Category Archives: Military Matters

bridge engineers

Posted on July 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

News filtered back that a soldier from Seneca Falls and his men did good work building a bridge for the Army of the Potomac in June. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July 1864: THE 50TH N.Y. ENGINEERS. … Continue reading →

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first anniversary

Posted on July 3, 2014 by SUMPTER

A year after Gettysburg, General Meade reflected on his great victory in a letter to his wife. From The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade … (page 210): HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 3. 1864. We are not … Continue reading →

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onions, pickles …

Posted on June 30, 2014 by SUMPTER

and water The United States Sanitary Commission was accepting donations of produce for the Army of the Potomac. From The New-York Times June 30, 1864: ONIONS FOR THE ARMY Arrangements having been made for the transportation of vegetables to the … Continue reading →

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suffering in the trenches

Posted on June 28, 2014 by SUMPTER

Sharpshooters making men lie low in extreme heat From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 28, 1864: From the Southside. Saturday was an extremely hot and dusty the even the usual sharpshooting and picket firing between the armies in front of … Continue reading →

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cat fight

Posted on June 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the June 25, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South: It wasn’t just Grant that was determined. On June 24, 1864 General Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac, expressed a desire for peace but … Continue reading →

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missing Stonewall

Posted on June 24, 2014 by SUMPTER

A couple correspondents from the New York 1st Veteran cavalry maintained that the Union occupation of Staunton, Virginia in early June 1864 was quite well-received by the citizens. SENECA said everything was passing off quite smoothly as the Union demolished … 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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“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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