In the darkness of early morning and under the cover of a midwinter haze in the Southern port city of Charleston, South Carolina, the Confederate Navy makes a surprise attack upon the federal blockade that has shut down commercial activity in the city. Firing upon and ramming unprepared Union vessels, Confederate gunboats Chicora and Palmetto…
Less than a month after the enactment of his Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln yet struggles with the question of how to accommodate black freedmen in a white-centric nation. Seemingly contrary to actions already underway and designed to assimilate freedmen into American society, Lincoln maintains an interest in the work of the American Colonization…
In terms of the war, the winter months are spent rather quietly. Harsh weather allows but few troop movements. Generals spend their time training troops and planning strategies, while soldiers’ main concern is to stay warm and fed. Boredom is not uncommon in the camps, and many turn to recreation – cards and other games…