Episodes from "Civil War and Reconstruction," Juniata College (Fall 2011): 1 through 10 of 31
- The White League Assassinates in the Name Of the Democratic Party
November 3, 1880
EAST CARROLL, Louisiana
Crime/Violence, Law, Government, PoliticsA dispatch from Lake Providence, Louisiana has "left little doubt that Dr.Williams B. Jones, the editor of the Lake Providence (La.) Republican, who was foully assassinated at his home on the day after the election, was sent out of this world for the one reason that he was a...outspoken Republican". In Lake Providence's election Gen. FLoyd King, a White Leaguer, was chosen as the Democratic congressional...
- Knights of the White Camellia Opposed in Arkansas
December 19, 1868
CONWAY, Arkansas
Crime/Violence, Law, Government, PoliticsIn December 1868 a report from Little Rock, Arkansas stated that "In the Legislature last night, Mr. Brooks introduced a bill requiring all persons to withdraw from the Knights of the White Camellia...within thirty days, under penalty of heavy fine and imprisonment...". Following this resolution the state declared martial law in Conway County, Arkansas as reported in the New York Times. The Knights...
- Pennsylvania Quaker William Still Fought Against the Evils of Slavery
November 25, 1857
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania
African-Americans, Race-Relations, Law, Politics, Church/Religious-Activity, Crime/Violence, Health/DeathOn November 25, 1857, William Still recorded a story that told of the horrors of slavery in the South. Still assisted a group of slaves on the journey to freedom by way of the Underground Railroad. He was among the abolitionists during this time that believed that blacks should be afforded equal rights and opportunities that would allow them to earn a living. Still did not feel that blacks were...
- Copperheads in Illinois Threaten Violence against the Act of Conscription
August 31, 1863
EDGAR, Illinois
Crime/Violence, Law, Government, Politics, WarIn an article from the New York Times on August 31, 1863, it is made evident that the Peace Democrats or Copperheads were not so peaceful. The article stated that, “The Copperhead troubles still continue in the central and southern counties of this Illinois.” A group of around 150 armed Copperheads went to the county seat of Paris in Edgar County. The Copperheads threatened aggression against both...
- Grant Issues Order No. 11
January 18, 1863
MC CRACKEN, Kentucky
Government, Politics, Race-Relations, Church/Religious-Activity, EconomyIn January of 1863 Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued an order that excluded anyone from the Jewish descent from his military department. Order eleven read, “The Jews, as a class, violating every trade regulation established by the Treasury Department, also Department orders, are hereby expelled from the department within twenty-four hours from the receipt of this order.” The order then explained...
- A Soldier Complains of the Army Life
February 16, 1863
STAFFORD, Virginia
Health/Death, Government, Politics, War, Crime/ViolenceOn February 16, 1863, a Union soldier from Huntingdon County Pennsylvania wrote home to describe the war as he saw it. “Here we are yet stuck in the mud, crushing the rebellion, over the left, and enjoying our hard tack as usual.” The soldier described the boring life that the Army of the Potomac went through as they were in camp. The man known as “TIMBER DOODLE” in his writings was going...
- Display of the Confederate Flag in Richmond Sparks Anger in Congress
February 17, 1867 to February 18, 1867
RICHMOND, Virginia
Government, Politics, Race-Relations, LawOn February 17, 1867 the New York Times reported on an act of reoccurring rebelliousness that happened within the city of Richmond, Virginia. The incident that sparked all of the emotion was the display of the Confederate Flag during an event within the city. Members of Congress and other Union loyalists decided that this act of rebelliousness proved that some of the southern states such as Virginia...
- Rebel General Gantt Tells Arkansas to Return to the Union
November 8, 1863 to November 9, 1863
PULASKI, Arkansas
Health/Death, African-Americans, Race-Relations, Government, PoliticsConfederate Brigadier General E.W. Gantt spoke to his fellow citizens of Arkansas, but also to all of the citizens of the South in his 1863 address. The message in this address is that the Confederacy was fighting a war that they could never win and that the southern states would have more power and property if they would just return to the Union. The General blamed several of the problems in the...
- Attorney General William on Enforcement Acts
April 2, 1875
Washington City, District of Columbia
Government, Politics, Race-Relations, Crime/Violence, African-AmericansThe Colfax massacre of 1872, believed to be the most devastating occurrence of racial violence during Reconstruction, resulted in the death of around 150 freedmen at the hands of white supremacists. The events at Colfax resulted in only three men to convicted. However, disagreement led to the case entering the Supreme Court in the form of United States v. Cruikshank in 1876. The case brought in to...
- Freedmen and Republicans Murdered in New Orleans
July 30, 1866
ORLEANS, Louisiana
Politics, Race-Relations, African-Americans, Crime/ViolenceThe New Orleans Riot occurred on July 30, 1866 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Whites instigated the riot and targeted freedmen. However, this riot was different from those of its time because it centered primarily on disagreements regarding Reconstruction policies. Radical Republicans were unhappy with former Confederates gaining power and influence under Governor Wells. Wells himself eventually noticed...
rss feed