had the power to impose taxes. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 8, 1864: Taking care of their poor. –A levy of one per cent on all property, real and personal, (the same amount as … Continue reading →

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convert

Posted on July 7, 2014 by SUMPTER

I don’t know how accurate the folowing letter is, but it would seem to have been quite a propaganda coup for a Democrat paper, especially during the 1864 presidential campaign. The Lincoln administration was too abolitionist for this letter-writing Republican … Continue reading →

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bridge engineers

Posted on July 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

News filtered back that a soldier from Seneca Falls and his men did good work building a bridge for the Army of the Potomac in June. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July 1864: THE 50TH N.Y. ENGINEERS. … Continue reading →

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