May 13—During the week ending with this day there was subscribed to the U. S. seven-thirty loan $98,000,000. It was an expression of the enthusiastic confidence of the people in the government and its resources. ” 22-23—Grand review of Gen. Sherman’s army at Washington. There were 200,000 men.
” 26—Kirby Smith, the last leader of a Southern military organization, surrendered his command.
” 30—The great Sanitary Fair opened at Chicago.
” 31—Gen. Hood and his staff surrendered prisoners of war.
June 1—A day of fasting and national humiliation for the death of President Lincoln.
” 4—Toombs, of Georgia, prominent in the early days of secession, shot[681] himself to avoid arrest. Yet no one was capitally punished for treason.
” 5—The four confederates of Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln, were found guilty. They were hanged on the 6th and 7th. These were Harold, Atzerott, Powell and Mrs. Surratt.
” 11—Gen. R. E. Lee appointed president of the Washington College, Va. It was done by Southern people as a mark of respect, and to furnish him a support; he having lost his property in the war.
Sept. 20—The marking of the graves of 12,000 of the unfortunate Andersonville prisoners completed.
” 29—Cession of 1,000,000 acres of land to the government by the Osage Indians, for $300,000.
Oct. 20—Champ Ferguson, noted for his crimes in guerilla warfare, hung at Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 10—Henry Wirz, the inhuman keeper of Andersonville prison, hung, after trial and condemnation.
Dec. 18—Secretary Seward officially announces that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the United States, has been adopted by three-fourths of the States, and it is now the law of the land.
1866.
 
Jan. 1—Third anniversary of Emancipation celebrated by the colored people.
” 2—Funeral of Hon. Henry Winter Davis, U. S. Senator, at Baltimore.
” 12—The Kentucky University purchases the homestead of Henry Clay.
” 23—The 13th Constitutional Amendment reconsidered by the Legislature of New Jersey and passed. It had been rejected in the previous year.
” 25—Kentucky refused to pass the 13th Amendment.
” 31—Commissary and quartermaster warehouses burned, at Ft. Riley, Kansas. $1,000,000 lost.
Feb. 2—The Civil Rights bill passed the Senate.
” 11—The U. S. Sanitary Commission closed with an anniversary meeting at Washington.
” 12—Memorial services in honor of President Lincoln held in the capitol, at Washington; address delivered by the Hon. Geo. Bancroft, statesman and historian.
” 19—President Johnson vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau bill.
” 22—The 134th anniversary of Washington’s birthday celebrated.
” 26—Meeting held at Richmond to ratify President Johnson’s policy.
Mar. 10—North Carolina passes a Negro Rights bill.
” 12—North Carolina passes a Negro Testimony bill.
Texas Convention declares their Secession ordinance null and void.
” 13—The Civil Rights bill passed the House of Representatives.
” 19—The Reciprocity Treaty with Canada expires.
[682]
” 27—The Civil Rights bill vetoed by President Johnson.
April 2—Gen. Hawley elected republican governor of Connecticut.
” 4—Gen. Burnside elected governor of Rhode Island.
” 6-7—Civil Rights bill passed Congress over the veto.
” 30—Two churches of colored people burned by incendiaries in Richmond, Va.
May 15—The President vetoes the bill admitting Colorado as a State.
” 29—Gen. Scott died at West Point, N. Y.
June 3—Gen. Meade goes to Buffalo to prevent the Fenians (Irish Patriots) from invading Canada.
” 6—President Johnson issues a proclamation forbidding belligerent operations against Canada from the United States.
” 8-13—The 14th Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress.
July 4—Great fire at Portland, Me. Loss, $15,000,000. The U. S. government a heavy loser by this fire.
” 23—Tennessee readmitted as a State in the union, by joint resolution of Congress. This was the first State readmitted after the war.
” 25—Lieut. Gen. Grant nominated General—the highest grade known in our military organization—never before occupied. Vice Admiral Farragut nominated Admiral.
” 27—Hon. J. H. Harlan, Sec. of the Interior, resigns. O. H. Browning appointed.
” 28—The Great Eastern reaches Hearts Content, Newfoundland, with the Atlantic Telegraphic Cable, which proved successful. It had failed in the previous year. Great rejoicings. It was one of the most important events of this century.
” 30—Great riot at New Orleans, in which many were killed. It was thought the result of President Johnson’s policy of reconstruction, which was not in harmony with the system adopted by Congress.
Aug. 1—Gen. Sherman commissioned as Lieut. General.
” 8—Queen Emma, wife of the late King of the Sandwich Islands, arrives at New York, and is received as a National Guest.
” 12—Telegraphic communication between New York and Europe complete, by the Atlantic Cable.
” 31—American and English naval forces unite to break up piracy by Chinese junks in the East Indies.
Sept. 6—The monument to S. A. Douglas, at Chicago, inaugurated. President Johnson made many speeches on his journey to attend this celebration, which were indiscreet, and disrespectful to Congress. It was called his “Swinging around the Circle,” in derision; a figure employed in one of his speeches.
Oct. 9—Gen. Geary elected governor of Pennsylvania.
” 23—Dedication of The Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, at Winchester, Va.
Nov. 6—State elections in 12 States are held to-day.
[683]
” 20—The Grand Army of the Republic, formed of the present and previous officers of the U. S. Army serving in the late war, hold a convention at Indianapolis, Ind.
” 22—Raphael Semmes, former Commander of the Confederate war steamer Alabama, appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Louisiana State Seminary.
Dec. 7—The Louisiana Legislature rejects the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
” 13—Territorial Legislature of Colorado organized.
” 16—The U. S. frigate New Ironsides burned at League Island.
” 22—Massacre of nearly a hundred soldiers near Ft. Kearney.
” 24—U. S. Minister John A. Dix enters on his duties in France.
1867.
 
