Discontinue house burning
Throughout the Civil War private property of both sides was destroyed by soldiers. Usually this was accomplished by burning private homes. Many commanders on both...
Forming a commission to investigate
On May 1, 1865, President Andrew Johnson ordered the Lincoln assassination conspirators tried by military commission. The commission met eight days later.
Free land in the land of the free
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. On January 1, 1863, Daniel Freeman made the first claim under the Act, which gave citizens or...
“I nominate William H. Seward…”
President Abraham Lincoln nominated New York Senator William H. Seward for Secretary of State on March 5, 1861. During his eight-year tenure as Secretary of State,...
Lieutenant General Grant
With this message, President Abraham Lincoln forwarded Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s name to the U.S. Senate for consideration for promotion to the rank of...
Lincoln calls up troops
President Lincoln needed troops to squash what he viewed as a rebellion. So on April 15, 1861, he signed this proclamation asking for 75,000 volunteers from the...
Lincoln says, keep fighting!
On February 1, 1865, President Lincoln sent this telegram to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at City Point, Virginia. It encouraged Grant to continue fighting vigorously....