Tag Archives: Battle of the Wilderness

misguided tour?

Posted on February 1, 2016 by SUMPTER

In a review of a Northern periodical the Richmond Daily Dispatch of December 23, 1865 said visiting yankees ought to be wary of trusting too much in their tour guides: Periodicals. –The January number of the Atlantic Monthly is upon … Continue reading →

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cleaning up

Posted on July 13, 2015 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper apparently in July 1865: The party which went out to bury the dead in the Wilderness battle field, took with them twenty wagon loads of coffins and three weeks’ rations. Poet Thomas Bailey … Continue reading →

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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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beauty pageant

Posted on January 1, 2015 by SUMPTER

The Battle of Franklin was already over a month old when a local newspaper reprinted the following editorial 150 years ago this month. As the war entered its fifth calendar year were the people becoming brutalized, insensate; numb to the … Continue reading →

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“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 →

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‘elections have consequences’

Posted on May 8, 2014 by SUMPTER

James S. Wadsworth was the unsuccessful Republican candidatefor New York State governor in 1862. After his defeat he continued to serve in the Union army. He was mortally wounded on May 6, 1864 during the Battle of the Wilderness. He … Continue reading →

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that big right turn

Posted on May 7, 2014 by SUMPTER

In his 1920 memoirs William Meade Dame remembered that his unit, the Richmond Howitzers, were bystanders and observers during the Battle of the Wilderness. However, 150 years ago tonight, they were in the vanguard as General Lee raced to get … Continue reading →

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wild odds

Posted on May 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

May 6, 1864 was another bloody day during the Battle of the Wilderness. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1864: LOSSES IN THE 111TH REGIMENT. – The 111th Regiment, New York Volunteers, Col. MC DOUGALL, now with … Continue reading →

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racing for Richmond?

Posted on May 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

You can read all about Day One of the Wilderness at Civil War Daily Gazette. I was a little surprised that even on the May 7, 1864 front page of The New-York Times, with mostly May 6th datelines, the reports … Continue reading →

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