Category Archives: Reconstruction

October surprise?

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1866: Gen. Sherman Endorses the President. The Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune, speaks of this distinguished General: “I am informed that General Sherman has made a second surrender to … Continue reading

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not a lost cause

Apparently 150 years ago a former Virginia governor and Confederate general was not buying into the Lost Cause theory. From The New-York Times on October 26, 1866: The celebration at Winchester to-day was an entire success, if a large crowd … Continue reading

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straw gazing

Back in 1866 Henry J. Raymond was a U.S. Congressman from New York and publisher of The New-York Times. Mr. Raymond was a moderate Republican, who generally favored President Andrew Johnson’s reconstruction policy of readmitting Southern states to the Union … Continue reading

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at Independence Hall

In late August 1866 President Andrew Johnson and entourage embarked on a two and a half week “Swing Around the Circle” tour to try to influence the 1866 midterm elections in favor of more conservative, Democrat candidates opposed to Radical … Continue reading

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General Butler for Congress

About a week after a similar gathering in Cleveland a Soldiers and Sailors Convention met in Pittsburgh on September 25 and 26, 1866. Unlike the Cleveland meeting the Pittsburgh convention was strongly pro-Congress and anti-President Johnson. According to the September … Continue reading

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“Egotistic to the point of mental disease”

Way back in April 1866 and probably at least in part responding to President Johnson’s February 19th veto of the Freedmen’s Bureau bill and his belligerent attitude in a Washington’s Birthday message, a The Atlantic Monthly, VOL. XVII.—APRIL, 1866—NO. 102 … Continue reading

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one nationality

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in September 1866: The Second Campaign for the Union. The noblest soldiers in the army of the Union, assembled in convention at Cleveland on Monday, the 17th, inst., for the purpose of giving … Continue reading

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straggling home

150 years ago today President Andrew Johnson’s Swing Around the Circle tour concluded. According to the September 16, 1866 issue of the The New-York Times crowds in York Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Washington were mostly supportive with no reported heckling. From … Continue reading

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Johnstown calamity

Could it get any worse? 150 years ago today Andrew Johnson’s Swing Around the Circle tour rolled on from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, PA. According to the September 15, 1866 issue of The New-York Times the crowds were generally enthusiastic along … Continue reading

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“not entire cordiality”

It was more of the same 150 years ago today as President Andrew Johnson’s Swing Around the Circle rode the rails from Columbus, Ohio to Pittsburgh. According to the September 14, 1866 issue of The New-York Times the tour met … Continue reading

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