Tag Archives: Ulysses S. Grant

shotgun shorts

This article would have been published earlier than May 30, 1865 because even folks up here in New York state would already have known that Jefferson Davis was captured. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1865: The … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Aftermath, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

grant them “unconditional forgiveness”

A publication in the Finger Lakes area of New York State pleaded for forgiveness and reconciliation for the returning rebels. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in April 1865: The Amnesty. The terms extended to the Confederate officers and … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“a sad peace-offering for us all”

From Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in chapters 66 and 67): The head of Lee’s column came marching up there [near Appomattox Station] on the morning of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union soldiers near. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Maryland Campaign 1862 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

dropped out at Farmsville

From Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in chapter 66): This [General Lee’s letter of April 7th] was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving another letter and wrote him as follows: April 8, 1865. GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

home and way

Apparently a Medal of Honor recipient from Seneca Falls, New York was home on furlough during at least some of the dramatic events in the first part of April 1865. Two clippings from Seneca County, New York newspapers in April … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

gallant rebels in another ‘sad defeat’

150 years ago today the Union army defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek From Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (in chapters 65 and 66): I then started with a few of my staff and a very small … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

doubtless

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch March 3, 1865: The Richmond and Petersburg lines. Everything remains quiet on these lines, and is so likely to continue while the rain and mud lasts, and of these there seems to be no end. … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

bewildered

As a local paper in the Finger Lakes region began compiling information about the early February fight around Hatcher’s Run, it criticized someone’s praise of General Grant’s tactics in an action that cost 800 Union casualties. From a Seneca County, … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Siege of Petersburg | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

out of the scabbard

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

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Southern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters, Naval Matters | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment