A Soldier's Memories of Chancellorsville Night
F. E. Garnett of the Fifth New York Regiment recalls a vivid Chancellorsville night near the Chancellor House. He watches Confederate guns fire from a ridge, a flash of shells, and a pair of roving lovers in a bonnet and parasol, then the brutal retreat and the weary march back to the river under rain and mud.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Times
F. E. Garnett
Fifth
New York Regiment
Excelsior
Hooker
Chancellorsville
Daniel E. Sickles
Rappahannock
Berry
United States
Chancellorsville House
Remembering a Civil War Muster and Muddy March
A veteran recounts marching with the right flank of a regiment behind the Fourth Brigade led by Colonel Michael W. Burns who recently died. Mud, fatigue, and a joke about slapjacks lift morale as they press on, noting the unit suffered over 17 000 killed wounded and missing since the march began.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gald
Chancellorsville House
General Revere
Sickels
Revere
Michael W. Burns
All Sorts of Beds and Travel Tales across Asia and Europe
A Chicago Inter Ocean letter-writer skewers European beds noting they end too quickly and feather quilts slip away. He recalls sleeping arrangements from India Japan Canton and Palestine, detailing nets, pillows, and decks, with vivid travel quirks and cautions about mosquitos and comfort.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Inter-Ocean
Morpheus
India
Japan
Iarcon
Asia Minor
Palestine
Canton
Shameen
Queer Names for Streets in Mexico City
A Mexico Letter from the Chicago Inter Ocean describes how every block in Mexico City is named rather than numbered, with streets bearing religiously themed names such as Jesus Street and Blood of Christ Street. The piece notes the bewildering variety of San Francisco streets and lists many examples reflecting Catholic devotion and saints.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mexico
Chicago Inter-Ocean
San Francisco No. 1
San Francisco No. 2
San Francisco Street
San Francisco Puente
Bridge
Jesus Street
Hauckman
Blood of Christ Street
Holy Ghost Street
Crown of Thorns
Uly
Body of Christ Street
Calle de Corpus Christi
Mother of Sorrows
An Odd Egg With a History
A Berlin Museum tale recalls an iron egg given as a betrothal gift. The princess flings it, the egg opens to reveal a silver lining, then a golden yolk, a tiny crown, and finally a diamond ring inside. The chain of hidden chambers exposes ever more precious rewards tied to the prince’s betrothal promise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Berlin
Delights of Tobogganing in Canada from Harper’s Bazar
The piece describes tobogganing with a lady seated on cushions and braced feet, the steerer behind or beside, and a cautionary rule to hold on to your girl during moments of danger. It notes the balance of thrill and risk and humorously outlines the dynamics of this social sport.
Oh the Ninny in San Francisco Post
A playful exchange among a group notes a girl commenting on a man named Mr. Anderson and a woman recalling a buggy ride and a kiss, with remarks about proper behavior and polite restraint in a breezy social snippet.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco Post
Mr. Dnderson
Gul In Rea
G. L B
A Chapter on Stockings and the Blue Stockings
An exploration of stockings from royal origins to the blue stocking club. It traces fashion from trunk-hose to silk stockings, notes royal endorsements, inventors like Will Lee, and the Elizabethan trade, ending with 18th century blue stockings and the social clubs that popularized them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Inkpen
Eden
Solomon
Queen of
Sheba
England
Europe
Queen Victoria at Home in Windsor Castle
London letters describe the Queen's routine at Windsor Castle detailing admissions, arrival, formal dinners, private rooms, and daily activities. It notes the vast private grounds, strict schedules, thrifty quirks like candle recycling, and the castle's fitful balance of pomp with careful economies.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
New York
Wiild
Paddington
J. C. Cowell
Windsor
Beatrice
Angell
Duchess of Edinburgh
Famille
J. ©. Cowell
Frogmore
Deacon Buggins and the Pew Lock Tale
In a Philadelphia North American vignette a stingy old deacon who rents a village pew earns the crowd’s scorn. A brassy city visitor boldly sits in his pew and mocks the old man’s penny-pinching, prompting embarrassed silence as the deacon finally takes a seat and the scene ends with the deacon buying a pew door lock.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Deacon Buggins
Singing the Head Off an Angel in a Buffalo Choir
Trinity Chapel New York girls rehearse sixteenth century missal style music. Brother Dix, amused, tests a high soprano as the sheet notes and cherubs loom. The student jokes she has been singing the head off that bald angel at every pass.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Buffalo Express
Trinity Chapel
New York
Brother Dix
Dix
Sophie
Vassar Virgins Vagaries and Pranks on Snowy Hills
A Chicago Herald tale recounts Vassar College mischief through recollections of a married former student. Tales include coasting on red sleds near Poughkeepsie, hitching rides with farmers, eloping plots, theatre pranks, candy pulls, and clandestine berry raids, all told with a nostalgic, humorous tone about campus youth and faculty caution.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago Herald
West Side
Vassar College
Vassar
Poughkeepsie
Dutchess County
New York City
Gil
Harvard
College
Peekskill
Boston
