Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Month

“God save the Lieutenant-General!”

Posted on May 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1864: TO ALL PATRIOTS. – The New York Times proposes that the whole country send up prayers to Heaven for the protection of the great leader of our army, Lieut-Gen. Grant. … Continue reading →

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“lying about in heaps”

Posted on May 22, 2014 by SUMPTER

One of our local publications reprinted a report from the Albany Argus. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1864: The Wounded at Fredericksburg. HEART-RENDING SCENES. From a gentleman who arivee [sic] in this city yesterday morning, direct … Continue reading →

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not a trace

Posted on May 20, 2014 by SUMPTER

After the 33rd New York Volunteer Infantry was mustered out, some of its remaining three years’ recruits were transferred to the 49th New York Volunteer Infantry. Edmund Ferren was one of these young men. There is a discrepancy in the … Continue reading →

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F Grade

Posted on May 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

A Democrat recap of the first stages of the spring campaign in 1864 wasn’t too impressed with the new Lieutenant General. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1864: The Fight for Richmond. The advance of our armies … Continue reading →

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Letter from Malvern Hill

Posted on May 16, 2014 by SUMPTER

According to Civil War clippings at the Seneca Falls public library, the 8th New York Calvary was home on furlough in March 1864 and H.B. Compson, one of the regiment’s members from Seneca County, had recently been promoted. Back at … Continue reading →

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“breathless anxiety”

Posted on May 13, 2014 by SUMPTER

Seneca Falls newspapers during the war seem to have been weeklies. Here’s a recap of the first week of the Overland campaign. The New-York Times seemed almost euphoric as the great battles commenced; this Democrat paper took a more negative … Continue reading →

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straddle

Posted on April 30, 2014 by SUMPTER

It’s May 1st somewhere … Since the beginning of the war Elmira served as a rendezvous point for New York soldiers heading south. Here’s evidence that Union soldier miscreants were also confined there and that Confederate prisoners would soon be … Continue reading →

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aiding and abedding

Posted on April 29, 2014 by SUMPTER

Desperation sure can lead to some creativity. Here a soldier and his friends used a “novel mode” to try to escape the military, but the Confederate authorities eventually got their man. The Richmond paper reminded their readers about the high … Continue reading →

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brief furlough

Posted on April 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1864: AT HOME. – Lieut. WM. VAN RENSSELEAR of the 50th Engineer Regiment, is at home on a brief furlough.

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marry the family

Posted on April 19, 2014 by SUMPTER

Mary, the family In April 1864 a Democrat newspaper in Seneca County, New York reprinted some alleged investigative journalism by a New York City publication: Treason at the White House. The Tribune a few days ago asserted that Mrs. J. … Continue reading →

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