Category Archives: Military Matters

“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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

deconstructing Bobby Lee

Posted on May 23, 2014 by SUMPTER

From The New-York Times May 23, 1864: The Chivalry of the Rebel Gen. Lee. “When monkeys are gods, what must the people be?” ROBERT E. LEE, Commander of the rebel army, is deemed the paragon of Southern chivalry. The rebels … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Northern Society, Overland Campaign | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“we have been pretty severely thrashed”

Posted on May 21, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA and his fellow soldiers in the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry took part in the May 15, 1864 Union defeat at New Market. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: From the Veteran Cavalry. NUMBER V. CAMP … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Northern Society, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

headbanger

Posted on May 15, 2014 by SUMPTER

Grant is beating his head against a wall. 150 years ago today Walter Herron Taylor, an aide to General Robert E. Lee, got off a letter to his beloved Bettie. From Lee’s Adjutant: The Wartime Letters of Colonel Walter Herron … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Military Matters, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Euromarket

Posted on May 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

The Albany Argus claimed that the Lincoln Administration was under-reporting Union casualties for the “European market.” Meanwhile, a more pro-Administration publication was still concerned about some type of European intervention in the war, especially with France and Maximilian in Mexico. … Continue reading →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Military Matters, Northern Society, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“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 →

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Overland Campaign | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment