Category Archives: American Civil War

‘Glory’ premieres in New York City 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 10 1989)


Video: 'Glory' trailer

(Sunday, December 10, 1989, evening EST)Glory, an American war film about a young, white army officer is assigned to lead an all-black unit in the American Civil War, premiered tonight at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City. Continue reading ‘Glory’ premieres in New York City 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 10 1989)

Andersonville commandant hanged for war crimes 150 years ago this hour (Nov 10 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature 1865 Ken Burns Docum' (Nov. 10, 1865, at 44:45)

(Friday, November 10, 1865, 10:32 a.m. local time)Henry Wirz, a Swiss-born Confederate officer in the American Civil War best known for his command of Camp Sumter, the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp near Andersonville, Georgia, was hanged today at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington for conspiracy and murder relating to his command of the camp.

President Andrew Johnson declares American Civil War ‘virtually at an end’ 150 years ago today (May 9 1865)

(Tuesday, May 9, 1865; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation today declaring the American Civil War may be regarded as “virtually at an end” and that nations or ships still harboring fugitives would be denied entry into U.S. ports. Persons found aboard such vessels would no longer be given immunity from prosecution of their crimes.

Abraham Lincoln buried 150 years ago this hour (May 4 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (May 4, 1865 at 24:35)

(Thursday, May 4, 1865, 1:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest today in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, following a 180-city, seven-state train journey from Washington, where he had been assassinated.

Lincoln’s son Willie, who died at age 11 from typhoid fever in 1862 and had originally been buried in Washington while Lincoln was serving as president, was interred next to his father in the family plot.

Abraham Lincoln returns to Springfield, Illinois 150 years ago this hour (May 3 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (May 3, 1865 at 23:22)

(Wednesday, May 3, 1865, 9:00 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, arrived today in Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois, for public viewing at the Old State House, concluding a 1,654 mile train journey from Washington for final burial.

Lincoln Funeral Train arrives in Cleveland 150 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 28, 1865 at 23:09)

(Friday, April 28, 1865, 6:50 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, stopped in Cleveland today for public viewing at Monument Square on a 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for final burial.

Hundreds of freed Union POWs killed when SS Sultana explodes near Memphis 150 years ago today (Apr 27 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 27, 1865 at 9:57)

(Thursday, April 27, 1865, 2:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — SS Sultana, a Mississippi River side-wheel steamboat exploded this morning in the greatest maritime disaster in United States history.

An estimated 1,800 of her 2,427 passengers, including 2,1000 recently liberated Union prisoners of war, died when three of the boat’s four boilers exploded and she burned to the waterline and sank near Memphis.

General Johnston surrenders 89,270 Confederate soldiers to General Sherman 150 years ago today (Apr 26 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 26, 1865 at 26:32)

(Wednesday, April 26, 1865; during the American Civil War) — After three separate days (April 17, 18 and 26, 1865) of negotiations, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered the Army of Tennessee and all remaining Confederate forces still active in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman today at the Bennett Farm in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina.

It was the largest surrender of the war, totaling 89,270 soldiers.

Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth dies 150 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (Apr. 26, 1865 at 26:07)

(Wednesday, April 26, 1865, at about 7:15 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, died this morning about five hours after the men of the 16th New York Cavalry surrounded the tobacco barn he was sleeping in at Richard H. Garrett’s farm, just south of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia.

Booth had been shot in the neck by a soldier after he had refused to surrender and the barn was set on fire. As he lay dying, Booth looked at his hands and supposedly gasped, “Useless, useless.”