Category Archives: American Civil War

Lincoln frees British diplomats, averts war with Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1861)


Video: 'What was: The Trent Affair?'

(Thursday, December 26, 1861; during the Trent Affair, part of the American Civil War) — Confederate diplomatic envoys James Mason and John Slidell were freed by President Abraham Lincoln today, heading off a possible war between the United States and Great Britain. Continue reading Lincoln frees British diplomats, averts war with Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1861)

Trent Affair nearly sparks war between U.S. and Great Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1861)


Video: '8th November 1861: The Trent Affair nearly causes a war between Britain and the United States'

(Friday, November 8, 1861; during the Trent Affair, part of the American Civil War) — The USS San Jacinto, commanded by Union Captain Charles Wilkes, intercepted the British mail packet RMS Trent today in Old Bahama Channel between Cuba and the Bahamas and removed, as contraband of war, two Confederate envoys: James Murray Mason and John Slidell. Continue reading Trent Affair nearly sparks war between U.S. and Great Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1861)

Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant tested in Battle of Belmont 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov. 7 1861)


Video: '1861-29 Battle of Belmont'

(Thursday, November 7, 1861, 9:00 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Belmont, part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War) — Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the future Union Army general in chief and eventual U.S. president, overran a Confederate camp today in Belmont, Missouri, but were forced to retreat when Confederate reinforcements arrived. Continue reading Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant tested in Battle of Belmont 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov. 7 1861)

President Lincoln names George B. McClellan general-in-chief of all Union armies 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1861)


Video: 'Abraham Lincoln Biography PBS Lincoln The Making of a President 1860 1862 1 4' (Lincoln replaces Scott with McClellan at 36:04)

(Friday, November 1, 1861; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appointed George B. McClellan as general-in-chief of all the Union armies today, replacing the aging General Winfield Scott. Continue reading President Lincoln names George B. McClellan general-in-chief of all Union armies 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1861)

First major battle of American Civil War fought near Manassas, Virginia, resulting in Confederate victory 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1861)


Video: '[1861] The First Battle of Bull Run'

(Sunday, July 21, 1861, 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The First Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the American Civil War, was fought today in Prince William County, Virginia, just north of the city of Manassas and about 30 miles west-southwest of Washington, D.C. Continue reading First major battle of American Civil War fought near Manassas, Virginia, resulting in Confederate victory 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1861)

North Carolina becomes 11th and final Southern slave state to secede from Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1861)


Video: 'North Carolina in the Civil War'

(Monday, May 20, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Five weeks and four days after the beginning of the Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina, which triggered the American Civil War, delegates to a convention in Raleigh voted unanimously today to become the 11th Southern state to secede from the Union to preserve the enslavement of black people.
Continue reading North Carolina becomes 11th and final Southern slave state to secede from Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1861)

Tennessee becomes 10th Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1861)


Video: 'Tennessee in the Civil War'

(Tuesday, May 7, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three weeks and four days after the beginning of the Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina, which triggered the American Civil War, the Tennessee legislature ratified an agreement today to enter a military league with the Confederate States, becoming the tenth southern state to secede to preserve the enslavement of black people.
Continue reading Tennessee becomes 10th Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1861)

Arkansas becomes ninth Southern state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1861)


Video: 'Arkansas in the Civil War'

(Monday, May 6, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three weeks and three days after the beginning of the Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina, which triggered the American Civil War, delegates to the Arkansas Secession Convention voted 69-1 to secede from the Union today in Little Rock, becoming the ninth southern state to secede to preserve the enslavement of black people.
Continue reading Arkansas becomes ninth Southern state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1861)

Virginia becomes eighth Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1861)


Video: 'Virginia in the Civil War'

(Wednesday, April 17, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Delegates to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 voted 88-55 to secede from the Union today in Richmond, becoming the eighth southern state to secede to preserve the enslavement of black people and the first since the Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln’s call up of militia to retake federal property.
Continue reading Virginia becomes eighth Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1861)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861)


Video: 'The Civil War - 1 - Savasin Sebebi (1861)' (Apr. 15, 1861, at 52:54)

(Monday, April 15, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared a state of insurrection today and called on the states to provide 75,000 militiamen to retake federal property and to suppress the rebellion by seven Southern slave states.
Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861)