Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
165 YEARS AGO: Abraham Lincoln addresses the delicate issue of John C. Fremont’s proclamation imposing martial law in Missouri and freeing slaves belonging to disloyal masters.
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Jefferson Davis nominates five officers to become full generals in the Confederate Army. This ultimately causes controversy over seniority, leading to lasting discord with Davis.
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: John C. Fremont, commanding the Federal Military Department of the West, issues controversial orders imposing martial law throughout Missouri and authorizing Federal troops to confiscate the property of disloyal Missourians, including slaves.
165 YEARS AGO: The first Federal joint army-navy expedition of the war sets out to close one of North Carolina’s busiest ports.
165 YEARS AGO: At the Second Wheeling Convention, representatives of Virginia’s northwestern counties approve seceding from the state and forming the new state of Kanawha, despite constitutional violations regarding state formation.
165 YEARS AGO: Tensions escalate as Union camps challenge the supposed neutrality of Kentucky. This leads to growing conflict between Unionists and secessionists.