Category Archives: American Civil War

Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincolns Final Speech - April 11, 1865 - Audio'

(Tuesday, April 11, 1865, approximately 8:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Two days after Lee’s army surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his last public speech from a White House window to a crowd on the lawn, saying, “We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.” Continue reading Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865) →

Washington celebrates Lee’s surrender, but Lincoln too weary to deliver formal speech 160 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:10)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 6:42)

(Monday, April 10, 1865, noon p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — In Washington, fireworks filled the sky tonight in celebration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox yesterday. A great crowd gathered around the White House called for President Abraham Lincoln, but he was too weary to make a formal speech.

Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:31)

(Monday, April 10, 1865; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln walked over to the Alexander Gardner studio today at the corner of 7th and D Streets in Washington to sit for another portrait. Continue reading Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865) →

Lee bids farewell to his Army of Northern Virginia 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'robert e. lee farewell address'

(Monday, April 10, 1865 morning or early afternoon; during the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a day after surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, said farewell to his men today, praising them for their “unsurpassed courage and fortitude.”

Lee surrenders his army to Grant at Appomattox 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 52:55)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 7:14)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, 1:30-3:00 p.m.; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant today at the McLean House in Appomattox, Virginia. Continue reading Lee surrenders his army to Grant at Appomattox 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865) →

Lee requests ‘suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 9, 1865, at 51:58)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, 11:50 a.m. local time; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee dispatched a letter under a white flag today into the Union lines, asking for a “suspension of hostilities pending the discussion of the Terms of surrender of this army.”

Lee’s army defeated in Battle of Appomattox Court House 160 years ago this morning (Apr 9 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 8, 1865, at 50:54)

(Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, dawn; during Battle of Appomattox Court House, part of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon to make one more attempt to break out at Appomattox this morning. Continue reading Lee’s army defeated in Battle of Appomattox Court House 160 years ago this morning (Apr 9 1865) →

Lee’s Confederate armies almost entirely surrounded, outnumbered 160 years ago tonight (Apr 8 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 8, 1865, at 50:04)

(Saturday, April 8, 1865, evening local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and his weary lieutenants gathered around a campfire tonight near the little village of Appomattox Courthouse and found themselves almost entirely surrounded, outnumbered nearly five to one and without hope of resupply or reinforcement. Continue reading Lee’s Confederate armies almost entirely surrounded, outnumbered 160 years ago tonight (Apr 8 1865) →

Abraham, Mary Lincoln drive together past a country cemetery at Petersburg 160 years ago today (Apr 8 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 8, 1865, at 45:57)

(Saturday, April 8, 1865; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary Lincoln took a drive together today past a country cemetery on the outskirts of Petersburg, Virginia.

Grant asks Lee to surrender to avoid ‘any further effusion of blood’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 7, 1865, at 49:31)

(Friday, April 7, 1865, 5:00 p.m. local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — As Union forces under Gen. Ulysses Grant pursued the Confederate army under Gen. Robert E. Lee along the Appomattox River, Grant initiated a series of dispatches between between the two commanders: Continue reading Grant asks Lee to surrender to avoid ‘any further effusion of blood’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865) →