Category Archives: 150 Years Ago This Month

Aprilpole

A photograph of the “Military telegraph construction corps” taken by Alexander Gardner in April 1865: You can read more about this photograph at the Cornell Library. Apparently as the Overland campaign began in May 1864 a new insulated wire began … Continue reading

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plus … and minus

The army reported on the number of troops it added from January 1863. A Democrat publication said the net gain needed to be adjusted for re-enlistments and lost men. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: The … Continue reading

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rebel strength

As the undoubted spring campaign approached, a northern journalist tried to ascertain the rebel strength. He came up with numbers in all the southern armies and suggested that “Anaconda” might be squeezing the South into much greater self-reliance. From a … Continue reading

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potpourri

150 years ago this month a grab bag of miscellaneous news was dominated by the war. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: News Miscellany. No less than 500 of our prisoners in Richmond died during February. … Continue reading

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diggin’ for the CSA

This notice has been running in the Dispatch most of the month. The Confederate Niter and Mining Bureau was tasked with supplying necessary minerals and metals to the South’s military. As white men continued to get killed and wounded and … Continue reading

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reprieve

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: SENTENCED TO BE SHOT. – At a recent court martial, presided over by Capt. Winfield Scott, of the 126th Regiment, private Chas. Audler, of the 108th Regiment, was tried, convicted, … Continue reading

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pacific theater

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in March 1864: PROMOTED. – The friends of Lieut. HENRY B. SEELY, of the U.S. Navy, will be pleased to learn that he has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander. An 1857 graduate of … Continue reading

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Ensign Arnett

A sailor from Seneca Falls had a rough fortnight to begin 1863. His ship was blown up during the Battle of Galveston on New Year’s Day; on the 11th his new ship was sunk by the CSS Alabama. Here’s some … Continue reading

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“counties bounties”, &c.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February 1864: What it Costs New York to Raise Men for the Army. From the report of LOCKWOOD L.DOTY, Chief of Military Statistics, recently sent into the Assembly, may be obtained some … Continue reading

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peace is the word

Back in January New York Democrat Representative Fernando Wood gave a speech in the U.S. House of Representatives in which he advocated an immediate peace. He criticized both Republicans and Southerners for being in favor of dissolution. ” Those who … Continue reading

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