Category Archives: 1860s

Andersonville commandant hanged for war crimes 160 years ago this hour (Nov 10 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Nov. 10, 1865, at 44:45)

(Friday, November 10, 1865, 10:32 a.m. local time)Henry Wirz, a Swiss-born Confederate officer in the American Civil War best known for his command of Camp Sumter, the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp near Andersonville, Georgia, was hanged today at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington for conspiracy and murder relating to his command of the camp.

U.S. President Warren G. Harding born in Blooming Grove, Ohio 160 years ago today (Nov 2 1865)


Video: 'Presidential Minute With Warren G. Harding'

(Thursday, November 2, 1865)Warren Gamaliel Harding, the 29th President of the United States (1921-1923), was born today in Blooming Grove, Ohio. Continue reading U.S. President Warren G. Harding born in Blooming Grove, Ohio 160 years ago today (Nov 2 1865)

British climber Edward Whymper leads first ascent of Matterhorn 160 years ago this hour (July 14 1865)


Video: 'Zermatt, the first ascent of the Matterhorn, Edward Whymper'

(Friday, July 14, 1865, 1:40 p.m. local time) — The Matterhorn, straddling Italy and Switzerland, was summited today as a seven-member rope party led by British climber Edward Whymper reached the peak. Continue reading British climber Edward Whymper leads first ascent of Matterhorn 160 years ago this hour (July 14 1865)

Four Lincoln assassination conspirators executed 160 years ago this hour (July 7 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (July 7, 1865, at 31:48)

(Friday, July 7, 1865, 1:26 p.m. local time) — Four people, including Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt, were hanged today in the Old Arsenal Penitentiary courtyard in Washington, D.C., after being convicted of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Four Lincoln assassination conspirators executed 160 years ago this hour (July 7 1865)

U.S. Secret Service founded to suppress counterfeit currency 160 years ago today (July 5 1865)


Video: 'The History of the United States Secret Service'

(Wednesday, July 5, 1865) — With a reported one third of the currency in circulation being counterfeit at the time, the Secret Service Division of the U.S. Treasury Department was founded today in Washington D.C. with the mission of suppressing counterfeit currency.

American soldier Elisha Hunt Rhodes writes about his fifth 4th of July in the Army 160 years ago today (July 4 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (July 4, 1865 at 37:57)

(Tuesday, July 4, 1865)Elisha Hunt Rhodes, an American soldier who served for the entire duration of the American Civil War, wrote today in Halls Hill, Virginia, about his fifth (and what would turn out to be his final) 4th of July holiday while serving in the Union Army.

Eight defendants convicted in Lincoln assassination 160 years ago this hour (June 30 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (June 30, 1865 at 31:48)

(Friday, June 30, 1865, court convened at 11:00 a.m. local time) — Eight people, including Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, were convicted today by a military commission of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Eight defendants convicted in Lincoln assassination 160 years ago this hour (June 30 1865)

‘Juneteenth’: All remaining slaves in Texas are declared freed 160 years ago today (June 19 1865)


Video: '19th June 1865: Juneteenth established when enslaved people in Galveston informed of emancipation'

(Monday, June 19, 1865) — Union troops commanded by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger having arrived yesterday in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over, declared today that all remaining slaves in Texas were free, an event celebrated annually as “Juneteenth.”

Confederate forces west of Mississippi surrender, marking effective end of American Civil War 160 years ago today (May 26 1865)

(Friday, May 26, 1865, during the American Civil War) — Confederate Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, acting for General Edmund Smith (pictured above), signed a military convention surrendering Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department today in New Orleans, Louisiana, ending all organized Southern military resistance to the Union forces. Continue reading Confederate forces west of Mississippi surrender, marking effective end of American Civil War 160 years ago today (May 26 1865)