Video: 'Civil War Combat - Battle of Cold Harbor'

(Tuesday, May 31, 1864, 4:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Cold Harbor, part of the Overland Campaign of the American Civil War) — The Battle of Cold Harbor, remembered as one of American history’s bloodiest, most lopsided battles, began today as Union cavalry seized the crossroads of Old Cold Harbor, about 10 miles northeast of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, holding it against Confederate attacks until the Union infantry arrived.

Video: 'The battle at Bloody Angle 1864'

(Thursday, May 12, 1864; during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, part of the Overland Campaign of the American Civil War) — Attacks today by Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright on the western edge of the Mule Shoe (a prominent salient) in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, which became known as the “Bloody Angle,” involved almost 24 hours of desperate hand-to-hand fighting, some of the most intense of the Civil War.

Video: 'Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle of the Wilderness' (May 7, 1864, at 34:17)

(Saturday, May 7, 1864; during the Overland Campaign of the American Civil War) — Following two days of intense fighting in the Battle of the Wilderness, the Army of the Potomac, under the command of Union General Ulysses S. Grant, moved south today.

Grant’s forces had clashed with Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in a pitched and confused two-day battle in which neither side gained a clear victory.

Video: 'Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle of the Wilderness' (May 6, 1864, at 32:52)

(Friday, May 6, 1864; during the Overland Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate General James Longstreet was caught in the fire of his own troops during the Battle of the Wilderness today near Fredericksburg, Virginia, leaving his right arm paralyzed.

(Friday, May 6, 1864; during the American Civil War) — The March on Atlanta began today when Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, moved inexorably southeastward, forcing the Confederates under Joseph T. Johnston to try to stop him in the Atlanta Campaign.

Video: 'Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle of the Wilderness' (May 4, 1864, at 24:42)

(Wednesday, May 4, 1864; during the Overland Campaign, part of the American Civil War) — Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all Union armies, crossed the Rapidan River today, seeking to defeat Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia by quickly placing his forces between Lee and Richmond and inviting an open battle.

Video: 'in god we trust final version'

(Friday, April 22, 1864; during the American Civil War) — Congress authorized the use of the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins today, allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize the inclusion of the phrase on one-cent and two-cent coins.

(Sunday, April 17, 1864; during the American Civil War) — Union Army general in chief Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant today ordered all prisoner exchanges suspended until questions are answered regarding the Vicksburg and Port Hudson paroles (a number of the surrendered Confederates have simply rejoined the army, despite having given their word that they would not) and the matter of exchange of African American troops has been settled.

Video: 'Clip 1 from 'The Forgotten Battle of Fort Pillow''

(Tuesday, April 12, 1864; during the American Civil War) — Confederate troops led by Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest took Union-held Fort Pillow in Tennessee. Almost half of the Union garrison was made up of black soldiers, many of whom were slain by the Confederates. Continue reading Federal black troops massacred at end of Battle of Fort Pillow 150 years ago today (Apr 12 1864) →

Video: 'Mary Edwards Walker'

(Sunday, April 10, 1864; during the American Civil War) — Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, an assistant surgeon for the 52nd Ohio Volunteers, was captured by the Confederates today and accused of being a Union spy; she was held until her release in August 1864 as part of a prisoner exchange. Continue reading Dr. Mary Edwards Walker captured by Confederates 150 years ago today (Apr 10 1864) →