Government Officials
Information on government officials in Richmond during the Civil War

Written Accounts 

1868-08-07, Richmond Dispatch; letter of “Citizen” describing cruel treatment of negroes by Freedmen’s Bureau and U. S. soldiers – Chimborazo denizens made to wear barrel shirts and beatings. Argues forcefully against emancipation, and describes slaveowne
1871-05-25, Saline County Journal (Salina, Kan.); interesting post-war details of prominent Southerners –names Joseph R. Anderson and Franklin Stearns as two of the wealthiest men in the South.
1871-07-15, Richmond Daily State Journal; one of Van Lew’s letter carriers has resigned
1871-07-17, Richmond Daily State Journal; Miss Van Lew states that the resignation of one of her letter carriers was due to ill-health, not any lack of confidence on her part
1872-03-12, Richmond Daily State Journal; superintendent of the letter carrier’s department was sacked by Van Lew
1872-06-03, Charleston (S. C.) Daily News; Franklin Stearns is president of the Greeley and Brown campaign club in Richmond. Robert Ould and Bradley Johnson are among the members
1873-10-09, Richmond Daily State Journal; Van Lew reports the statistics of the Richmond post office
1877-05-08, Bristol (Va. & Tenn.) News; Miss Van Lew has been “betrayed” by her assistant – paper sarcastically says she should not complain, she having been a spy.
1877-05-22, Bristol (Va. & Tenn.) News; sarcastic and derogatory notice that Miss Van Lew has been replaced as postmaster
1877-05-25, National Republican (Washington, DC); long letter to the editor complaining that Miss Elizabeth Van Lew has not been reinstated as Postmaster of Richmond – gives important details of her service, urges President Hayes to reconsider

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