Video: Lincoln fires Cameron (at 9:02)

(Saturday, January 11, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today accepted the resignation of Secretary of War Simon Cameron and indicated that he would name him Minister to Russia (Cameron would continue to serve as Secretary of War until Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1862).

Cameron and his department have been under considerable criticism for fraudulent actions and general incompetence.