Category Archives: American Civil War

Lee’s Confederate forces begin withdrawing to Virginia 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Sept. 18, 1862 (at 56:42)

(Thursday, September 18, 1862, part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War) — On the day after the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army prepared to defend against a Federal assault that never came.

After an improvised truce for both sides to recover and exchange their wounded, Lee’s forces began withdrawing across the Potomac in the evening to return to Virginia.

Confederate, Union soldiers clash in final part of bloodiest one-day battle in American history 150 years ago this hour (1862)


Video: Sept. 17, 1862 (part three at 52:20)

(Wednesday, September 17, 1862, 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., local time, part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War) — The third of three battles in the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history (located near Maryland’s Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg), began this afternoon as Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside attacked Gen. James Longstreet’s troops across a stone bridge that came to bear Burnside’s name. Continue reading Confederate, Union soldiers clash in final part of bloodiest one-day battle in American history 150 years ago this hour (1862)

Second part of Battle of Antietam begins 150 years ago this hour (1862)


Video: Sept. 17, 1862 (second part at 49:00)

(Wednesday, September 17, 1862, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. local time, part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War) — The second of three battles in the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history (located near Maryland’s Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg), began this morning as Union troops under Gen. Edwin Sumner inflicted devastating casualties on the Confederates along a sunken road that became known as “Bloody Lane.”

This fighting alone left about 5,600 casualties (killed/wounded/captured/missing) out of 22,717 for the entire day.

General Lee informs President Davis that he intends to invade the North 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Sept. 3, 1862 (at 40:20)

(Wednesday, September 3, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Just two days after the Battle of Chantilly, Confederate General Robert E. Lee wrote to President Jefferson Davis today that he had decided to cross into Maryland unless the president objected. Lee also began shifting his army north and west from Chantilly towards Leesburg, Virginia.

Confederates victorious at Second Battle of Bull Run 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Aug. 30, 1862 (at 34:44)

(Saturday, August 30, 1862, during the Second Battle of Bull Run, part of the American Civil War) — Confederate forces won victories today against the Union at the Second Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia, as Maj. Gen. James Longstreet today sent five divisions storming into the Union flank, which was crushed and driven back to Bull Run.

25,000 men were killed, wounded or missing, five times the figure of the First Battle of Bull Run 13 months before.

Union Maj. Gen. John Pope attacks in Second Battle of Bull Run 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Aug 29, 1862 (at 34:30)

(Friday, August 29, 1862, during the Second Battle of Bull Run, part of the American Civil War) — Union Maj. Gen. John Pope launched a series of assaults today against Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s position along an unfinished railroad grade in Prince William County, Virginia. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides.

At noon, Confederate Maj. Gen. James Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson’s right flank.

Lincoln responds to editorial demanding emancipation of southern slaves 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Aug 22, 1862 (at 39:16)

(Friday, August 22, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln responded to an Aug. 20 editorial by Republican editor Horace Greeley of the highly influential New York Tribune, demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves by describing the limits imposed by his duty as president to save the Union. Continue reading Lincoln responds to editorial demanding emancipation of southern slaves 150 years ago today (1862)