Author Archives: SUMPTER

war lesson

Posted on June 23, 2014 by SUMPTER

Newspapers in Seneca Falls 150 years ago were not big fans of the Lincoln administration and its war policy, but even the following editorial finds it hard to believe that Petersburg can hold out much longer against the Union army. … Continue reading →

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bushwacker aversion

Posted on June 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

The SENECA correspondent has written many letters about the exploits of New York’s 1st Veteran Cavalry. The following is a different take on the death of Captain Brett, the battle of Piedmont, and the brutal march over the mountains with … Continue reading →

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when?

Posted on June 20, 2014 by SUMPTER

In the same issue that featured articles on Cold Harbor and the Georgia campaign and startling images of starved Union prisoners, the June 18, 1864 Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South) published a poem by a member of President … Continue reading →

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sunk in the channel

Posted on June 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

On July 4, 1864 the Richmond Daily Dispatch published an editorial ridiculing the United States Navy: The United States Navy. The Navy of the United States has had an inglorious part to play in this war. It was once the … Continue reading →

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heavens almost “hung in black”

Posted on June 18, 2014 by SUMPTER

150 years ago this week President Lincoln with Mary and Todd visited the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, one of many sanitary fairs held throughout the North. The president acknowledged that war is terrible, but he wasn’t wavering from his … Continue reading →

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“was left behind”

Posted on June 17, 2014 by SUMPTER

As part of General William F. Smith’s 18th corps, New York’s 148th Infantry took part of the first assault on Petersburg on June 15, 1864. The rebels captured a squad from the regiment acting as sharp-shooters. Here’s the second extract … Continue reading →

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Brothers at Cold Harbor

Posted on June 16, 2014 by SUMPTER

If I’m reading this right, a soldier mortally wounded at Cold Harbor had his remains back home and buried a week later. It probably helped that his brother could identify him and take charge of his embalmed body. From the … Continue reading →

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mountain march

Posted on June 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA was pleased as Punch that he could write home about the Union success at Piedmont, but there was a problem even in victory – what to do with the all those captured rebels. Come to find out, the New … Continue reading →

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butter price

Posted on June 13, 2014 by SUMPTER

There’s been a lot of killing and maiming and suffering the last six weeks in the various seats of war … and the price of butter is still too high at the Richmond market. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June … Continue reading →

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“the suppressic veri and the suggestio falsi”

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

going to hurt me more than you? From the June 11, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South: Also 150 years ago this week, a Richmond paper noticed that Union Secretary of War Stanton’s telegrams to General … Continue reading →

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