Episodes Nearest to April 1, 1865: 1 through 25 of 25

  1. Poverty Begins...
    date April 1, 1865map RICHLAND, South Carolinatags Arts/Leisure, Race-Relations, Slavery, War, Women

    April 1865 was a tough month for Emma Florence LeConte. General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to the Union and effectively destroyed any chance of her beloved Confederacy succeeding in its war effort and becoming a separate and distinct nation. For Emma, the only highlight of the month appeared in the assassination of President Lincoln: "After all the heaviness and...

  2. The Battle of Five Forks
    date April 1, 1865 to April 2, 1865map DINWIDDIE, Virginiatags War

    On April 1st General Lee feared the loss of Five Forks, in Petersburg, VA, would result in serious threat to Richmond and Petersburg and the Confederate line of retreat. He ordered Pickett to make sure that the troops “hold positions at all cost.' Lee and his troops prepared for battle entrenched; however, Union troops overpowered Confederate, 53,000 to 10,000. Grant's strategy was...

  3. First to the Top: Lebanon, PA Man Earns the Medal of Honor
    date April 2, 1865map DINWIDDIE, Virginia, LEBANON, Pennsylvaniatags War, Civil War, Medal of Honor

    In his official report on the final battle at Petersburg Captain R. Frank Hean of the 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry, wrote that the General Horatio Wright ordered the Union attack on "Battery Gregg," to begin at 4 a.m, on the morning of April 2, 1865. At the appointed hour, the Sixth Army Corp of the Army of the Potomac, charged forward and carried the enemy works. "In so doing," wrote...

  4. A Special Detail in the Final Battle Of Petersburg
    date April 2, 1865map DINWIDDIE, Virginiatags Civil War, Battle of Petersburg

    Specific military units did not usually separate intentionally on the battlefield during the Civil War, yet First Lieutenant William H. Rogers received orders that detached him from his unit. On March 31, 1865, Lieutenant Rogers was temporarily relieved of his command of company K of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery and was assigned 100 men from artillery units, who would “follow a charging...

  5. The 116th Colored Troops at the Battle of Petersburg
    date April 2, 1865map DINWIDDIE, Virginiatags Battle of Petersburg, Civil War, African-Americans

    William W. Woodward entered the Civil War by enlisting as a second lieutenant in company K of the Ohio 2nd Cavalry Regiment, but he left the war as a Colonel of the 116th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops. His tenure with the Ohio 2nd Cavalry yielded rewarding results, as he was promoted to Full Captain on November 14, 1862, just one month and eight days after he enlisted. However, things...

  6. Soldier's Recollection of Capturing Richmond
    date April 2, 1865 to April 3, 1865map RICHMOND, Virginiatags War

    As T.S. Peck quietly lay near the Confederate picket line, trying to avoid whispering and hitting his canteen against his bayonet, the Union soldier reflected on the formidability of his Southern counterparts. His troop would move on toward their destination of Richmond under orders from General Grant, and Peck anticipated the danger of torpedoes planted around Confederate fortifications. Indeed,...

  7. The Last Rebel Paper
    date April 3, 1865map RICHMOND, Virginiatags War

    By 1865, General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia had realized the disadvantage of being vastly outnumbered. His men were put under siege by the Union's relentless attacks, and despite his valiant effort and brilliant leadership, the disproportionate numbers proved too much. On the night of April 2, 1865, Lee regretfully ordered an evacuation of the confederate capital, Richmond....

  8. Jefferson Davis Completes His Final Act
    date April 4, 1865map PITTSYLVANIA, Virginiatags Civil War, Jefferson Davis, The Confederate States of America

    Located in south central Virginia, not far from the North Carolina border, Danville was the western terminus of the Richmond and Danville Railroad and a major Confederate supply base. Jefferson Davis and his government traveled to Danville as Richmond fell to pursuing Federal Army. The city was the seat of the Confederate government for only eight days, April 3-10, 1865. Danville's quartermaster,...

  9. The Beginning of the End of the Confederate States of America
    date April 7, 1865map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Government, Politics, War

    On Friday, April 7, 1865, the words "Confederacy Doomed" marked the headlines of the New Orleans Daily Times Picayune. As the headline so boldly announced, the days of the Confederacy were severely numbered as General Robert E. Lee was forced to abandon Goldsboro, NC and proved unable to hold the city of Raleigh. In reality, of course, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia remained in Virginia,...

  10. The Attack and Capture of Fort Steadman
    date March 25, 1865map DINWIDDIE, Virginiatags War

    At 4:30am on March 25th, Lee's troops attacked Fort Steadman, part of the Union defense line, and caught them completely by surprise. The confederate troops captured Fort Steadman and the forces in Petersburg, VA. This capture was only temporary, it lost momentum and had little strength to maintain control allowing Union troops to counter attack later that same day forcing the confederate...

  11. Lee Surrenders to Grant
    date April 9, 1865map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags War

    On April 9th Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox courthouse thus ending the Civil War. Grant's tactics surrounded Confederate soldiers to such an extent making it impossible for them to either further fight or escape. Lee's army numbers less than 20,000 men, and he has little choice but to give up and surrender. The meeting at the home of Wilbur McLean in Appomattox...

  12. Porter Witnesses Lee's Surrender
    date April 9, 1865map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags War

    When General Robert E. Lee knew it was time to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, he said, "There is nothing left for me to do but go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths." Lee sent Grant a note agreeing to meet him and discuss the terms of surrender. Horace Porter, Brevet Brigadier General, was present during the surrender and recorded the events as he saw them.

    The...

