Today in Georgia, Sherman‘s army burns the Washington County courthouse as they march eastward to the coast. As is the case each day of the march, white citizens alternately remain out of sight or express great anger as the invaders plunder and destroy. Many black slaves, on the other hand, flee from their masters and…
Today the Confederates’ attempt to invade Washington (known as the Battle of Fort Stevens) comes to an abrupt end as Confederate General Jubal Early and his Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia meet unexpectedly stiff resistance by Union forces. The Rebels retreat in the evening, re-crossing the Potomac on the morrow. Washington is…
The First Baptist Church West Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, an African American congregation, traces its beginnings to March 16, 1863. That was the day that some 800 black members of the Charlottesville Baptist Church petitioned the church’s white leaders to allow them to form their own congregation. Today their request is finally granted, and the…