Episodes Nearest to April 1, 1865 to April 30, 1865: 1 through 25 of 25

  1. 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....

  2. 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...

  3. 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...

  4. 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'...

  5. Loss for the North and Happiness for the South
    date April 18, 1865map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Death, assassination, mourning, Lincoln Assassination

    He was the man that attempted to end slavery; he was the President who lived through the Civil War; and even though Andrew Jackson was the first President to have an assassination attempt on him, it was John Wilkes Booth who first succeeded in assassinating a President - Abraham Lincoln. The reactions varied in the North, also known as the Union and in the South, also referred to as the Confederacy....

  6. 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...

  7. A Day of Mourning For All
    date April 19, 1865map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Lincoln Assassination, Funeral, War, Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln's funeral took place on April 19, 1865. The mirrors in the Green Room had been covered and everything was black, causing a dimness. Over seven hundred people came to pay their respects to the late President. A person described the scene in the Green Room: “The remains of the President lay in the Green Room, in a metallic coffin. On each side of the coffin were four silver handles,...

  8. 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...

  9. 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...

  10. 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.'...

  11. 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...

  12. 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...

  13. 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...

  14. 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...

  15. 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,...

  16. Booth Captured
    date April 26, 1865map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Crime/Violence, Health/Death, War

    After eleven days on the run, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln was caught in Virginia with his accomplice Davy Herold on April 26th. The two fugitives were found in Richard H. Garrett's barn, who refused to confess that they were hiding there. Surrounding the barn, officers ordered the two men out and set the barn on fire as a last resort. Davy Herold came out and...

  17. War, Resources, and Currency
    date April 27, 1865map ROCKBRIDGE, Virginiatags Crime/Violence, Economy, Law, War

    Not long after General Lee's surrender to General Grant the Lexington Gazette reminded its readers of all it had done and provided for them during the war. To use the words of her editors, the Gazette continued printing " at a cost and trouble of which many of our readers have not the least conception; for if they had, there would not be so many who would still withhold what they owe us...

  18. The Slavery Question in Kentucky
    date April 27, 1865map JEFFERSON, Kentuckytags Politics, Race-Relations, Slavery

    "Slavery is regarded by the masses as the fruitful source of all our woes, and as inimical to our future peace and unity." In a letter to Kentucky Governor Thomas Bramlette, Brigadier General Brisbin urged Bramlette to devise a remedy for the growing evil of the disturbed labor force throughout Kentucky. Bramlette agreed that the "evil necessity" had become an "incumbus upon our energies, a burden...

  19. Kate Stone Praises Booth for His Daring Attempt
    date April 28, 1865map TAYLOR, Texastags African-Americans, Politics, Slavery, War, Women

    On April 28, 1865 Kate Stone recorded her thoughts about the news of Abraham Lincoln's death. She wrote, "All honor to J. Wilkes Booth, who has rid the world of a tyrant and made himself famous for generations." She also mentions John H. Surratt in her praises for "daring" an attack on the Secretary of State William H. Seward, a well know abolitionist. Later she discovered it was Louis Powell,...

  20. 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,...

  21. 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,...

  22. 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....

  23. 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...

  24. Desertion from the 5th S.C. Cavalry Unit
    date April 30, 1865map RICHLAND, South Carolinatags Crime/Violence, War

    On April 30, 1865, a notice appeared in the Daily South Carolinian offering a reward to any citizen or soldier of South Carolina who could provide information or detain any of the eight deserters from the 5th South Carolina Cavalry division. The men fled from camp on the night of April 3, but the notice did not provide any location. The group of deserters included three men from Company...

  25. Chicago Prepares for Lincoln's Remains
    date April 30, 1865map COOK, Illinoistags Church/Religious-Activity, Crime/Violence, Government, Health/Death, Politics, Urban-Life/Boosterism, War

    April 30, 1865, was a busy yet solemn day for the residents and city officials of Chicago. Buildings were draped in black, streets were closed off, and many rules and regulations were laid out for the following day, when the city was to receive the remains of President Abraham Lincoln. The city government delegated tasks to different prominent organizations throughout the city, with...