Category Archives: Military Matters

sourcing recruits

Conscription in early 1865 was kind of a fluid thing. Here are three short pieces from the Seneca Falls, NY library big notebook of Civil War clippings that show 1) the quota for the 24th New york Congressional District didn’t … Continue reading

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three star flag

The 160th New York Infantry fought in Louisiana through 1863 and during the Red River campaign in the first months of 1864. It then got to Virginia in time for the Battle of Snicker’s Ferry. The Regiment wouldn’t be mustered … Continue reading

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bored of war

150 years ago today Richmond’s Dispatch was full of Northern accounts of the the fall of Fort Fisher. The editors spun the resultant closing of the port of Wilmington as economically advantageous: The fall of Fort Fisher, and the subsequent … Continue reading

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American intrepidity

and pertinacity Here are some examples of Northern newspaper reaction to the Union capture of Fort Fisher. A local paper in upstate New York thought the price was way too high if the port of Wilmington was not totally sealed … Continue reading

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“The Rebels fought like fiends”

John Arnett, a young man from Seneca Falls, New York serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, has already had some notable experiences. His ship the Westfield was blown up on New Year’s Day 1863 during the Battle … Continue reading

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“put our trust in the God of Battles”

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1865: PATRIOTIC LETTER FROM AN IRISH SOLDIER. The following is an extract from a letter written by John Graham, of this village, to his friend James Hughes, dated City Point, Va., Jan. … Continue reading

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don’t jump

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: Heading off the Bounty Jumpers. The Elmira Advertiser says Maj. J. Ladd, Paymaster U.S. Army, has been stationed at Elmira, for the purpose of taking charge of the money received … Continue reading

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Big Data

The average Union soldier had more girth than the average Rebel? Recently I read about the importance of statistics and statisticians to the British government during World War II. Here’s some evidence that during the American Civil War a Northern … Continue reading

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summarized judgment

Seneca Falls papers during the Civil War seemed to lean strongly Democrat. Here one of the publications has no criticisms of President Lincoln for firing the political General Butler. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865: Exit … Continue reading

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hungry, very hungry

It is written that 150 years ago today, To alleviate near-starvation among his troops, General Thomas L. Rosser leads 300 Confederate cavalry from Staunton, West Virginia, on a raid against well-stocked Union encampments at Beverly. To accomplish this, the Southerners … Continue reading

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