Category Archives: American Civil War

President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states shall be ‘forever free’ 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1863)

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


Video: 'Lincoln Signs the Emancipation Proclamation | Abraham Lincoln'

(Thursday, January 1, shortly after noon; during the American Civil War and Slavery in the United States) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today signed the final Emancipation Proclamation, which changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the secessionist Confederate states from enslaved to free. Continue reading President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states shall be ‘forever free’ 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1863) →

Union troops suffer major defeat in Battle of Fredericksburg during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Civil War Combat: Massive Assault at the Battle Of Fredericksburg (S1, E2) | Full Episode' (Dec. 12-13, 1862, at 13:15)

(Saturday, December 13, 1862, 10:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside suffered one of the most decisive losses for the Union Army during of the American Civil War when he hurled 14 attacks against the Confederate lines today at Marye Heights, above Fredericksburg, Virginia, during the Battle of Fredericksburg, fought in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Continue reading Union troops suffer major defeat in Battle of Fredericksburg during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1862) →

Battle of Fredericksburg begins near Fredericksburg, Virginia, during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Civil War Combat: Massive Assault at the Battle Of Fredericksburg (S1, E2) | Full Episode'

(Thursday, December 11, 1862, 3:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, began today between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Continue reading Battle of Fredericksburg begins near Fredericksburg, Virginia, during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1862) →

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln calls for abolition of slavery in his Second Annual Message to Congress 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 1 1862)

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


Video: 'The President's Message to Congress, December 1, 1862'

(Monday, December 1, 1862; during the American Civil War and Slavery in the United States) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln called for the abolition of slavery today in his Second Annual Message to Congress (read aloud by the Secretary of the Senate), writing: “Fellow-citizens, we can not escape history. We of this Congress and this Administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.” Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln calls for abolition of slavery in his Second Annual Message to Congress 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 1 1862) →

President Lincoln relieves General McClellan from command of Army of Potomac 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1862)

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


Video: 'Lincoln: The Pivotal Year 1863' (Nov. 5, 1862, at 21:37)

(Wednesday, November 5, 1862, during the American Civil War) — The day after the midterm elections, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln removed General George B. McClellan, 35, as commander of the Army of Potomac today for the second and final time. Continue reading President Lincoln relieves General McClellan from command of Army of Potomac 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1862) →

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, setting date to free all slaves in secessionist Confederate states 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 22 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'The Emancipation Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln and Executive Power, Part 12'

(Monday, September 22, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Five days after Union troops turned back a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Battle of Antietam — sometimes cited as the bloodiest day in all of American history with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that than three million black slaves in areas still in rebellion as of January 1, 1863 would be free. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, setting date to free all slaves in secessionist Confederate states 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 22 1862) →

Union and Confederate soldiers clash at Antietam in bloodiest one-day battle in American history 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Antietam: Animated Battle Map'

(Wednesday, September 17, 1862, approximately 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. local time, part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War) — The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle day in U.S. history, began at dawn today near Maryland’s Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg as Union forces led by Gen. George McClellan attacked Confederate troops led by Gen. Robert E. Lee near Antietam Creek in Maryland. Continue reading Union and Confederate soldiers clash at Antietam in bloodiest one-day battle in American history 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1862) →

Union soldiers discover General Robert E. Lee’s orders detailing Confederates’ plan for Antietam campaign near Frederick, Maryland 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 13 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Special Orders 191'

(Saturday, September 13, 1862, at about noon local time; during the American Civil War) — Two Union soldiers, Sergeant John Bloss and Corporal Barton W. Mitchell, discovered a mislaid copy of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s detailed Antietam battle plans today outside of Frederick, Maryland. Continue reading Union soldiers discover General Robert E. Lee’s orders detailing Confederates’ plan for Antietam campaign near Frederick, Maryland 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 13 1862) →

Advance elements of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia cross into Maryland, taking American Civil War into the North 160 years ago today (Sep 4 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.3of9.Forever.Free.' (Sep. 3-4, 1862, at 40:19)

(Thursday, September 4, 1862, during the Maryland Campaign, part of the American Civil War) — The Maryland campaign (or Antietam campaign) began today as advance elements of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia crossed into Maryland from Loudoun County, taking the Civil War into Union territory for the first time. Continue reading Advance elements of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia cross into Maryland, taking American Civil War into the North 160 years ago today (Sep 4 1862) →

President Abraham Lincoln presents preliminary draft of Emancipation Proclamation to cabinet 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 22 1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet Review on the Emancipation Proclamation'

(Tuesday, July 22, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln presented a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his entire cabinet today proposing to free more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the secessionist Confederate states. Continue reading President Abraham Lincoln presents preliminary draft of Emancipation Proclamation to cabinet 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 22 1862) →