  13. An interesting interview with General Lee after the Surrender at Appomattox
    date April 9, 1865map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags Appamattox Court House, Robert E. Lee, Politics, Civil War

     In a riveting interview with southern Journalist J.H. Hummel, General Robert Edward Lee reflects on the Civil War and his role in helping heal the wounds between North and South in an attempt to mend the shattered Union.  In Lee’s own words he spoke of the South’s role in re-entering the Union, “What course I shall pursue I have not decided upon, and each man must be the judge of his own...

  14. Lee Ordered the Disarming of his Army
    date April 10, 1865map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags War

    April 10th, the day after General Lee surrendered to Grant effectively terminating the Civil War, Lee issued a speech containing a political position, and a thanking and discharge of his army. In this speech Lee announced that the Confederate spirit had not been, nor ever could be conquered. He commended his men for their loyalty, and their “constancy and devotion to [their] country.'...

  15. Confederate Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
    date April 10, 1865map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags Economy, Government, Law

    On April 10, 1865, General Robert E. Lee wrote to the Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia. The general explained the Confederate Army's surrender was caused by the Union's overwhelming numbers and resources. General Lee continued to commend his soldiers for their bravery and devotion to the Confederate Army. He explains that any continuation of the conflict would have resulted in enormous...

  16. Govenor Zebulon Vance's Negotiations with General Sherman
    date April 11, 1865map WAKE, North Carolinatags Crime/Violence, Government, Politics, War

    Zebulon Vance, North Carolina's governor during the Civil War, was a very loyal Confederate. However, when General William Sherman approached the North Carolina border, Vance realized that he needed surrender to the Union. Governor Vance wrote General Sherman a letter on April 11, 1865 in which he surrendered the city of Raleigh to the Union forces. Governor Vance requested the safety for...

  17. The Surrender of Mobile
    date April 12, 1865map MOBILE, Alabamatags War

    On April 12th, the final major city of the Confederacy fell, Mobile Alabama. The Confederate defenses had been strong, but could not withhold the Union troops out. They evacuated the previous night of the 11th, taking with them what they could and burning the cotton so the Federalists could not use it for themselves. On the 12th, when the Federalists entered the city they found over 300 guns, large...

  18. Battle of Bentonville
    date March 19, 1865 to March 21, 1865map JOHNSTON, North Carolinatags War

    From March 19th to the 21st, Confederate and Union soldiers clashed at the Battle of Bentonville. On the first day General William T. Sherman did not expect an attack when sending troops into Bentonville under the command of Gen. Slocum, but they found themselves surrounded by Confederate soldiers, led by Johnston, who moved in. They fought until after dark. On day two Sherman and the rest of his...

  19. Lincoln is Assassinated
    date April 14, 1865map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Health/Death

    President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th while visiting Ford's theater in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, one of the actors in the play Lincoln attended. During the 3rd act of the play that Lincoln attended, there was a pause in the show, and Booth entered Lincoln's private box and created a scene. He waved a large knife around and shouted, “Sie semper tyrannis'...

  20. Battle of Monroe's Cross Roads
    date March 19, 1865map CUMBERLAND, North Carolinatags Crime/Violence, War

    In 1865, Union Major General William Tecumseh Sherman advanced North from Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of regrouping with Northern forces in Virginia. As Sherman's army advanced into North Carolina, Major General Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry division screened the left flank. On the evening of March 9th, Kilpatrick's brigade decided to set up camp in Cumberland County,...

  21. The Graphic Scene after President Abraham Lincoln was shot
    date April 14, 1865map Washington City, District of Columbiatags john wilkes booth, Abraham Lincoln, assassination

    During the third act of Our American Cousin, and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, the sharp, ominous sound of a pistol resonated throughout the theatre. The graphic scene after the President had been shot was seen by nearby witnesses. The shot attracted attention but no suspicion arose until a man jumped to the front balcony and “rushed to the front of...

  22. The Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward
    date April 15, 1865map CAYUGA, New Yorktags Crime/Violence, Government, Politics, War

    On an early April day in 1865, Secretary of State William Seward decided to take a ride with his family throughout the countryside around his home. During the ride, one of the horses became a bit too excited, and Secretary Seward was thrown from the carriage. In the accident, Seward suffered a number of severe injuries, including a broken jaw, which required an extensive metal splint. His injuries...

  23. A Union Soldier and a Southern Belle Meet on a Trolley Car
    date April, 1865map EAST BATON ROUG, Louisianatags Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism, War, Women

    Looking around the city of Baton Rouge, one could easily see the distress the people of the city were facing. The streets were adorned with black; it appeared to be a city in mourning. Sarah Dawson was riding on a trolley car with her daughter when a man from her past sat down beside her. When she was a young girl she greatly fancied him. But then he joined the Yankees and they had not spoken since....

  24. Jefferson Davis Hides with the Barringers
    date April, 1865map CABARRUS, North Carolinatags Government, Migration/Transportation, War

    Federal General Stoneman had been recalled to pursue and capture Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. After fleeing from Richmond, Danville, and Greensboro, Davis then arrived in Concord, North Carolina. Davis recieved a report that enemy cavalry was believed to operating in the vicinity. This made staying out in the open dangerous for both Davis and his cabinet. Davis made contact with Mr. Barringer...

  25. Yankees Rampage through Barnwell
    date March, 1865map BARNWELL, South Carolinatags African-Americans, Agriculture, Crime/Violence, Health/Death, Economy, Race-Relations, Women

    In the winter and spring of 1865, Union forces smashed through South Carolina. The exploits of these Northern armies quickly became propaganda for Southern newspapers. The Milledgeville, Georgia Southern Recorder, hearing of the Union capture of Barnwell, South Carolina, reprinted a sensational letter from its correspondent, The Constitutionalist. The article, full of rhetoric and exaggeration,...