Category Archives: Overland Campaign

brass wall

Posted on May 7, 2015 by SUMPTER

After waxing poetical about the horrors of May 1864, an editorial from 150 years ago seemed to be thankful for peace and quite certain that a positive result of the war was that foreign nations would never dare invade the … Continue reading →

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convert

Posted on July 7, 2014 by SUMPTER

I don’t know how accurate the folowing letter is, but it would seem to have been quite a propaganda coup for a Democrat paper, especially during the 1864 presidential campaign. The Lincoln administration was too abolitionist for this letter-writing Republican … 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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fresh air fun

Posted on June 25, 2014 by SUMPTER

As the summer got hotter, Richmond’s population was getting bigger, and there were fewer recreational opportunities. What to do? Take a train ride to The Center of the Universe. Failing that, folks could head to the outskirts of town to … Continue reading →

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war lesson

Posted on June 23, 2014 by SUMPTER

Newspapers in Seneca Falls 150 years ago were not big fans of the Lincoln administration and its war policy, but even the following editorial finds it hard to believe that Petersburg can hold out much longer against the Union army. … 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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“the suppressic veri and the suggestio falsi”

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

going to hurt me more than you? From the June 11, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South: Also 150 years ago this week, a Richmond paper noticed that Union Secretary of War Stanton’s telegrams to General … Continue reading →

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duckin’, dodgin’, and dirt

Posted on June 10, 2014 by SUMPTER

In the trenches at Cold Harbor. The first part of this letter might be an example of gallows humor, especially since Chaplain Scott just missed getting shot in the head. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864: LETTERS … Continue reading →

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relative Sabbath

Posted on June 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

According to the following editorial 150 years ago today was a remarkably quiet Sunday up at the Cold Harbor front. Also, if Grant can’t do to Lee what Lee did to McClellan, then the Confederates must be the best soldiers. … Continue reading →

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