Tag Archives: Robert E. Lee

from the quagmire

Posted on February 24, 2015 by SUMPTER

The Civil War has changed America in some ways over the last four years, but Yankees are still firing off cannon to honor Washington’s birthday. And rain makes Virginia “one vast quagmire” – the Dispatch doesn’t anticipate General Grant trying … Continue reading →

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Cumberland catch

Posted on February 21, 2015 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today a rebel raid surprised a couple Union generals, who were then sent off to Libby Prison for a month. General-in-Chief Lee reported that no shooting was necessary From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in February … Continue reading →

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Save Our South!

Posted on February 20, 2015 by SUMPTER

I guess desperate times really do call for desperate measures. In its Monday morning editorial the Dispatch calls for the Confederate Congress to let General Lee use slaves as soldiers in exchange for their freedom. As you can read, the … Continue reading →

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out of the scabbard

Posted on February 7, 2015 by SUMPTER

The South should be invincible because it is fighting to defend its own soil, not to mention that that the Army of Northern Virginia “was never stronger, physically and morally, than at this very hour.” The people just need to … Continue reading →

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“the Yankees were moving”

Posted on February 5, 2015 by SUMPTER

As “Lee’s Adjutant”, Walter Taylor, wrote to his girlfriend, 150 years ago today he had to leave church service early because he received word that, groundhog-like, the Union army had aroused itself from winter slumber and was on the move. … Continue reading →

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“though partially successful failed”

Posted on September 30, 2014 by SUMPTER

The September 29, 1864 Union attack at Chaffin’s Farm was audible in Richmond. The Richmond Daily Dispatch was not published on September 30th because Virginia Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith ordered the newspaper’s employees to militia duty on the 29th. … Continue reading →

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genius vs. scum

Posted on September 26, 2014 by SUMPTER

Some more Monday morning defiant optimism from the editors at the Richmond Daily Dispatch on September 26, 1864: Monday morning…September 26, 1864. That we are approaching a very critical period of our existence as a people in certain. Within one … Continue reading →

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first anniversary

Posted on July 3, 2014 by SUMPTER

A year after Gettysburg, General Meade reflected on his great victory in a letter to his wife. From The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade … (page 210): HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 3. 1864. We are not … 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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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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