Category Archives: Confederate States of America

unending Lent

As scarcity increased in the South, the Richmond Daily Dispatch continually shared ideas for substitute products and ways to stretch the food that was available. 150 years ago today it published a bit of persevering humor: the fastings and sacrifices … Continue reading

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state of the confederacy

We’re used to the U.S. president presenting a state of the union address in January each year. 150 years ago this week the first Congress of the Confederate States completed its term. The day before the final adjournment the legislators … Continue reading

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Confederate naval school ship

During the same week that the Confederate navy made history, one of its sailors was murdered in Richmond. He was serving on the CSS Patrick Henry. In May 1862 the ship “was modified for use as a school ship, and … Continue reading

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stung on the ‘underground railroad’

A Richmond embalmer was charged with helping to conduct Confederate deserters north with his coffin wagon. He was caught as part of a sting operation conducted by the police. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 13, 1864: Local Matters. Bribery … Continue reading

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Streight away

150 years ago this morning jailers at Richmond’s Libby Prison found out they had lost something – 109 Union officer prisoners who escaped during the night through a tunnel they had dug. Although Colonel Thomas E. Rose was the leader … Continue reading

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“rotten eggs were in demand”

According to this account, Confederate patriots broke up a peace meeting 150 years ago this month in Greensboro, North Carolina. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 6, 1864: A Peace meeting in North Carolina. –The New York papers, which copy … Continue reading

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peace talk

The Richmond Dispatch might have (feared) and loathed Abraham Lincoln and his Black Republican party, but it didn’t like Northern Democrats much either. 150 years ago this week the newspaper reported on a speech in the U.S. Congress by New … Continue reading

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recourse to Captain Smith

150 years ago an editorial in the Confederacy argued that the new nation would be better off if its economy were more self-sufficient, more like the Yankee economy, in fact. It is interesting that the piece harkened back to Jamestown’s … Continue reading

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bacon savings

From the Richmond Richmond Daily Dispatch February 3, 1864: A Model company. –How many corporations will seek and endeavor to get letters like that given below? Such an autograph from Gen. Johnston would be a valuable addition to any dividend … Continue reading

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“speaking trumpet” to be muted?

As a major bill was winding its way through the Confederate Congress, a Richmond newspaper found one proposed change to draft exemptions particularly troubling. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 1, 1864: Congress and the Press. The Confederate Congress, unless … Continue reading

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