With the war over, former slaveowners who at one time were the elites of the South face a future devoid of privilege, power and riches. The thought of starting over without slave labor is daunting. And in the minds of many, living in a United States where blacks are free and equal to whites is…
The second Sunday after Lincoln‘s death, many pulpits North and South, with the encouragement of U.S. President Andrew Johnson, focus on the president’s legacy. In the nation’s capital, the overflowing crowd at the First Baptist Church, through a sermon preached by pastor Dr. A. D. Gillette, remembers the president and absorbs lessons brought about by…
The day after Lee surrenders to Grant, celebrations erupt in Washington, D.C. The war is over! Neither rain nor mud dampens the occasion as thousands mill about in the city’s streets. Many gather on the grounds of the capitol, serenading President Lincoln. The commotion eventually leads Lincoln to make an appearance at a window. Looking…