Today in military history: Siege of Knoxville begins
On Nov. 17, 1863, Confederate General James Longstreet laid siege to the city of Knoxville, Tennessee. In the fall of 1863, Union Major General Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville where a…
Today in military history: Lincoln relieves General McClellan of command
On Nov. 5, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln removed General George B. McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. General McClellan was given control of the Army of the…
Here’s what to know about the Battle of Antietam
Union and Confederate forces fought the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. It pitted the Union Forces against the Confederate Army. After the Second Battle of Bull Run, Confederate…
How the English city of Manchester allied itself with Abraham Lincoln
The special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States is a relatively recent relationship. During the Civil War, things were much less cordial and often downright hostile. Yet,…
Why the South was actually fearful of President Lincoln’s assassination
When John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, he was acting in support of the South, of slavery, and his fervent belief that Lincoln was out…
The contents of Abraham Lincoln’s pockets when he was shot
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. with a .44-caliber single-shot derringer pistol to the back of the head. While Booth fled on horseback, the president was rushed to a boarding…
Top 5 myths about US Presidents that aren’t true
U.S. presidents are always in the public limelight, and many things are said about them. We can’t help but wonder what our presidents’ lives must be like since they are…
What Ulysses S. Grant taught us about the most successful failure
Some people are born for greatness. And great failure. Their inspiring moment in time becomes sandwiched between abysmal mistakes. Ulysses S. Grant comes to mind. From poverty before the Civil War,…
Abraham Lincoln challenged US troops to this strength test
Of all the things our 16th President is remembered for these days, his uncanny strength is often overlooked. During his days on the American frontier, he was
Did you know ‘Honest Abe’ was actually a formidable fighter?
Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President, led the United States and prospered in conserving the Union during the American Civil War, strengthening the federal government, eliminating slavery and effectively revolutionizing the…