Louisiana Politics


Letter to Col. Shepley on circumstances in New Orleans, 1862

Letter to Col. Shepley on circumstances in New Orleans, 1862
Item 71042   info
Maine Historical Society

Negotiating the political climate of occupied New Orleans and of Louisiana while the war continued could not have been easy for Shepley and other Union military personnel.

Many of the issues they faced preceded the war and Shepley often heard from people on various sides of the political and economic issues.

Henry A. Sample wrote to Shepley in June 1862, shortly after Shepley became military governor of the state.

Sample discussed the cotton economy, debt, unreliable newspaper reports, and the prevalence of "musketoes having a full chance at me." He noted that he lacked sleep because of the pesky insects.

Sample, who wrote a number of times to Shepley, may have been from Maine.

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