Abraham Lincoln
Born in Kentucky, Lincoln came from a very poor family, educated himself, for the most part, and eventually became a successful lawyer, a renowned politician, and, of course, the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War, which is considered the country’s bloodiest war and its greatest moral and political crisis. Among his accomplishments are the preservation of the Union, abolishment of slavery, and strengthening the federal government and economy.
He became a prominent figure in the new Republican Party and gained national attention in 1858 after debating national Democratic leader Stephen A. Douglas in a Senate campaign. In 1860, he ran for President, sweeping the North and winning. Southern pro-slavery figures took his win as proof that the North was rejecting their “Constitutional right” to practice slavery, so they began the process of seceding from the union.
The Field Band of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
Because music played a big role on both sides of the conflict, drummers played an important role in the American Civil War. Besides instruments issuing marching orders, they were also used for recreation and to boost the morale of the troops.
Whenever the opposing armies faced each other, the field bands from both sides would often play against each other on the night before a battle.
Little Johnny Clem
Drummer boy, Johnny Clem, was the youngest Union Army soldier to kill a man. Legend has it that during battle, he put down his drum, picked up a rifle, and shot a Confederate officer. This picture was taken circa 1863-1865.
Despite being captured and held prisoner by Confederate soldiers, he survived the war and even stayed in the American Army afterward. When he left the service in 1915 after serving as a General and the last Civil War soldier still in the army.
The Civil War Avenger
Edward P. Doherty was an Irish-Canadian-American Civil War officer who formed and led the detachment of soldiers that tracked, captured, and killed John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, just two days after they received the order.
Doherty was living in New York when the war broke out enlisted in a 90-day militia unit and was assigned to be Private to Company A of the 71st New York Volunteers. He was later captured by the Confederates during the First Battle of Bull Run- the first major land battle of the Civil War. While a prisoner, he managed to escape.
Execution Day
The execution of Lincoln's assassination and conspirators took place on July 7, 1865. The four condemned conspirators, David Herold, Lewis Powell, Mary Surratt, and George Atzerodt, were given the death sentence. After the Lincoln assassination, several hundred people were arrested, but most were soon released due to lack of concrete evidence. The government eventually charged eight people with conspiracy. The defendants were allowed to have attorneys and witnesses, but they were not permitted to testify themselves.
The execution of Mary Surratt, the first woman ever to get the death sentence in the United States, had been a particular focus of criticism received after the hanging took place.