When Virginia seceded, the Federal government in Washington D.C. found itself virtually surrounded by a hostile foreign country. Abraham Lincoln moved swiftly to occupy a comfort zone around his capital. Farther away from Washington, however, Union control was less certain. Confederate John Singleton Mosby was a feared raider of Union patrols and supply lines. Citizen … Read more
Abraham Lincoln cut his teeth in politics, married and started a family, began a successful law practice, and began to battle the institution of slavery in Illinois. From this strong political base, he ran for president in 1860 and won. He left the state in 1861 to travel to Washington and fame. He returned four … Read more
After casting their lot with the Confederacy in 1861, the people of Arkansas were introduced to war early as the fight for Missouri spilled over their northern border. The Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862 pretty much settled the Missouri military question in the Union’s favor and put the rest of Arkansas in play. … Read more