Video: 'Lincoln: The Pivotal Year 1863' (Nov. 5, 1862, at 21:37)
(Wednesday, November 5, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The day after the midterm elections, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln removed General George B. McClellan, 35, as commander of the Army of Potomac today for the second and final time. Continue reading President Lincoln relieves General McClellan from command of Army of Potomac 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1862)
Video: 'The Emancipation Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln and Executive Power, Part 12'
(Monday, September 22, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Five days after Union troops turned back a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Battle of Antietam — sometimes cited as the bloodiest day in all of American history with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that than three million black slaves in areas still in rebellion as of January 1, 1863 would be free. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, setting date to free all slaves in secessionist Confederate states 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 22 1862)
Video: 'Antietam: Animated Battle Map'
(Wednesday, September 17, 1862, approximately 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. local time, part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War) — The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history, began at dawn today near Maryland’s Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg as Union forces led by Gen. George McClellan attacked Confederate troops led by Gen. Robert E. Lee near Antietam Creek in Maryland. Continue reading Union and Confederate soldiers clash at Antietam in bloodiest one-day battle in American history 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1862)
Video: 'Special Orders 191'
(Saturday, September 13, 1862, at about noon local time; during the American Civil War) — Two Union soldiers, Sergeant John Bloss and Corporal Barton W. Mitchell, discovered a mislaid copy of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s detailed Antietam battle plans today outside of Frederick, Maryland. Continue reading Union soldiers discover General Robert E. Lee’s orders detailing Confederates’ plan for Antietam campaign near Frederick, Maryland 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 13 1862)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.3of9.Forever.Free.' (Sep. 3-4, 1862, at 40:19)
(Thursday, September 4, 1862, during the Maryland Campaign, part of the American Civil War) — The Maryland campaign (or Antietam campaign) began today as advance elements of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia crossed into Maryland from Loudoun County, taking the Civil War into Union territory for the first time. Continue reading Advance elements of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia cross into Maryland, taking American Civil War into the North 160 years ago today (Sep 4 1862)
Video: 'American President #8: Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)'
(Thursday, July 24, 1862, 2:00 a.m. local time) — Martin Van Buren, the 8th president of the United States from 1837 to 1841 and the first to have been born after the American Revolution, died this morning of bronchial asthma and heart failure at his Lindenwald estate in Kinderhook, New York, the town where he was born in 1782. Van Buren was 79. Continue reading Former U.S. President Martin Van Buren, 79, dies in Kinderhook, New York 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 24 1862)
Video: 'Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet Review on the Emancipation Proclamation'
(Tuesday, July 22, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln presented a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his entire cabinet today proposing to free more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the secessionist Confederate states. Continue reading President Abraham Lincoln presents preliminary draft of Emancipation Proclamation to cabinet 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 22 1862)
Video: '12th July 1862: Creation of the Congressional Medal of Honor'
(Saturday, July 12, 1862; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill today authorizing the Army Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration for valor against an enemy. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 12 1862)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.3of9.Forever.Free.' (July 8, 1862, at 23:26)
(Tuesday, July 8, 1862, Lincoln arrives at Harrison’s landing at 6:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Six days after Army of the Potomac retreated to the safety of Harrison’s Landing on the James River in Virginia, following the Seven Days Battles, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln visited Maj. Gen. George McClellan tonight aboard USS Ariel to assess the Union strategy. Continue reading U.S. President Lincoln confers with Union General McClellan at Harrison’s Landing 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 8 1862)
Video: 'Malvern Hill: Richmond Animated Battle Map'
(Tuesday, July 1, 1862, around 1:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. local time; part of the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War (Eastern Theater)) — The Battle of Malvern Hill, taking place near the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, was fought today between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, resulting in a Confederate defeat. Continue reading Union wins tactical victory in Battle of Malvern Hill 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1862)
