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) →

German pastor, theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer executed by Nazis 80 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Defying Hitler: The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer'

(Monday, April 9, 1945, at dawn, Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 39, was executed by hanging today by the Nazis at the Flossenburg concentration camp for allegedly being associated with the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

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) →

John Lennon interviewed by Tom Snyder for NBC-TV’s ‘Tomorrow’ talk show 50 years ago this hour (Apr 8 1975)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'John Lennon on The Tomorrow Show - 04/08/1975 - Full Interview - [ remastered, 60FPS, HD ]'

(Tuesday, April 8, 1975, around 8:00 p.m. EDT) — Former Beatle John Lennon was interviewed by Tom Snyder today at NBC Studios, 30 Rockefeller Center in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City for the Apr. 29, 1975 (airing at 1:00 a.m. EDT), edition of NBC’s Tomorrow program to promote his latest album Rock ‘N’ Roll.

President Franklin Roosevelt signs work relief bill 80 years ago this hour (Apr 8 1935)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'History Brief: The Works Progress Administration (WPA)'

(Monday, April 8, 1935, 4:00 p.m. EST; during the Great Depression) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act, which provided money for programs such as the Works Progress Administration. Continue reading President Franklin Roosevelt signs work relief bill 80 years ago this hour (Apr 8 1935) →

John Lennon performs two songs for ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ 50 years ago today (Apr 8 1975)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'John Lennon Stand By Me + Slippin' and Slidin' - Old Grey Whistle Test (Raw Footage) - 8 April 1975'

(Tuesday, April 8, 1975) — Former Beatle John Lennon performed live vocal/guitar (along with a pre-recorded backing track) versions of “Stand By Me” and “Slippin’ And Slidin'” today at The Record Plant East in New York City for the Apr. 18, 1975, edition of the BBC2’s Old Grey Whistle Test program to promote his latest album Rock ‘N’ Roll. Continue reading John Lennon performs two songs for ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ 50 years ago today (Apr 8 1975) →

Eleanor Roosevelt writes to FDR, ‘I am so glad you are gaining’ 80 years ago today (Apr 8 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'American Experience FDR Parts 3 and 4' (Apr. 8, 1945, at 2:10:20)

(Sunday, April 8, 1945; during World War II) — First lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, New York, today wrote a letter to her husband, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was recuperating from exhaustion in Warm Springs, Georgia: “I am so glad you are gaining. You sounded cheerful for the first time last night, and I hope you weigh 170 pounds when you return. Devotedly, E.R.”

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.