In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, the forces of Union General Philip Sheridan chase the retreating forces of Confederate General Jubal Early, following the Federals’ victory over the Rebels at Winchester the day prior. As the chase takes place, Confederate president Jefferson Davis departs from Richmond en route to Georgia to visit Confederate General John Bell Hood…
The war and subsequent liberation of hundreds of thousands of slaves has resulted in dramatic changes in the capital city of the United States. Tens of thousands of freedmen are now living in and around Washington, D.C., many in freedmen’s villages or communities. In these villages they are receiving education and job training and are…
With Atlanta now safely in Union hands, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is able to rest a bit easier. The capture of the Southern city bolsters the president’s re-election prospects, and, assuming Lincoln’s re-election (which is not yet a given, despite Atlanta) almost assures a United States victory over the rebellious Southern states. Against this backdrop,…