Video: July 4, 1862 (at 15:06)

(Friday, July 4, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner today repeatedly urged President Lincoln to use the Independence Day holiday to adopt a policy of emancipation.

“I would do it if I were not afraid that half the officers would fling down their arms and three more states would rise,” President Lincoln reportedly told Sumner.

Video: July 2, 1862 (at 22:04)

(Wednesday, July 2, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Despite victory yesterday at the Battle of Malvern Hill, ending the Seven Days Battles, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan withdrew today to entrench at Harrison’s Landing on the James River, where his army was protected by gunboats, thereby ending the Peninsula Campaign.

Video: Edwin Tennison killed (at 0:07)

(Tuesday, July 1, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Confederate Army private Edwin Tennison, a Georgia bugler whose portrait photograph became one of the most recognizable images of the American Civil War, died today from wounds received at Malvern Hill, Virginia.

Video: June 26, 1862 (at 19:54)

(Thursday June 26, 1862, the first major engagement of the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia struck Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac today in the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek in Hanover County, Virginia. Continue reading Lee attacks McClellan’s forces east of Richmond 150 years ago today (1862) →

Video: Army of Virginia organized (at 33:17)

(Thursday June 26, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today consolidated four separate commands of Generals Fremont, Banks, McDowell and Sturgis into The Army of Virginia, appointing Major-General John Pope to command it.

The purpose of the new army was to protect Washington, and act in conjunction with General George B. McClellan’s assault on Richmond.

Video: Congress outlaws slavery in territories (at 14:46)

(Thursday, June 19, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Congress passed a measure abolishing slavery in United States territories and President Lincoln quickly signed the legislation today, finally reversing the 1857 opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Dred Scott Case that Congress was powerless to regulate slavery in U.S. territories.

Video: Stuart's troops begin ride (at 19:10)

(Thursday, June 12, 1862, part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart began his ride around the Army of the Potomac today in Virginia after being sent on a reconnaissance of Union positions by Robert E. Lee in a prelude of the Seven Days Battles.

Video: Shenandoah Valley Campaign begins (at 8:06)

(Monday, June 9, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Stonewall Jackson concluded his successful Shenandoah Valley Campaign today with a victory in the Battle of Port Republic.  His tactics during the campaign are now studied by militaries around the world.

Image: Battle of the rams

(Friday, June 6, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The First Battle of Memphis took place today as Union naval forces annihilated a Confederate fleet and captured the Tennessee city.

Video: Lee assumes command (at 18:04)

(Sunday, June 1, 1862, part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia today after General J. E. Johnston was wounded and Major General G. W. Smith suffered what may have been a nervous breakdown at the Battle of Seven Pines.