Category Archives: Confederate States of America

“a shape more terrible”

150 years ago today a Southern editorial realized the war was far from over. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 18, 1863: A long War. The correspondence between Seward and Dayton — of which we gave an abstract yesterday — … Continue reading

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Gunboat Diplomacy

Civil War Daily Gazette published an excellent account of the naval action off Charleston harbor on January 31, 1863. Two Confederate rams disabled a couple Union blockading ships. The Gazette pointed out that the Confederacy asserted that the action broke … Continue reading

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Campaign Literature

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 13, 1863: To the Voters of Virginia. –Fellow-citizens: Having been requested by many of you to become a candidate for the office of Governor at the regular election in May next, I respectfully announce … Continue reading

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Happy Birthday, Mr. Perseverance

150 years ago today Abraham Lincoln completed 54 earthly years. Nowadays his brief bio is used as an inspirational piece – the story of a person who sort of failed his way to the top. He definitely kept on learning … Continue reading

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Can’t win for orating

A different manifest destiny: “America, like the Old World, is to be settled by many nations.” Clement Vallandigham and his fellow Peace Democrats were criticized in much of the North for being de facto agents of disunion, because the South … Continue reading

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A cold night in Richmond

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 5, 1863: The coldest night. –Tuesday night was the coldest one since 1857. This fact was ascertained by a comparison of the thermometer at the City Water Works, where the mercury in the tube … Continue reading

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Jeff didn’t build that

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 5, 1863: To the Confederate Congress. Repeal the whole exemption law passed October, 1862; you will thereby add 100,000 more men to the army. Your provise [proviso?] against extortion is not worth a cent. … Continue reading

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Black and White

A pro-Union editorial saying that Northerners who propose compromise and peace are really supporting Disunion because the South is never going to willingly rejoin the Union, with or without guarantees for slavery. Because the Administration has settled on its anti-slavery … Continue reading

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Ahoy, Y’all!

Confederate Navy hasn’t begun to fight. A Southern editorial from 150 years ago today thinks the Confederate government should wake up to the potential of a bigger Confederate navy. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 2, 1863: The Confederate Navy. … Continue reading

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Basket Case

Comparing market baskets from 1860 and 1863 A newspaper in the Confederate capital compared antebellum prices with 1863 prices and helped quantified the high inflation in Richmond since the war began (the basics in the baskets were at least ten … Continue reading

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