Romeo
Fortunes and Fool Gold in the Mountain Gambit
A first person tale recalls prospecting with two quips from Bill Nye in New York Mercury. The narrator details two weeks chasing gold in mountains, finding two nuggets, then misfortune as partner vanishes after sharing the haul. A clerk explains fool gold and the locals joke a fool killer sits on a jury.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William
Bill Nye
New York Mercury
A Dainty Creature and the Refined Mare Whitefoot
A Cornhill Magazine vignette follows Whitefoot, a sorrel mare bought young and tested by a professional breaker. The horse shows curiosity and decorum, exploring a drawing room with dainty manners, inspecting herself in a mirror, yet resents crude handling. The narrator contrasts her refinement with the breaker Andre’s rough methods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cornhill Magazine
Whitefoot
Andre
Squeezed by a Maiden’s Ghost at Moravian Fort
The ghost of a maiden at Barenstein fort Moravia wanders in white with keys. A lancer vowed to kiss her if seen. She appeared and he kissed the apparition. She embraced him and squeezed him to death, then vanished, leaving a grim warning against flirting with spirits.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Galignani
Barenstein
Moravia
Ceek
the Lancer
The Winter Resort Wedding Ruse
In a winter resort tale a bride and groom pretend not to be married to avoid unwanted attention. A confidential waiter is enlisted to mislead guests, leading to awkward observations at dinner as the ruse unfolds. Peter confirms the deception, claiming it’s been arranged to keep up the pretense.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peter
The Simple-Minded Italian's Scheme
Albany Argus reports a Saratoga contractor story about Italian workers who had 10 percent wage cuts. Instead of striking, the gang shortened their shovels by an inch, explaining the reduced pay meant less dirt to lift and that the job would last longer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albany Argus
Saratoga
Onion social game shocks Fort Gratiot crowd
Fort Gratiot society columns describe an onion game where six women bite an onion for a young man entering the room. He must name the biting scorer after a kiss, otherwise all the guns are to kiss Lin, a playful local mischief noted in society notes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lin
Sunset and Secret Love Across Mixed Snippets
A collage of quotes and verse from various authors includes Willis Fletcher Johnson on sunset’s glow, H W Taylor on secret love, and Edith M Thomas on midges and moths. The piece mixes wry social observations, poems, and light humor from multiple periodicals and voices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Willis Fletcher Johnson
Teap Year Question Answers In Aunt Jane’s Lesson
A playful dialogue follows Aunt Jane teaching a girl about proposals and manners. The young speaker asks if a lady may ask a gentleman to marry her during teap year and what he should do if he does not wish to marry. Aunt Jane replies that he must give her a new black silk dress, revealing the lesson behind her many dresses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spain
James I
Edward III
Order of
Knights of the Garter
Elizabeth
Order of the Garter
Burleigh
Chandos
Grey
Essex
Duc de Montmorency
Seog
London
Elizabeth Montague
Mary Wortley Montague
Mrs. Vesey
Basily
Blue Stockings
Blue Stocking Club
Old Johnson
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Horace Walpole
Garrick
Johnson
Frederick
Prince of Wales
Boswell
Montague
Rene
Pacis
Columoia
Impelies
Aunt Jane
Mistletoe in a Chambers' Journal Verse Fragment
A cold night scene recalls a lonely figure beneath a mistletoe. Snow, shadows, and a fading fire frame a romantic moment as a distant kiss returns in a haunted hall setting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chambers
A Rule with a Reason in Society Etiquette
A light note on etiquette notes that ceremonies originate from practical needs. It claims ladies should not look under the bed before retiring to avoid awkward introductions if a stranger is present, reflecting social refinements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco
The Outside Dog in the Fight
A Philadelphia Call verse extols the outside dog who stays clear of the ring while others clash. The narrator favors caution, noting some dogs rush in for risk while the outside dog preserves skin and stake. The piece frames loyalty and prudence in a mock sports metaphor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Boston Botany Sparks Social Clash in Merchant Traveller
Four New York women vent about a Boston lady’s airs. One dismisses Boston botany with sharp wit, noting Mayflower ancestry and strong pride. The exchange centers on class showiness and a pledge to stand firm. The mood is brisk, comic, and sharply observed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
New York
Abe Cestors
Also Mentioned on This Page
Greenwood
Chancellor House
Grant
Eleventh Corps
Oia
Howard
Wapping Heights
GL. B
G. L R
Order of “Blue Stockings
Fugland
Henry
Isabella
Pembroke
Cambridge
Iir Lee
Snoodborough
Norfolk
Lassie
Queen Elizabeth
Rome
Kasdter
Lee
Calverton
Nottinghamshire
Will
Rouen
Henry IV
Paris
Henry the VIII
Stowe
Edward VI
Queen Victoria
Buccins
Vassar Girls
Bernhardt
Hudson River
Mary Powell
Sally
Jim
Sauity
T Lowell Courier
H. W. Taylor
Burdette
Brooklyn Eagle
Bottes
Ledith M. Thomas
Psyche
Puck
Tam
Girofle Giroffa
Tn Fanow Nwaa
Nan
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!