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.

Video: Sept. 16, 1862 (at 43:40)

(Tuesday, September 16, 1862, during the American Civil War) — On the eve of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, Union Capt. Edward Hastings Ripley wrote about conditions near Sharpsburg, Maryland.

Video: Sept. 15, 1862 (at 42:35)

(Monday, September 15, 1862, during Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate General Robert E. Lee started to deploy his available forces today behind Antietam Creek, along a low ridge near Sharpsburg, Maryland.

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.

Video: Sept. 2, 1862 (at 35:18)

(Tuesday, September 2, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln reluctantly restored Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan to full command today following the defeat of General John Pope at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

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.

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.

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) →

Video: Aug 20, 1862 (at 38:41)

(Wednesday, August 20, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Republican editor Horace Greeley of the highly influential New York Tribune published a famous editorial today entitled “The Prayer of Twenty Millions,” demanding a more aggressive attack on the Confederacy and faster emancipation of the slaves by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Editor Horace Greeley publicly urges immediate emancipation of southern slaves 150 years ago today (1862) →

Video: 'Minnesota Massacre of 1862' (Aug. 17, 1862, at 2:22)

(Sunday, August 17, 1862, part of Sioux Wars and the American Indian Wars) — The Dakota War of 1862, an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of the eastern Sioux (also known as eastern Dakota), began today along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota. Continue reading Dakota uprising begins in Minnesota 150 years ago today (1862) →