"He Belongs to the Ages," the Dark Days of the Lincoln Assassination — True Civil War
159 years ago, one of the most important — and darkest — moments in American History took place when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Although Lincoln is criticized by some for his aggressive measures at the start of the Civil War, there is no denying the role he played in ending chattel slavery in the United States.
Read full storyUnion Trickery Fools the Confederates and Wins the Battle of Prairie D'Ane — True Civil War
The Battle of Prairie D'Ane was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America from April 9-13, 1864, during the Civil War. The battle was part of the Camden Expedition and the Red River Campaign and occurred in Nevada County, Arkansas.
Read full storyA "Stinging" Confederate Defeat at Elkins' Ferry in Arkansas — True Civil War
The Battle of Elkin's Ferry was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America on April 3–4, 1864, during the Civil War. The battle was part of the Camden Expedition and the Red River Campaign. Elkin's Ferry was the first battle of the Camden Expedition and ended in a Union victory. On the first day of the battle, near Okolona, Arkansas, a swarm of bees attacked Confederate forces, driving them away from the area.
Read full storySic Semper Tyranus! What John Wilkes Booth Said After He Shot Abraham Lincoln — True Civil War
The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln took place on the night of April 14, 1865, when Lincoln was shot by Maryland native, actor John Wilkes Booth, at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. The incident was part of a larger plot, which also targeted Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Read full storyUnion Victory at Fort DeRussy in Lousiana — True Civil War
The Battle of Fort DeRussy (Louisiana) was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America on March 14, 1864. The outcome of the battle was a Union victory. The battle is most famous for being the first engagement of the Red River Campaign in 1864.
Read full storyJohn Wilkes Booth's First Plot to Save the Confederacy — True Civil War
Maryland native John Wilkes Booth is famously known for carrying out the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 14–15, 1865. However, Booth’s initial plan was not to kill President Lincoln. What Booth wanted to do was kidnap the President, hold him for ransom, and force the Union to resume the Prisoner Exchange System, which would return imprisoned Confederate troops to the South, where they could rejoin the fight.
Read full storyThe 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, the Camden Expedition, and Atrocities in Arkansas — True Civil War
The Camden Expedition (March 23–May 2, 1864) was a failed Union maneuver into southwestern Arkansas that cost Union forces 2,750 casualties but did nothing to end Confederate control of the area. It was part of the Red River Campaign (March 10–May 22, 1864).
Read full storyThe Red River Campaign, a Union Disaster in Louisiana — True Civil War
The Red River Campaign (March 10–May 22, 1864) was an ill-fated Union attempt to capture Shreveport, Louisiana, and drive all Confederate forces out of the state during the spring of 1864. Infantry and artillery units participated in the campaign, and Joseph Bailey, an engineer from Ohio, helped save the Union Navy from destruction.
Read full storyOhio, Home of the Forgettable Presidents
8 of the first 30 men to serve as President of the United States were from Ohio. In order, those men are:. Unfortunately, most of them are known for scandals, ineptitude, and dying while in office. Because of these shortcomings, many of them are considered "Forgettable Presidents."
Read full storyJames A. Garfield, the President with the Best Social Media Accounts
James A. Garfield was the third Ohioan to be elected President of the United States. He won the Presidential Election of 1880, after running his campaign from his home in Mentor, Ohio, known as the "Front Porch Campaign." Sadly, Garfield was assassinated in July 1881, however, his legacy is carried on by the fine people at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, who run what is probably the most interesting X (formerly Twitter) account devoted to a former President.
Read full storyWilliam T. Sherman is Born — Ohio History and Beyond
On February 8, 1820, William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio. Sherman was a prominent Union general during the Civil War who is best remembered for his "scorched earth" tactics during the Atlanta, Savannah, and Carolina campaigns, which left a swath of destruction across the South.
Read full storyUlysses S. Grant Starts the Vicksburg Campaign — Ohio History and Beyond
On February 2, 1862, Union General Ulysses S. Grant — an Ohio native — started his Vicksburg Campaign. He left Cairo, Illinois with 15,000 soldiers, plus a flotilla of seven gunboats, commanded by United States Navy Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote.
Read full storyGeorge Armstrong Custer — from Ohio to Little Bighorn
George Armstrong Custer was a flamboyant and widely renowned American army officer during and after the American Civil War. Born in Ohio, Custer is most famous for his defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Read full storyJanuary 19 — Robert E. Lee, Golden Hill, Edgar Allen Poe, and more; Today in American History!
The Battle of Golden Hill, also known as the “Golden Hill Riot,” took place in New York City in January 1770. Citizens and workers of New York and members of the Sons of Liberty, led by Isaac Sears, John Lamb, and Alexander McDougall, fought with British Redcoats in the streets of the city — almost two months before the Boston Massacre. The incident is most famous for being the “first bloodshed of the American Revolution” in New York.
Read full storyCharles Osborn, the Father of American Abolition — Defeating Slavery and Racism in Ohio
Charles Osborn was a Quaker, outspoken critic of slavery and supporter of the immediate emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Osborn helped grow the Abolition Movement in Ohio and is regarded as the Father of Abolition. Osborn was one of the earliest advocates of Immediate Abolition in the United States.
Read full story220 Years Ago, Ohio Enacted the First Black Laws — Uncovering Buckeye History
Ohio entered the Union in 1803 as the 17th State. Although the Ohio Constitution prohibited slavery, the Ohio legislature enacted “Black Laws” on January 5, 1804 — 220 years ago — that restricted the freedoms and civil rights of African Americans and other minorities.
Read full storyQuincy Gillmore, the Ohio General Who Helped Restore the American Flag at Fort Sumter
Quincy Gillmore was a soldier and engineer who rose to prominence during the Civil War, serving in the Union Army. Gillmore won military acclaim for his use of rifled artillery during the reduction of Fort Pulaski in 1862. He also helped defend Washington, D.C. from a Confederate attack in 1864 and helped raise the American Flag over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865.
Read full storyWilliam B. Hazen, the Ohio General Who was the "Best-Hated Man" of the Civil War
William Babcock Hazen made a career of serving in the United States Army, fighting in the Indian Wars and the Civil War. Ambrose Bierce, the famous journalist and writer, served under Hazen during the Civil War. Bierce proclaimed Hazen as "The best-hated man I ever knew," for his blunt honesty and abrasive personality.
Read full storyThomas Ewing, the Ohio Lawyer Who Defended the Lincoln Conspirators
Thomas Ewing, Jr. was a lawyer, soldier, and politician from the prestigious Ewing family of Lancaster, Ohio. Ewing rose to the rank of General in the Union Army and fought in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. His brothers, Hugh and Charles, also rose to the rank of General in the Union Army.
Read full storyAfter 200 Years, has the Mystery of Who Wrote a “Visit from St. Nicholas” Been Solved?
Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863) was an American writer, professor, and real estate developer who is most famous for being known as the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which is also popularly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The poem was published for the first time on December 23, 1823.
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