Video: Fugitive Slave Act

(Thursday, March 13, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure today prohibiting Union military officers from returning fugitive slaves to their owners, effectively superseding the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

Video: Lincoln and McClellan at Antietam, Oct. 1862

(Tuesday, March 11, 1862, during the American Civil War) — President Abraham Lincoln today removed Gen. George B. McClellan as general-in-chief of the Union armies, leaving him in command of only the Army of the Potomac, ostensibly so that McClellan would be free to devote all his attention to the move on Richmond.

Video: Battle of Hampton Roads begins (at 16:36)

(Saturday, March 8, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The ironclad CSS Virginia (built from the remnants of the USS Merrimack) rammed and sank the USS Cumberland and heavily damaged the USS Congress, both frigates, off Newport News, Virginia, today in the Battle of Hampton Roads.

Video: USS Monitor built, launched (at 14:09)

(Thursday, March 6, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor finally departed New York today, following two failed attempts on Feb. 27 and Mar. 3, this time towed by a tug.

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

(Thursday, February 27, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s famous spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, began today.

In six small engagements (through June 9), at Kernstown, McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, and Port Republic, Jackson tied down large Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley that otherwise would have been used—probably decisively, in a Union offensive against the Confederate capital at Richmond.

Video: Union forces occupy Clarksville (at 21:06)

(Wednesday, February 19, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Three days after the fall of Fort Donelson, federal forces of General C.F. Smith from General U.S. Grant’s command today occupied Clarksville, Tennessee.

Video: Medill's Feb. 9, 1862, letter (at 11:49)

(Sunday, February 9, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Joseph Medill, co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, wrote to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today, warning him that General George B. McClellan “has almost ruined your administration and the country” by “placating the rebels.”

Video: Rhodes' Jan. 31, 1862, letter (at 7:47)

(Friday, January 31, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Union private Elisha Hunt Rhodes writes about the “mud, mud, mud” in Washington that’s preventing the Union Army to move.

Video: Lincoln issues order (at 10:59)

(Monday, January 27, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Utterly fed up with the inactivity of his generals and their armies, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today issued the extraordinary General War Order No. 1.

This order directed that all Union forces, on land as well as at sea, were to advance upon the insurgents and attack them on Feb. 22.

Video: Lincoln fires Cameron (at 9:02)

(Saturday, January 11, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today accepted the resignation of Secretary of War Simon Cameron and indicated that he would name him Minister to Russia (Cameron would continue to serve as Secretary of War until Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1862).

Cameron and his department have been under considerable criticism for fraudulent actions and general incompetence.