Category Archives: American Civil War

Andrew Johnson sworn in as 17th president of the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)


Video: ‘Andrew Johnson: The President Who Wasn’t Lincoln | 5-Minute Videos’

(Saturday, April 15, 1865, 10:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Vice President Andrew Johnson, 56, was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States this morning, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Andrew Johnson sworn in as 17th president of the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln dies, ‘now belongs to the ages’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln dies at 17:53)

(Saturday, April 15, 1865, 7:22:10 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, 56, died this morning at the Petersen House in Washington, nine hours after he was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln dies, ‘now belongs to the ages’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln assassination at 14:49; shot fired at 15:36)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, approximately 10:13 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head near point blank range tonight after entering the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre in Washington during a performance of Our American Cousin. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln arrives at 14:07)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 8:30 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — President Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris arrived at Ford’s Theatre in Washington tonight and settled by into the presidential box. Continue reading The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Booth instructors fellow conspirators at 13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 7:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth met for a final time with all his fellow conspirators tonight, instructing Lewis Powell to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward at his home, George Atzerodt to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at his residence, the Kirkwood Hotel, and David E. Herold to guide Powell to the Seward house and then out of Washington to rendezvous with Booth in Maryland. Continue reading Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

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


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.