Category Archives: American Civil War

Federals defeat Confederates in Battle of Nashville 150 years ago today (Dec 16 1864)


Video: 'Civil War Journal - The Battle of Franklin & Nashville' (Dec. 16, 1864, at 38:30)

(Friday, December 16, 1864; the Battle of Nashville, part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign during American Civil War) — The two-day Battle of Nashville ended today as Major General George Thomas’s Union forces defeated Lieutenant General John Bell Hood’s Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Battle of Nashville begins 150 years ago today (Dec 15 1864)


Video: 'Civil War Journal - The Battle of Franklin & Nashville' (Dec. 15, 1864, at 37:47)

(Thursday, December 15, 1864; the Battle of Nashville, part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign during the American Civil War) — The two-day Battle of Nashville began today in Davidson County, Tennessee, as Union forces commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas attacked Confederate troops led by Gen. John Bell Hood.

Unions troops take Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia 150 years ago this hour (Dec 13 1864)


Video: 'The Conquerors - Episode 8: Sherman's March to the Sea (History Documentary)' (Dec. 13, 1864, at 19:14)

(Tuesday, December 13, 1864, 5:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort McAllister (1864) of the American Civil War) — Union forces today overwhelmed a small Confederate force defending the strategically important Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia, a major Federal objective during the final stages of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Lincoln nominates Chase as chief justice 150 years ago today (Dec 6 1864)


Video: 'The Inner Workings of the Lincoln Presidency: Salmon P. Chase Biography (1995)'

(Tuesday, December 6, 1864; during the American Civil War) — President Abraham Lincoln nominated Salmon P. Chase to be chief justice of the United States today, succeeding Roger Taney, who died Oct. 12, 1864. Chase was installed as chief justice nine days later.

‘Confederate Army of Manhattan’ attempts to burn down New York City 150 years ago this hour (Nov 25 1864)

(Friday, November 25, 1864, beginning around 8:45 p.m. local time; during American Civil War) — A group of Confederate operatives calling themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan started fires today (the day after Thanksgiving Day, what is now known as Black Friday) in more than 20 locations in an unsuccessful attempt to burn down New York City.

John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864)


Image: John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Booth and Junius Booth, Jr. (from left to right) in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1864.

(Friday, November 25, 1864, evening local time; during American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth (later the assassin of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln) played Mark Antony today in a benefit performance of Julius Caesar at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City (with his brothers Junius, Jr. and Edwin). This landmark production raised funds to erect a statue of Shakespeare in Central Park, which remains to this day. Continue reading John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864)

President Lincoln signs Bixby letter 150 years ago today (Nov 21 1864)


Video: 'George C. Marshall reads Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixbey'

(Monday, November 21, 1864; during American Civil War) — A letter was signed tdoay by President Abraham Lincoln expressing condolences to Lydia Bixby, a widow in Boston whose five sons supposedly died while fighting in the Civil War.

As it turned out, only two of Mrs. Bixby’s sons had been killed in battle. Also, historians are not certain that Lincoln actually wrote the letter.

Still, the text has been widely praised as one of Lincoln’s finest works of writing alongside the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address

Pro-Confederate guerrilla Bloody Bill killed by Union soldiers 150 years ago today (Oct 26 1864)


Video: 'Bloody Dawn: Bloody Bill teaser'

(Wednesday, October 26, 1864; during American Civil War)William T. Anderson, better known as Bloody Bill, one of the deadliest and most brutal pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the American Civil War, was killed today in Albany, Missouri, by a group of Union soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox.