Video: '1862-06 Battle Fort Donelson Feb 12-16 1862 - Corrected'

(Sunday, February 16, 1862; during the Battle of Fort Donelson, part of the American Civil War) — The Battle of Fort Donelson in the Western Theater of the American Civil War ended today when Union forces captured the Confederate fort near the Tennessee–Kentucky border and opened the Cumberland River, an important avenue for the invasion of the South. Continue reading General Grant captures Fort Donelson, Tennessee, earning moniker ‘Unconditional Surrender Grant’ 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1862) →

Video: 'American Civil War: Battle of Fort Henry - "Grant Invades Tennessee"'

(Thursday, February 6, 1862, shortly after 12:34-1:45 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort Henry, part of the American Civil War) — Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant gave the United States its first important victory of the American Civil War today by capturing Fort Henry in Donelson, Stewart County, Tennessee. Continue reading Grant takes Fort Henry, Tennessee in first significant Union victory of American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1862) →

Video: 'The USS Monitor'

(Thursday, January 30, 1862; during the American Civil War) — The USS Monitor, an ironclad warship built for the Union Navy during the American Civil War, was launched today from where it was built, the Continental Iron Works in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, New York, the first such ship commissioned by the Navy. Continue reading First U.S. ironclad warship, USS Monitor, launched during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 30 1862) →

Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.1of9.The.Cause' (Strong's diary entry at 1:31:07)

(Tuesday, December 31, 1861; during the American Civil War) — On this last day of 1861, during the first year of the American Civil War, George Templeton Strong, lawyer, a founder of the U.S. Sanitary Commission and accomplished diarist, wrote: “Poor old 1861…. It has been a gloomy year of trouble and disaster. I should be glad of its departure, were it not that 1862 is likely to be no better.” Continue reading George Templeton Strong closes out 1861 with gloomy forecast for new year 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 31 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) →

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) →