Category Archives: 1860s

Booth learns Lincoln will attend play tonight at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 14, 1865, afternoon at 13:20-13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, at around noon; during the American Civil War) — When actor John Wilkes Booth dropped by Ford’s Theatre today in Washington, D.C., to pick up his mail today, he learned that President Abraham Lincoln and Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant (and their respective wives) would be attending a performance of the British hit comedy Our American Cousin that evening (the Grants would bow out at the last minute, replaced by Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, daughter of New York Senator Ira Harris).

American flag flies over Fort Sumter again 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 14, 1865, at 11:34)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, noon; during the American Civil War) — Four years to the day after lowering the Fort Sumter Flag in surrender to Confederate forces, Major General Robert Anderson of the U.S. Army returned to the ruined fort to raise the flag he had lowered at the outbreak of war in 1861.

Formal ceremony marks disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia 160 years ago this (Apr 12 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 12, 1865, at 1:00:43)

(Wednesday, April 12, 1865 estimated between 9:00-10:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — A formal ceremony today marked the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia and the parole of its officers and men, effectively ending the war in Virginia. Continue reading Formal ceremony marks disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia 160 years ago this (Apr 12 1865) →

Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincolns Final Speech - April 11, 1865 - Audio'

(Tuesday, April 11, 1865, approximately 8:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Two days after Lee’s army surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his last public speech from a White House window to a crowd on the lawn, saying, “We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.” Continue reading Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865) →

Washington celebrates Lee’s surrender, but Lincoln too weary to deliver formal speech 160 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:10)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 6:42)

(Monday, April 10, 1865, noon p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — In Washington, fireworks filled the sky tonight in celebration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox yesterday. A great crowd gathered around the White House called for President Abraham Lincoln, but he was too weary to make a formal speech.

Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:31)

(Monday, April 10, 1865; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln walked over to the Alexander Gardner studio today at the corner of 7th and D Streets in Washington to sit for another portrait. Continue reading Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865) →

Lee bids farewell to his Army of Northern Virginia 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'robert e. lee farewell address'

(Monday, April 10, 1865 morning or early afternoon; during the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a day after surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, said farewell to his men today, praising them for their “unsurpassed courage and fortitude.”

Lee surrenders his army to Grant at Appomattox 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 52:55)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 7:14)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, 1:30-3:00 p.m.; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant today at the McLean House in Appomattox, Virginia. Continue reading Lee surrenders his army to Grant at Appomattox 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865) →

Lee requests ‘suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 51:58)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, 11:50 a.m. local time; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee dispatched a letter under a white flag today into the Union lines, asking for a “suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army.”

Lee’s army defeated in Battle of Appomattox Court House 160 years ago this morning (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 8, 1865, at 50:54)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, dawn; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon to make one more attempt to break out at Appomattox this morning. Continue reading Lee’s army defeated in Battle of Appomattox Court House 160 years ago this morning (Apr 9 1865) →