Monthly Archives: April 2015

Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth dies 150 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 26, 1865 at 26:07)

(Wednesday, April 26, 1865, at about 7:15 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, died this morning about five hours after the men of the 16th New York Cavalry surrounded the tobacco barn he was sleeping in at Richard H. Garrett’s farm, just south of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia.

Booth had been shot in the neck by a soldier after he had refused to surrender and the barn was set on fire. As he lay dying, Booth looked at his hands and supposedly gasped, “Useless, useless.”

Conference to form United Nations meets in San Francisco 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s


Video: 'United Nations Open Conference As San Francisco (1945)'

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 7:35 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — Delegates from some 50 countries gathered in San Francisco today to organize the United Nations. Continue reading Conference to form United Nations meets in San Francisco 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 24-The Bomb(February–September 1945)' (Apr. 25, 1945, at 10:11)

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 12 noon EWT; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson briefed President Harry Truman today about the possibility of an atomic weapon, outlined the history and status of the program and predicted that “within four months we shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history” (click here for a clip of this day on “American Experience: Truman” at 1:41:54). Continue reading Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

U.S. and Soviet troops link up, cutting Germany in two 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 25, 1945, at 51:49)

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 4:40 p.m. CEST; on the Western Front and Eastern Front during World War II) — The Soviets, advancing from the East, and the Americans, advancing from the West, met today at the River Elbe, near Torgau in Germany, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany’s defenses. Continue reading U.S. and Soviet troops link up, cutting Germany in two 70 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

Gallipoli Campaign begins 100 years ago today (Apr 25 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'The Gallipoli Catastrophe Documentary'

(Sunday, April 25, 1915, during the Gallipoli Campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I) — Allied soldiers invaded the Gallipoli Peninsula today in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Ottoman Empire, Germany’s ally, out of the war. Continue reading Gallipoli Campaign begins 100 years ago today (Apr 25 1915) →

Lincoln Funeral Train arrives in New York City 150 years ago this hour (Apr 24 1865)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 24, 1865 at 22:25)

(Monday, April 24, 1865, 10:50 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, stopped in New York City today on a 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for final burial.

A young Theodore Roosevelt witnessed the four-hour procession to City Hall for public viewing.

Stimson requests meeting with Truman to discuss ‘highly secret matter’ 70 years ago today (Apr 24 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 24-The Bomb(February–September 1945)' (Apr. 24, 1945, at 8:55)

(Tuesday, April 24, 1945; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry Simson wrote a memo today to President Harry Truman about the urgent need to discuss a “highly secret matter,” the atomic bomb.