Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Sandoz, Joel H. and Spencer, William H. Opelousas courier. [Vol. 12, no. 30 (December 24, 1864)]

NOT AVAILABLE DIGITALLY Online access and copy requests are not available for this item. If you would like us to notify you when it becomes available digitally, please email us at reference@gilderlehrman.org and include the catalog item number.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05959.15.05 Author/Creator: Sandoz, Joel H. and Spencer, William H. Place Written: Opelousas, Louisiana Type: Newspaper Date: 24 December 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 45.4 x 30.7 cm. Order a Copy

The front page is in French and the back page is in English. Rosser Captured New Creek & Piedmont. This Christmas issue contains brief holiday notices, including a plea to assist needy soldiers' families and advertising an attraction for soldiers. An account of military actions taken by Ulysses S. Grant as general of the Union. A lengthy obituary memorializes Lieutenant Edward O'Reilly. A notice for Confederate tax debtors is printed. Opelousas was under Federal occupation at the time.

Named for a Native American tribe, Opelousas, Louisiana, was settled by French fur traders early in the eighteenth century, the third oldest city in the state. During the Civil War Opelousas briefly served as the Louisiana state capital in 1862. While only two battles occurred here, Federal occupation of the city in late 1863 resulted in several bloody riots through the war and Reconstruction.

André Meynier founded the Opelousas Courier in 1827, and it ran through 1910, suspended 30 April - 30 July 1870 and 11 January - 8 February 1873. This weekly newspaper was printed both in French and English on the reverse, often on "necessity" paper or wallpaper, as newsprint was scarce.

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources