That a Nation Might Live
The Civil War's Sesquicentennial One Week at a Time
This podcast series, sponsored by Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, focused on events leading up to and during the United States Civil War. After setting the stage through a series of preliminary episodes, we looked back each week to significant events that occurred roughly 150 years ago on those same dates.
The Civil War: One Week at a Time
This podcast series, sponsored by Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, focuses on events leading up to and during the United States Civil War. After setting the stage through a series of preliminary episodes, we take a look back at significant events of the war week-by-week.
Hosted By: Dr. Charles Ross, Dr. David Coles & Dr. Jim Jordan
Background Causes of the Civil War Show Details
[Background Episode] The origins of the Civil War date back to the colonial period and the very founding of the American republic. Differences between the two sections included the opposing political concepts of states’ rights versus national rights, and the development of a more diversified economy in the north with increased manufacturing, as opposed to an agricultural-based system in the south. The institution of slavery, which had existed in all regions during the colonial period, gradually ended in the north, while in the south it remained a vital economic element. Together these factors divided the two regions and drove the nation towards disunion.
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Immediate Causes of the Civil War – 1850’s Show Details
[Background Episode] The treaty that ended the Mexican War in 1848 opened up lands for westward expansion of the United States population. This also meant the potential expansion of slavery to these new territories. The slavery question, particularly in Nebraska and Kansas, led to violent conflict and continued to drive the nation apart and toward civil war.
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John Brown’s Raid Show Details
[Background Episode] In October, 1859, abolitionist John Brown launched an unsuccessful raid on the United States armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Hoping to instigate a slave uprising, Brown’s action was successful in further dividing the two regions of the country. Southerners became convinced that Brown represented a northern belief that slavery must be ended through violence if necessary. Coming just one year before
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Presidential Campaign of 1860 Show Details
In 1860, four candidates vied for the presidency in an election that would determine the nation’s future. A split in the Democratic Party enhanced the chances of Republican Abraham Lincoln, while the new Constitutional Union Party hoped to avoid secession by preventing Lincoln’s election.
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Lincoln’s Election Show Details
As November 6, 1860 approached, the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln appeared more likely. Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas launched a speaking tour of the south, hoping to convince southerners that Lincoln’s election in itself did not warrant secession, while Lincoln did little active campaigning. Both regions of the country waited anxiously for the results.
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Abraham Lincoln: America’s New President Show Details
One of history’s most admired men, Abraham Lincoln overcame humble and harsh beginnings to become one of democracy’s greatest defenders. This episode traces the path that led Lincoln to his successful presidential candidacy in 1860.
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Southern Response to Lincoln’s Election Show Details
The election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president of the United States triggered a series of events throughout that South that hurtled the nation toward civil war. In the days after the election, groups of angry southerners gathered to plan whether they should work within the system or secede from the United States.
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Southern Fire-Eaters Show Details
In the 1850s, a group of extremists known as fire-eaters advocated secession as a means of protecting southern rights and institution against the expanding power of the Federal government. They met with success in 1860 following the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln, as a number of southern states issued calls for secession conventions as a preliminary step to leaving the Union.
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James Buchanan’s Response to Lincoln’s Election Show Details
In the weeks after Abraham Lincoln’s election, lame duck president James Buchanan strove to keep the nation together and contain talk of secession. In his State of the Union message to congress he blamed the current situation on northern abolitionists and proposed a constitutional amendment to guarantee the rights of slaveowners.
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The Crisis Deepens Show Details
As the South Carolina Secession Convention prepared to meet to discuss the possibility of leaving the Union, President James Buchanan determines not to send reinforcements to the Federal garrison in Charleston. In addition, two members of the president’s cabinet, one from the north and one from the south, resign over the growing sectional crisis.
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South Carolina Secedes from the Union Show Details
On December 20, 1860 a convention of elected delegates in Charleston, South Carolina unanimously approved an Ordinance of Secession. The Ordinance dissolved South Carolina’s association with the rest of the United States and accelerated the path toward hostile confrontation.
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Major Anderson moves to Fort Sumter Show Details
After Lincoln’s election, tensions continued to mount around Charleston. Major Robert Anderson, in command of US forces in Charleston, decided that Fort Moultrie was indefensible and on the night of December 26, 1860 he moved his men to the much stronger Fort Sumter.
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Secession Expands Show Details
As the new year of 1861 dawned, secessionists seized a number of U.S. coastal fortifications. As at Fort Sumter in Charleston, the US troops in Pensacola looked to move to a more secure facility in Fort Pickens. Meanwhile, supplies were headed for Sumter on the steamship Star of the West.
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Star of the West Attacked Show Details
On January 9, 1861, the Star of the West, carrying supplies and reinforcements for Fort Sumter, entered Charleston Harbor. Southern artillerists fired on the ship, driving it away, and accelerating secessionist activities around the South.
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Compromise Efforts in Congress Show Details
In later 1860 and early 1861, both the U.S. House of Representative and the U.S. Senate formed committees to attempt a compromise between the north and south. Unlike in the past, however, these efforts failed and the nation moved closer to Civil War.
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One State Leaves, One State Joins Show Details
In late January 1861, Louisiana became the sixth state to leave the Union. The territory of Kansas, meanwhile, which had been the center of sectional discord in the late 1850s, would finally join the Union as a free state.
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Southerners meet in Montgomery Show Details
On February 4, 1861 Southern delegates convened in Montgomery, Alabama to begin to create a new nation. On that same day, the Peace Conference, a last ditch effort to avoid war, convened in Washington. Union troops in Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens continued to wait for the outbreak of war.
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The South Forms a Government Show Details
During the second week of February, Southerners assembled in Montgomery, Alabama, approved a new constitution for and elected Jefferson Davis President of a new nation: The Confederate States of America. At this same time, Abraham Lincoln began his journey to Washington for his March inauguration.
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Jefferson Davis: Confederate President Show Details
On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as provisional president of the Confederate States of America. A native of Kentucky and graduate of West Point, Davis had served in the Mexican War and had served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the years before the Civil War. For the next four years, he would serve as the only president of the new nation.
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Mr. Lincoln Goes to Washington Show Details
On February 11, 1861, president-elect Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois for Washington, D.C., in preparation for his inauguration in early March. He made numerous stops while enroute, meeting with state and local politicians, and making speeches on his intentions of preserving the Union. Lincoln learned of an assassination threat in Baltimore, forcing him to change his schedule, but he arrived in the capital unharmed on February 23.
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Lincoln Becomes President Show Details
On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln became the sixteenth President of the United States. His inaugural speech reached out to Southerners by asserting that he had no wish to interfere with slavery or states’ rights. However, he also claimed that secession from the Union was illegal and would be dealt with as such.
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Lincoln’s Team of Rivals Show Details
President Lincoln completed organization of his cabinet and held his first cabinet meetings in March 1861. Its composition consisted of prominent leaders of the Republican Party, a number of whom had been rivals to Lincoln for the party’s presidential nomination in 1860. Nevertheless, the group as a whole proved to be successful choices and worked diligently to implement the president’s policies.
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Lincoln Ponders Fort Sumter Show Details
After assuming the presidency, Lincoln must weigh the effects of resupplying Fort Sumter verses the effects of abandoning the fort. He polls his cabinet for their advice.
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Treachery in Texas? Mission to Charleston Show Details
Texas became the seventh state to secede from the Union in February 1861. In the aftermath of secession, David Twiggs, the commander of United States troops in the state, negotiated with Texas officials to surrender the Union installations and garrisons located there. His actions were viewed as treacherous by the government in Washington, and he was subsequently dismissed from the service. While this drama played out in Texas, Lincoln sent former naval officer Gustavus Fox to Charleston to report on the tense situation there.
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Lincoln Resupplies Fort Sumter Show Details
After much debate back and forth, Lincoln decides to send an expedition to resupply Fort Sumter even though he knows this may trigger civil war.
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Virginia Votes Against Secession Show Details
Following Abraham’s Lincoln’s inauguration in March 1861, the State Convention in Virginia voted a second time against secession, while events at Charleston, South Carolina and Pensacola, Florida, moved closer towards an armed confrontation.
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Fort Sumter Attacked! Show Details
On the morning of April 12, Confederate artillery fires on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. The next day, Major Robert Anderson and his men surrender.
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Secession in the Old Dominion, Violence in Baltimore Show Details
Following the attack on Fort Sumter and Lincoln’s call for troops to put down the rebellion, the State Convention voted for a third time on the issue of secession and determined to leave the Union. As U.S. troops passed through Baltimore while enroute to Washington, D.C., violence erupted when the soldiers were threatened by a secessionist mob, leaving a number of dead on both sides.
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Border States Show Details
As the war begins, Abraham Lincoln becomes increasingly worried about the crucial border states of Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri.
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Secession of Arkansas and Tennessee Show Details
Lincoln’s call for troops to put down the rebellion in the aftermath of Fort Sumter’s surrender would lead both Arkansas and Tennessee to leave the Union and join the Confederacy.
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Missouri Erupts in Violence Show Details
Union officer Nathaniel Lyon captures hundreds of Missouri militiamen he considers Confederate troops. While marching the prisoners through the streets of St. Louis, a deadly riot erupts.
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North Carolina Secedes, Richmond Becomes Confederate Capital Show Details
Like three other states in the Upper South, North Carolina would also move the leave the Union in the aftermath of the Fort Sumter attack. In the aftermath of Virginia’s secession, that state’s Secession Convention invited the Confederate government to move its capital from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond.
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Virginia Secedes Show Details
On May 23, the critical state of Virginia votes to secede from the Union. The next day, as Union troops occupy northern Virginia, New York Colonel Elmer Ellsworth is shot dead by a civilian. Ellsworth becomes the first of many prominent casualties of the war.
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War Comes to Virginia, Death of Stephen Douglas Show Details
As Confederate President Jefferson Davis moved from Montgomery to Richmond, a number of small-scale military operations occurred in the Old Dominion. Former presidential candidate and prominent senator Stephen Douglas dies in Chicago.
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Stephen Douglas Show Details
Union forces under Ben Butler at Fortress Monroe attempt to drive off Confederates at nearby Big Bethel Church, only to have their ill-conceived attack beaten back by the Confederates.
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Operations in Virginia and Missouri Show Details
During this week, small-scale military operations took place in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, while Union and secessionist forces clashed at the Battle of Boonville in Missouri.
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West Virginia Breaks Away, Professor Lowe Goes Aloft Show Details
Union-leaning citizens of Northwestern Virginia vote to break away from the rest of the state and remain loyal to the United States. Meanwhile, Thaddeus Lowe makes an aerial reconnaissance of Confederate troops near Washington, D.C.
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Plans in Virginia, Activities in the Border States Show Details
In Washington, Union Generals meet with President Lincoln and his cabinet to outline future military operations, while the administration moves to solidify its control over the border state of Maryland.
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Missouri Heats Up Show Details
Missouri militia under Governor Claiborne Jackson clash with Union forces at Carthage, Missouri. The raw and poorly armed militiamen drive off the smaller U.S. Army force under Franz Sigel.
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Rich Mountain and Corrick’s Ford Show Details
In western Virginia, Union forces under George B. McClellan won two minor, yet significant victories at Rich Mountain and Corrick’s Ford which helped solidify northern control over the region.
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The Battle of Bull Run Show Details
The first big battle of the war concludes with the Confederates routing Union forces at Manassas and sending them in humiliating retreat back to Washington.
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Aftermath of Bull Run, McClellan Takes Command Show Details
Following the defeat at First Bull Run, President Lincoln replaced Irvin McDowell with General George B. McClellan. In the Far West, meanwhile, southern forces occupied several positions in New Mexico in an effort to secure that region for the Confederacy.
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Robert E. Lee Arrives in Western Virginia Show Details
In early August 1861, Robert E. Lee arrives in Western Virginia to take over Confederate command there. This appointment follows a long and distinguished military career.
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The Battle of Wilson’s Creek Show Details
At the small but bloody battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861, a Union force under Nathaniel Lyon was defeated by southern troops under Ben McCulloch and Sterling Price.
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Two Union Army Appointments Show Details
Hero of Fort Sumter, Robert Anderson, is promoted to Brigadier General while military theoretician Henry Halleck is appointed Major General. Meanwhile, martial law is declared in Missouri and the “stone fleet” readies to sail south.
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The Naval War Heats Up Show Details
Captain Andrew Foote was appointed commander of Federal naval forces on the western rivers, while naval actions took place in Kentucky and Virginia, and the Union began a combined operation against Confederate positions at Hatteras Inlet.
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Fort Hatteras Captured Show Details
To prevent Confederate ships from harassing Union merchant ships, American’s first amphibious force attacks and captures Fort Hatteras in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
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Kentucky Loses its Neutrality Show Details
The neutrality of Kentucky was violated by both Union and Confederate forces, while in western Virginia the two sides clashed at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry.
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Confederate Fiasco at Cheat Mountain Show Details
Robert E. Lee’s first Confederate field command ends in disappointment as his green troops are easily repulsed on the difficult terrain around Cheat Mountain.
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Battle of Lexington, Missouri Show Details
Southern troops under Sterling Price captured the Missouri town of Lexington in the Battle of the Hemp Bales, while military operations continued in western Virginia.
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Professor Lowe Directs Artillery from a Balloon Show Details
Balloonist Professor Thaddeus Lowe successfully uses the telegraph and flags to direct Union artillery fire against the Confederate position near Falls Church, Virginia.
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The Rise of William T. Sherman Show Details
General William T. Sherman’s appointment to command the Union Army’s Department of the Cumberland proved unsuccessful, but he ultimately one of the most prominent Union generals of the war.
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Confederate Foreign Policy Show Details
James Mason and John Slidell leave on a mission to encourage England and France to recognize and support the Confederate cause.
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Union Disaster at Ball’s Bluff Show Details
The Union defeat at Ball’s Bluff angered the northern public, was a personal loss to President Lincoln, and led to the establishment of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.
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The Telegraph Comes to the Civil War Show Details
The beginning of the Civil War coincided with the emergence of a new technology that would revolutionized communications both in civilian life and on the battlefield.
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Missouri Secedes (Sort of) and Changes in Command Show Details
A portion of the Missouri State Legislature votes to join the Confederacy, while a number of prominent Union and Confederate generals are either appointed to or relieved of command.
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Mason and Slidell Seized by Federal Navy Show Details
En route to Europe, Mason and Slidell are taken from a British ship, generating international outrage.
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Generals in the West, Confederate Congress Meets Show Details
The saga of Confederate diplomats John Slidell and James Mason continues, while further command changes take place among Union generals in the west, and the Provisional Confederate Congress meets in Richmond.
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Judah Benjamin: Confederate Jewish Statesman Show Details
Jefferson Davis appoints one of the war’s most enigmatic figures, Judah Benjamin, to the position of Confederate Secretary of War.
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Meeting of the Federal Congress and Lincoln’s State of the Union Message Show Details
In Lincoln’s first annual message to congress, he seeks to persuade foreign powers that their best interests will be met by helping defeat the Confederate rebellion rather in aiding it.
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Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War Show Details
During the Second Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress in Washington, D.C., congress established the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War to investigate the management of the Union war effort.
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The Battle of Alleghany Mountain Show Details
Union forces attempt to dislodge Confederates from the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike once and for all. They are repulsed just as the Confederates had been in a similar attempt at nearby Cheat Mountain several months earlier.
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William Seward and the Trent Affair Show Details
The Lincoln Administration strives to negotiate an end to the continuing Trent Affair, and avoid a war with Great Britain.
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Christmas 1861 Show Details
The holiday season is not one of peace, with skirmishes around the country and the continuing sage of diplomats Mason and Slidell stirring emotions on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Jackson’s Romney Campaign Show Details
Confederate forces under Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson launch a campaign to capture Romney, Virginia during the first week of 1862.
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Abraham Lincoln Grows Frustrated with his Generals Show Details
Abraham Lincoln grows exasperated with his generals lack of action. He also replaces Simon Cameron as Secretary of War with Edwin Stanton.
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Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky Show Details
Union General George Thomas’ victory at Mill Springs, Kentucky in early 1862 cracks one end of the Confederate defense line in the west, leading to the loss of Kentucky and part of Tennessee.
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Lincoln Issues War Order Number One Show Details
Frustrated by lack of military action, President Lincoln takes the unusual step of ordering all his generals to move against the enemy by a specific date.
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Launching of the U.S.S. Monitor Show Details
In January 1862, legendary ship designer John Ericsson completes construction on the U.S.S. Monitor, the U.S. Navy’s first ironclad warship.
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Battle at Fort Henry Show Details
Union forces achieve two early victories in 1862, taking Fort Henry in Kentucky and Roanoke Island in North Carolina.
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Grant is Victorious at Fort Donelson Show Details
The victories by Union army and navy forces at Forts Henry and Donelson broke the major Confederate defensive line in the west, opened much of Tennessee to northern invasion, and earned Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant fame and the nickname “Unconditional Surrender.”
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Death at the White House, Action in New Mexico Show Details
While Abraham Lincoln grieves the loss of his son Willie, battle rages thousands of miles away at Valverde Ford in the New Mexico Territory.
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The Union Army Advances in the West Show Details
Confederate forces in Kentucky under Leonidas Polk were forced to abandon their strong position on the Mississippi River at Columbus, while Union General John Pope began operations to capture New Madrid and Island No. 10.
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Duel of the Ironclads Show Details
The first battle of ironclad ships takes place in Hampton Roads with the Monitor and Virginia fighting to a draw.
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Federal Victories in Missouri and North Carolina Show Details
In Missouri, Union forces continued their march southward down the Mississippi River, capturing the town of New Madrid, Missouri; while in North Carolina, Ambrose Burnside’s expedition captured the town of New Bern on the Neuse River.
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The First Battle of Kernstown Show Details
Unknowingly going against a superior force, Stonewall Jackson suffers his only defeat of the war.
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Fighting at Apache Canyon and Glorieta Pass Show Details
In March 1862 the Confederate invasion of the New Mexico Territory suffered a critical setback with the defeat at Glorieta Pass, ending the dream of a Confederate western empire.
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The Battle of Shiloh Show Details
After a furious Confederate attack on the first day of the battle, reinforcements help Ulysses S. Grant turn the tide in the Union’s favor on the second day of the largest battle in the Western theatre.
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Retreat From Shiloh and Fort Pulaski Captured Show Details
In early April 1862, as Confederate forces retreated towards Corinth, Mississippi in the aftermath of their defeat at Shiloh; a Union artillery bombardment led to the surrender of Fort Pulaski, Georgia; and Union soldiers in civilian clothing stole a Confederate railroad engine in what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase.
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Confederate Conscription, New Orleans Threatened Show Details
The Confederate Congress passes America’s first conscription law. Meanwhile, a Union fleet works its way up the Mississippi toward New Orleans.
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The Crescent City Falls to the Union Show Details
Captain David Farragut of the U.S. Navy led a naval force past the Confederate forts guarding New Orleans, Louisiana, and the largest city in the Confederacy soon fell into Union hands.
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The Evacuation of Yorktown and the Battle of Williamsburg Show Details
The Confederates abandon Yorktown before George McClellan can lay siege to it. After a brief battle at Williamsburg, both armies continue moving toward Richmond.
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Confederate Success in the Shenandoah Offset by the Loss of Norfolk Show Details
Confederate successes in the Shenandoah Valley continued with Stonewall Jackson’s victory at McDowell, while Union General George McClellan’s advance up the Virginia peninsula led to the Confederate evacuation of Norfolk and the scuttling of the C.S.S. Virginia.
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Bombardment at Drewry’s Bluff and Confederate Retreat towards Richmond Show Details
A Union flotilla is decisively repulsed trying to pass the Confederate fortifications at Drewry’s Bluff on the James River.
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More Bloodshed in the Shenandoah Show Details
In late May, 1862, Stonewall Jackson would win two additional victories in his Shenandoah Valley Campaign, defeating Union forces at Front Royal and Winchester.
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The Siege of Corinth and the Battle of Seven Pines Show Details
The Confederates elude the slow moving Henry Halleck at Corinth, Mississippi. In Virginia, a drawn battle at Seven Pines leads to an important change in Confederate leadership.
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Climax in the Shenandoah: The Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic Show Details
In early June 1862 Union forces occupied Memphis Tennessee, while in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson completed his masterful campaign with victories over two Union armies at Cross Keys and Port Republic.
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Jeb Stuart Rides Around George McClellan Show Details
Ordered by Lee to survey the Union right flank near Richmond, J.E.B. Stuart and his men make a spectacular ride around the entire Army of the Potomac.
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Secessionville, Cumberland Gap, and Vicksburg Show Details
In the third week of June 1862, the Union command dealt with the aftermath of the battle of Secessionville, South Carolina, while northern forces occupied Cumberland Gap and tightened their pressure on Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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Seven Days of Fighting in Virginia Show Details
Robert E. Lee strikes back against the Army of the Potomac, and with heavy casualties on both sides pushes George McClellan back to the James River.
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Malvern Hill ends the Seven Days Battles Show Details
During the first week of July 1862 the Seven Days Battles came to an end with the bloody repulse of a Confederate attack at Malvern Hill, while the U.S. Congress adopted several important pieces of legislation.
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John Hunt Morgan Show Details
Colonel John Hunt Morgan and his raiders go far behind Union lines and cause chaos and humiliation for the Union army.
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Second Confiscation Act Signed Show Details
The Second Confiscation Act, which put additional pressure on southern slaveholders, was signed into law by President Lincoln, while additional fighting took place on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.
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Vicksburg Stands Defiant Show Details
The critical supply junction of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River withstands several early assaults by the Union navy.
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In Virginia, One Campaign Begins and Another Ends Show Details
During late July and early August 1862, Union troops under General John Pope begin to move southward in what would become known as the Second Manassas campaign, while George McClellan received orders to begin withdrawing the Army of the Potomac from the Virginia Peninsula.
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Engagement at Baton Rouge and the Battle of Cedar Mountain Show Details
Confederates make a failed attempt to recapture Baton Rouge while Stonewall Jackson rallies his men to victory in Virginia.
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Lee Moves Against Pope and the Sioux Rise Up in Minnesota Show Details
As George McClellan began to withdraw his army from the Virginia Peninsula, Robert E. Lee Moved northward to face a threat from a new Union army commanded by General John Pope. Meanwhile, in Minnesota the Sioux Indians fought with white settlers and soldiers in a bloody uprising.
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Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley Debate Slavery Show Details
Abraham Lincoln writes an eloquent and memorable response to Horace Greeley’s provocative editorial about slavery.
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Battles of Second Manassas and Chantilly Show Details
Facing John Pope’s newly-organized Army of Virginia, Robert E. Lee boldly divided his forces and inflicted a bloody defeat near the old battlefield of First Manassas. Following a subsequent clash at Chantilly, Lee then moved his army northward into Maryland.
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Confederates Invade Maryland and Kentucky Show Details
Robert E. Lee’s troops cross into Maryland while in Kentucky Confederates under Braxton Bragg and Kirby Smith invade Kentucky.
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Lee Loses an Order Show Details
As Robert E. Lee moved his army into Maryland, Union General George McClellan recieved an astounding piece of intelligence–a lost copy of Special Orders No. 191, which outlined Lee’s plans for his army’s future movements.
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The Battle of Antietam Show Details
Confederates under Robert E. Lee meet Union troops George McClellan on America’s bloodiest day.
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A Murder in Kentucky Show Details
During the Kentucky campaign of 1862, as Confederate forces threatened the central and eastern portions of the state, Union Generals Jefferson C. Davis and William “Bull” became involved in a feud that would leave one of the officers dead and the other disgraced.
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The Battle of Corinth, Mississippi Show Details
In early October 1862, Confederate forces under Earl Van Dorn and Sterling Price attacked the Union garrison of Corinth, Mississippi. In a bloody two-day battle the southerners were repulsed, and Union control over northeast Mississippi was secured.
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Duel for the Bluegrass: The Battle of Perryville Show Details
On October 8, 1862 the battle of Perryville, the largest engagement of the Civil War in Kentucky, took place, with Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg clashing with a Union army under Don Carlos Buell. It resulted in the ending of a Confederate attempt to occupy the state.
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On October 8, 1862 the battle of Perryville, the largest engagement of the Civil War in Kentucky, took place, with Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg clashing with a Union army under Don Carlos Buell. It resulted in the ending of a Confederate attempt to occupy the state. Show Details
In mid-October 1862, early congressional elections took place in a number of northern states, resulting in losses for the Lincoln administration and gains for its Democratic rivals. These elections preceded further administration losses in the regular November elections.
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Lincoln Gets Frustrated with His Generals Show Details
Abraham Lincoln replaces Don Carlos Buell in the West for inaction while George McClellan’s continued lack of activity in the East continues to concern the president.
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Confederate Chemists Show Details
Confederate scientists use ingenuity to keep the armies supplied with critical materials.
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Burnside Replaces McClellan Show Details
Abraham Lincoln finally gives up on George McClellan and replaces him with the reluctant Ambrose Burnside.
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Burnside Moves Toward Fredericksburg Show Details
Prodded into action by an anxious president, Ambrose Burnside orders his men to move to Fredericksburg and then south to Richmond.
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The Stage is Set at Fredericksburg Show Details
Generals Ambrose Burnside and Robert E. Lee arrive at Fredericksburg. Troops are put into positions. Joseph E. Johnson is appointed to High Command in the West.
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Lincoln meets with Burnside on Battle Plans, Lincoln’s State of the Union Message Show Details
Lincoln meets with Ambrose Burnside to plan Fredericksburg Campaign. Lincoln delivers State of the Union Address to the 37th Congress of the United States of America.
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A Place Worse Than Hell Show Details
Critics assail President Lincoln on a variety of fronts.
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The Battle of Fredericksburg Show Details
Burnside suffers terrible defeat at Fredericksburg.
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Political Intrigue in the North and a Confederate Raid in Mississippi Show Details
A political crisis leads to threatened resignations in the president’s cabinet, General Grant issues his infamous General Order No. 11, and the Confederates mount a successful raid on the Union supply depot at Holly Springs, Mississippi
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“Beast” Butler Show Details
Confederate President Jefferson Davis issues a proclamation declaring Union General Benjamin Butler an outlaw subject to immediate execution, and the Confederate repulse a Union attack at Chickasaw Bayou.
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The Emancipation Proclamation and the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee Show Details
President Abraham Lincoln signed the permanent Emancipation Proclamation declaring free slaves in most of the south, while Union and Confederate troops met in a major battle southeast of Nashville, Tennessee.
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Action in the West and the Confederate Congress Meets Show Details
In early January 1863, General John Marmaduke led a Confederate raid into southern Missouri, while Union forces captured the Confederate fort at Arkansas Post and the Confederate Congress met in Richmond.
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Minor Adventures on the Water Show Details
A U.S. Navy ship runs aground off North Carolina while another Federal expedition moves up the White River in Arkansas.
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Two Generals in Trouble Show Details
Ambrose Burnside’s command is ended by mud and political intrigue while Braxton Bragg continues to be on the hot seat.
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Confederate Finance Show Details
The fledgling Confederate government struggles to finance its war effort.
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The U.S. Signal Corps Show Details
A new system of flag-based communications becomes crucial to both sides in the war.
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U.S. Senate Passes First national Conscription Law Show Details
As the war moves into its third year the passion for military service in the north is much diminished and new measures must be adopted to fill the ranks.
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The Harsh Winter of 1863 and General Lee’s Concerns Over the Welfare of His Army and the Suffering of his Soldiers Show Details
The winter of 1862-1863 was more severe than any for the past two decades. Insufficient shelter and clothing and scanty rations become a major concern to the Confederate Army.
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The War Continues with Fighting on the Water Show Details
Important engagements occur on the Mississippi River near New Orleans, off St. Thomas in the West Indies, in front of Vicksburg and on the Ogeechee River in Georgia.
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The Army of the Potomac is Humiliated by the Capture of General E.H. Stoughton and His Entire Staff at Fairfax Court House Show Details
Union General E.H. Stoughton and his garrison are asleep in camp at Fairfax Courthouse, February 8, 1863 when lightening raid by Captain John S. Mosby of Lee’s Cavalry captures the entire camp.
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Fighting Along the Mississippi Show Details
In mid-March 1863, Union forces under Ulysses Grant would make two new efforts to reach the Confederate positions at Vicksburg, Mississippi, while to the south a Union fleet and army threatened Port Hudson, Louisiana.
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The Battle of Kelly’s Ford Show Details
On March 17, 1863, Union and Confederate cavalry clashed at Kelly’s Ford, Virginia. While the Federals would eventually retreat, the battle resulted in the death of the famous southern artilleryman John Pelham.
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Maneuvers Around Vicksburg and West Virginia Emancipation Show Details
Union forces continued their movements against Vicksburg, Mississippi in what was known as the Steele’s Bayou Expedition, while two northern vessel attempted to pass the Vicksburg batteries. Voters in West Virginia approved a program of gradual emancipation as a condition of statehood.
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Vicksburg and the Richmond Bread Riot Show Details
Yet another Union expedition against Vicksburg took place with Union troops struggling southward from Milliken’s Bend towards New Carthage. Federal forces evacuated Jacksonville, Florida after a brief occupation, and in the Confederate capital, hungry women and children rioted in an effort to obtain bread and other foodstuffs.
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Union Navy attacks Charleston Show Details
A Union navy fleet attempts to capture the defiant port of Charleston but is driven back by Confederate cannons.
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Grierson’s Raid Show Details
To divert attention from Grant’s crossing of the Mississippi, Union cavalry under Colonel Benjamin Grierson run roughshod over large areas of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
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Confederate Powder Production Show Details
George Washington Rains creates one of the world’s best gunpowder production facilities from scratch in Augusta, Georgia.
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The Battle of Chancellorsville Show Details
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson defeat a numerically superior force in one of history’s most famous battles.
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The Death of Stonewall Jackson Show Details
The ablest of Gen. Robert Lee’s Generals, “Stonewall” Jackson, who gained his sobriquet by his stand at the First Battle of Bull Run, is accidentally shot down by his own men.
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The Start of the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi Show Details
Control of the Mississippi River was seen by both North and South as the linchpin to winning the Civil War and Vicksburg was the key to the river.
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The Universe of Battle: Life in the Caves of Vicksburg Show Details
Human life is reduced to survival won on a day-to-day basis.
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The Equipment, Business and Agony of War Show Details
The Civil War killed some men, made others great, ruined families, created fortunes, called up grief and joy and forged memories that define our nation.
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Milliken’s Bend and the Gettysburg Campaign Begins Show Details
As part of the Vicksburg Campaign, the Confederates launch an unsuccessful attack against Grant’s supply lines at Milliken’s Bend. Union black soldiers suffer heavy casualties in one of their earliest battles.
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Brandy Station and Second Winchester Show Details
As Robert E. Lee begins his second invasion of the north, Union and Confederate cavalry clash at Brandy Station, and the Federals suffer a humiliating defeat in the second battle of Winchester.
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Vicksburg and a Confederate Offensive in the East Show Details
The siege of Vicksburg continued and the advanced elements of the Army of Northern Virginia moved into Pennsylvania, while in Georgia the Confederate ironclad Atlanta surrendered to Federal ships.
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Tullahoma, Vicksburg, and the Road to Gettysburg Show Details
In Late June, 1863, General William Rosecrans successfully maneuvered his army to capture the Confederate position at Tullahoma, Tennessee, while the Federals exploded a mine beneath the Confederate defenses at Vicksburg. In the east Robert E. Lee’s Army moved farther into Pennsylvania and George Meade took command of the Army of Northern Virginia.
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Gettysburg and Vicksburg Show Details
The tide of war turns against the Confederacy after a traumatic defeat at Gettysburg and the surrender of Vicksburg.
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New York Draft Riots Show Details
Angry New Yorkers react violently to the new national conscription laws.
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Angry New Yorkers react violently to the new national conscription laws. Show Details
This week sees fighting ranging from the Indian Territory across the globe to Japan.
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This week sees fighting ranging from the Indian Territory across the globe to Japan. Show Details
Under pressure from Abraham Lincoln, George Meade attacks Robert E. Lee’s forces, but Lee escapes up the Shenandoah Valley. In Ohio, John Hunt Morgan is captured.
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British Neutrality and Presidential Order 252 Show Details
Confederate forces suffer defeats on both the diplomatic front as well as the military front.
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Free Blacks And The U.S. Army; Lee Offers Resignation Show Details
Charleston Harbor is site of new weapon. Lee offers to resign as Confederate chief and Union debates role of blacks in its army.
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The Bombardment of Charleston and Bragg, Burnside and Rosecrans in Tennessee Show Details
August 1863 finds most military action in deep south.
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Riots in New York, Bombardment in South Carolina and Murder in Kansas Show Details
A bloody week in the cities of New York, Charleston and Lawrence.
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Fighting Continues Around Charleston Show Details
In late August 1863, Federal forces continued their bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, and tightened their siege of Battery Wagner on nearby Morris Island. William Averell led a Federal raid into West Virginia and Kit Carson conducted operations against the Navajo Indians.
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The Confederates Evacuate Battery Wagner and Chattanooga Show Details
Increasing Union pressure forced the Confederate to evacuate Battery Wager near Charleston, while William Rosecrans maneuvered against Braxton Bragg’s near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The construction of the Laird Rams caused a diplomatic controversy between the United States and Great Britain.
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Confederate Victory at Sabine Pass Show Details
A small Confederate force under Richard “Dick” Dowling stopped a much larger Union fleet at Sabine Pass, while Confederate troops were forced to evacuate Chattanooga, setting the stage for the battle of Chickamauga.
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Bloody Battle at Chickamauga Show Details
On September 19-20, 1863 the Union Army of the Cumberland under William Rosecrans and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Braxton Bragg met in a bloody battle that resulted in a Confederate victory, but one that failed to be decisive as a result of Union General George Thomas’ stubborn defense and Bragg’s hesitant pursuit.
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The Siege of Chattanooga Begins Show Details
Following the defeat at Chickamauga, Union forces retreat to Chattanooga where the Confederates begin to try to starve them into submission.
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Siege of Chattanooga Continues, CSS David Attacks Show Details
While the Confederate army continues their siege of Chattanooga, the Confederate navy tries a new tactic in Charleston.
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Jefferson Davis Pays Braxton Bragg a Visit Show Details
After receiving a petition from subordinates asking for Braxton Bragg’s removal from command, Jefferson Davis travels to Bragg’s post near Chattanooga to assess the situation.
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Grant Takes Command in the West Show Details
Abraham Lincoln places Ulysses S. Grant in charge of the new Division of the Mississippi. In Virginia, the Confederates run into trouble at the Battle of Bristoe Station.
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Changes in Command and in Supply Show Details
General Grant moves men and material.
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The Troubles at Chattanooga Show Details
The Siege of Chattanooga is broken.
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The Struggle for Tactical Advantage Show Details
Confederates and Federals are both reluctant to commit significant forces.
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Fort Sumter Bombarded All Week Show Details
Fighting is active over broad areas as winter nears.
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A New Birth of Freedom Show Details
President Abraham Lincoln dedicates the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with his immortal Gettysburg Address, while the Confederate besiege Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Confederate Disaster at Chattanooga Show Details
Union forces under Ulysses Grant break the siege of Chattanooga, while Confederates under James Longstreet fail in their effort to capture Knoxville. In the east, the Army of the Potomac begins its short-lived Mine Run offensive.
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Two Campaigns conclude and Two Congresses Meet Show Details
In Virginia, the Army of the Potomac withdrew northward following the ending of the Mine Run Campaign, while Confederate General James Longstreet ended his siege of Knoxville. Meanwhile the rival congresses met in Washington, D.C. and Richmond.
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Lincoln Plans for Reconstruction Show Details
In December 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issues his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which established provisions by which ex-Confederates could apply for pardons, and the governments of seceded states could be restored to the Union.
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Joseph Johnston and John Buford Show Details
Joseph Johnston finds a new role leading the Army of the Tennessee while a Union hero is promoted on his death bed.
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Point Lookout Show Details
In December 1863, Abraham Lincoln pays a visit to one of the Union’s more notorious prisoner of war camps.
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Winter Camps Show Details
In the midst of a brutal cold snap in January 1864, soldiers hunker down in their winter quarters.
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Dealing with Deserters Show Details
As the war drags on, desertion becomes a growing problem for both sides.
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A Week of Winter Skirmishes Show Details
Winter weather and illness limit active campaigning.
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Words, Names and Symbols Coined by Soldiers Show Details
Soldiers on both sides during the Civil War employed their own terms for objects, many of which remain in our language today.
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Ironclads and Small Engagements Show Details
The Confederacy gains a new Ironclad and a handful of small victories.
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Major General W.T. Sherman Begins His 1864 Campaign Show Details
Sherman starts a rare winter campaign to capture some Confederate railroad rolling stock and will end in Atlanta, Georgia, before year’s end.
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A Prison Escape and Operations in Mississippi Show Details
In mid-February 1864, more than 100 Union officers mounted a bold escape from Richmond’s Libby Prison, while General William T. Sherman commanded an expedition that sacked the town of Meridian, Mississippi, in what is often considered as a trial run for the total War strategy he later employed during his March to the Sea.
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The First Sinking By a Submarine and a Bloody Battle in Florida Show Details
Union officers incarcerated at Libby Prison mounted a daring escape attempt, while in Mississippi, William T. Sherman led an expedition to capture the town of Meridian.
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Movements in Georgia, Promotions North and South, and a New Prison Opens Show Details
Union forces mounted an operation against Confederate positions near Dalton, Georgia, while Braxton Brag was appointed military advisor to Jefferson Davis, and Ulysses S. Grant was nominated to the new position of lieutenant general. In Georgia, the infamous Confederate prison at Andersonville received its first prisoners.
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The Richmond Raid and Grant Takes Command Show Details
In early March 1864, Union cavalry mounted a controversial and unsuccessful raid against the Confederate capital of Richmond, while Ulysses S. Grant assumed command as general-in-chief of all Union land forces.
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Red River Campaign, Part One Show Details
Nathanial Banks and David Porter lead an expedition in search of Texas cotton but run into major problems.
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Red River Campaign Part 2 Show Details
A Wisconsin lumberman comes to the rescue of a Union fleet stuck about the rapids at Alexandria, Louisiana.
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Nathan Bedford Forrest Show Details
Nathan Bedford Forrest builds his legacy of one of the war’s best generals.
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Phil Sheridan Show Details
In spring 1864, Ulysses S. Grant picks Phil Sheridan to lead Union cavalry against Robert E. Lee.
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Three Important Events in the Confederacy Show Details
The Louisiana State Constitution frees slaves, Sabine Crossroads is contested, and a bloodbath at Fort Pillow.
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Spring Warmth Brings Early Skirmishes on Many Fronts Show Details
A week of daily military operations.
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A Very Bad Week for Union Forces Show Details
The Federals lose control at a number of points.
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A Week of Both Politics and Fighting Show Details
The war heats up in state house and on battlefields.
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The Overland and the Atlanta Campaigns Begin Show Details
In early May, 1864, Union forces commenced major campaigns in both Virginia and north Georgia. The Army of the Potomac was stopped in fighting in the Wilderness, but moved southward and faced Robert E. Lee’s army at Spotsylvania, while in Georgia, William T. Sherman maneuvered Joseph Johnston’s Confederate army out of its positions at Dalton.
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Spotsylvania, New Market, and Resaca: A Bloody Week of Combat Show Details
Following the bloody fighting in the Wilderness, , the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia fought a series of brutal engagements in the trenches around Spotsylvania. Elsewhere is Virginia, Jeb Stuart was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern, a Union invasion of the Shenandoah Valley was stopped at New Market, and Confederate forces stopped a Union advance against Petersburg and Richmond at Drewry’s Bluff. In Georgia, Union and Confederate forces fought at Resaca, before Joseph Johnston withdrew to positions farther south.
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Grant and Sherman Continue Their Advance Show Details
In Virginia, Grant’s Overland Campaign continued with the final fighting around Spotsylvania, followed by a movement of the armies southward to lines near the North Anna River; while in Georgia William Sherman continued his advance, occupying Cassville and Adairsville and then swinging to the west towards Dallas.
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The Road to Cold Harbor and Fighting Around Dallas Show Details
The Overland Campaign continued with Federal forces leaving the North Anna battlefield and swing to the south towards positions at Cold Harbor; while in Georgia fighting took place near Dallas, including the battles of New Hope Church and Pickett’s Mill.
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The Battle of Cold Harbor Show Details
Ulysses Grant continues to move toward Richmond and engages Robert E. Lee in a bloody assault at Cold Harbor.
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Grant Crosses the James Show Details
Grant steals a march on Lee and gets his men over the James River and in position to attack Petersburg.
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The C.S.S. Alabama Show Details
The Confederate raider C.S.S. Alabama terrorizes Union shipping for two years before being sunk by the U.S.S. Kearsarge.
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The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Show Details
William T. Sherman suffers a rare defeat in a frontal assault against Confederate fortifications outside Atlanta.
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A Week of Both Politics and Fighting Show Details
The war heats up in state houses and on battlefields.
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Confederates Threaten Washington, D.C. Show Details
The Northern Capital Becomes a Battleground
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Fighting Breaks out all over the South Show Details
Tens of thousands of troops are in action in many states.
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The Battle of Ezra Church and Slaughter at the Crater Show Details
In Virginia, Union troops exploded a mine under the confederate defenses, but were defeated at the nettle of the Crater; while in Georgia, William Sherman attempted to capture the railroad lines leading into Atlanta at the battle of Ezra Church.
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Union Victory at Mobile Bay Show Details
A Federal fleet commanded by David Farragut forced its way into the entrance of Mobile Bay, defeating a Confederate fleet and leading to the surrender of two Confederate forts. In the Atlanta Campaign, William Sherman made a second attempt to cut the railroad lines to the south of the town, but was stopped at the battle of Utoy Creek.
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Wheeler’s Raid and Movements in the Shenandoah Show Details
As William Sherman’s armies threatened Atlanta, Confederate General Joseph Wheeler led a cavalry raid into north Georgia and Tennessee to cut Union supply lines. In the Shenandoah Valley, the armies of Philip Sheridan and Jubal Early maneuvered without a major engagement.
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Fighting Along the Weldon Railroad and the Capture of Fort Morgan Show Details
During the siege of Petersburg, Union forces made another effort to cut the Weldon Railroad, which supplied Confederate troops, while in Alabama Fort Morgan, the final Confederate fortification guarding the entrance to Mobile Bay, fell after a Union siege.
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Anaconda Comes to Life Show Details
Large Scale Military Operations Begin Over the South
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The Grip of Federal Armies Tightens Show Details
Union Generals Sherman and Sheridan Come to the Fore
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Politics and Destruction Threaten the Confederacy Show Details
Generals Sherman, McClellan and Sheridan play major roles this week in the Civil War.
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War and Politics Feed on Each Other as the National Elections Loom Show Details
Military operations are conditioned by the approaching Northern Election Campaign.
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The Dutch Gap Canal Show Details
After bumbling Union general Ben Butler gets his troops bottled up at Bermuda Hundred, he attempts to escape by building a canal.
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Rose O’Neal Greenhow Show Details
A prominent Washington socialite becomes one of the Confederacy’s most important early spies.
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The C.S.S. Florida Show Details
The South’s first foreign made raider is captured off the coast of Brazil.
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Prelude to Cedar Creek Show Details
Phil Sheridan and Jubal Early wreak havoc on each other and the landscape in preparation for a final showdown.
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Sheridan’s Ride, a Raid in the North, and the Battle of Westport Show Details
In the third week of October 1864, General Philip Sheridan rallied his forces for a major victory in the Shenandoah Valley, while a gro7up of Confederates raided the town of St. Albans, Vermont, and Rebel forces retreated in Missouri after the Battle of Westport.
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Destruction of the C.S.S. Albemarle and More Fighting Around Petersburg Show Details
On October 27, 1864, a daring raid by U.S. Navy Lieutenant William B. Cushing led to the destruction of the Confederate ironclad Albemarle, while in Virginia Union efforts to break the Confederate lines around Petersburg and Richmond failed at the battles of Darbytown Road and Second Fair Oaks.
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Lincoln Wins Reelection Show Details
On November 8, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln won reelection to a second term, defeated General George B. McClellan. While Lincoln’s reelection chances had initially appeared bleak, Union military vistories in the late summer and fall propelled his party to victory at the polls, virtually ending the confederacy’s final hopes for independence.
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Sherman Prepares for His March Show Details
In mid-November, 1864, General William T. Sherman made preparation to leave the city of Atlanta and begin his famed March to Sea. Abandoning his supply lines and ignoring the movements of his main Confederate adversary, Sherman instead planned a march through the heart of Georgia, destroying anything remotely of use to the Confederacy and crushing the morale of the southern civilian population.
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The March to the Sea Show Details
The Heartland of The Confederacy is Ravished
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The Sand Creek Massacre Show Details
One of the darkest moments of the Civil War.
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Activities in the United States Congress Show Details
Several Congressional actions affect the conduct of The War
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Savannah and Nashville Show Details
Generals Grant and Thomas on the move
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The Battle of Nashville Show Details
John Bell Hood’s campaign ends in disaster with an overwhelming defeat in the Battle of Nashville.
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The Confederates Move the Powder Works Show Details
With Sherman’s army creeping closer, George Washington Rains orders the Confederate Powder Works dismantled and shipped to South Carolina.
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James Singleton Show Details
Lincoln sends an old friend and political rival to Richmond to try to talk sense into the Confederate high command.
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Fall of Fort Fisher Show Details
By the end of 1864, Wilmington, North Carolina remained the last major port open to the Confederacy. In mid-January 1865 a combined Union army-navy force mounted a second campaign to capture Fort Fisher, the fortification that defended the mouth of the Cape Fear River and access to Wilmington. With the fort’s fall, the Confederacy lost a vital lifeline to the outside world.
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Sherman Marches North Show Details
In late January 1865, following his capture of Savannah, Georgia the previous month, General William T. Sherman commenced his March Through the Carolinas, with the objective of destroying war materials and public property in South and North Carolina, and eventually linking up with Ulysses Grant’s forces in Virginia. During the same week, Confederate President Jefferson Davis would appoint General Robert E. Lee as General-in-Chief of all Confederate armies.
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A New Amendment and Hopes for Peace Show Details
The proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is approved by the United States House of Representatives, and sent out to the states for ratification, while preparations a made for peace negotiations between the two sides.
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The Hampton Roads Conference and More Fighting at Petersburg Show Details
Representatives of the united States and Confederacy meet at Hampton roads, Virginia to discuss a possible cessation of hostilities, while the Confederates appoint a new Secretary of War and a new round of fighting takes place at Petersburg.
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The War Focuses on Richmond and South Carolina Show Details
The Richmond-Petersburg lines and Sherman’s march through South Carolina worry the Confederacy.
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Sherman in the Carolinas Show Details
The destruction of Columbia and the evacuation of Charleston- the depredations of war.
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The Union Conquest of the Carolinas Show Details
The Confederacy is split in two.
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Engagement at Waynesborough and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Show Details
The End Comes Nearer
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African-American Confederates Show Details
In the desperate last days of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis eventually follows the advice of General Patrick Cleburne and signs a law allowing African-Americans to serve as soldiers in the Confederate Army.
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Johnston and Sherman Battle in North Carolina Show Details
Joseph Johnston and William Sherman face off for the last time at the Battle of Bentonville.
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The Army of Northern Virginia’s Last Attack Show Details
The last offensive action of the renowned Army of Northern Virginia fails at Fort Stedman.
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Richmond Falls Show Details
At long last, the Confederate capital falls into Union hands.
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Surrender at Appomattox Show Details
Following the Confederate evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg, General Robert E. Lee moved his army westward, hoping to eventually reach North Carolina and join up with other southern forces located there. Union forces pursed the retreating Confederates, inflicting at defeat at Sailor’s Creek on April 6, before forcing Lee’s surrender at Appomattox on April 9.
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Aftermath of the Civil War Show Details
As the nation tries to process the death and funeral of Abraham Lincoln, events around the country bring the war to an end and sets up the path toward reunification.
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A Conflict Ends Show Details
In North Carolina in late April, 1865, the second major Confederate army surrendered. Over the next two months the remaining southern forces laid down their arms, ending military operations. Other major events included the killing of President Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth; the explosion of the steamboat Sultana; the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis; and the Grand Review of the Union armies.
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