Jan. 7—A suffrage bill for the Dist. of Columbia vetoed by President Johnson, but passed over the veto by Congress. Congress was laboring to harmonize the laws of the country with the changes produced by the war. President Johnson did his utmost to prevent the success of this policy. Congress, however, succeeded in carrying its point. This is an important and interesting history, since it shows how the Representatives of the People may check and neutralize the power of a President when his designs conflict with the interests of the country and the purposes of the people.
” 8-10—14th Amendment ratified by two States (Missouri and New York) and rejected by another (Virginia).
” 28—Nebraska bill vetoed, but passed over the veto.
Most of the Northern States ratified the 14th Amendment in this month.
Feb. 20—Military government bill passed Congress.
Mar. 1—Nebraska proclaimed a State by the President.
” 2—The President vetoes the Military Government and Civil Tenure of Office Bills. They are passed over his veto.
” 4—The 39th Congress ends, and the 40th is organized.
” 11—Military governors assigned to various districts in the South.
” 30—The President announces the ratification of the treaty with Russia, by which the United States bought all her North American Possessions for $7,200,000.
Apr. 3—Gen. Burnside re-elected governor of Rhode Island.
May 13—Jeff. Davis admitted to bail in $100,000; Horace Greeley and others furnish the bonds.
June 19—The Arch Duke Maximilian, Titular Emperor of Mexico, shot by order of the Mexican Republican government. The remonstrances of the U. S. government obliged the French to withdraw their support from Maximilian.
July 13—The steamer Dunderberg, bought by France, sailed for Cherbourg.
Aug. 1—Gov. Brownlow re-elected governor of Tennessee.
[684]
” 5—The President requires Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, to resign. He refuses, when the President suspends him and appoints Gen. Grant.
” 23—Grand ovation to Admiral Farragut, by Russian officers at Cronstadt.
Sept. 17—The National Cemetery at Antietam dedicated.
Dec. 4—The Patrons of Husbandry, or Farmers’ Grange, organized, in Washington.
” 7—A resolution in the House of Representatives to impeach President Johnson fails by three votes.
1868.
 
Jan. 1—Fifth Emancipation Anniversary celebrated by the colored people in various places.
” 6—Censure of the President by Congress for removing Gen. Sheridan from command of the 5th Military District.
Feb. 7—The resignation of U. S. Minister to England, Hon. C. F. Adams, announced.
” 19—Senate refuse his seat to P. F. Thomas, of Maryland, on account of disloyalty.
” 20—The Legislature of New Jersey withdraws its ratification of the 14th Amendment. Ohio and Oregon did the same. This action, considered as absurd as Secession, was not recognized.
” 21—President Johnson expels Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, and appoints Gen. Thomas. This is done in defiance of the Senate, by whose “advice and consent” the Constitution requires it to be supported.
” 24—The House of Representatives adopt articles of impeachment of the President presented by Thaddeus Stephens, of Pa., by a vote of 126 to 57. This was 12 more than the requisite two-thirds.
Mar. 5—The Senate is organized as a Court of Impeachment, Chief Justice Chase presiding.
May 16—The impeachment trial terminated by a vote in the Senate of 35 for, to 19 against. As a two-thirds vote was necessary the impeachment failed by three votes. A few Republican Senators incurred great odium by voting for the President’s acquittal.
” 20—Gen. Grant nominated for President by the Republican Convention at Chicago.
” 22—A Chinese embassy, headed by Hon. Anson Burlingame, who had been U. S. Minister to China and acquired the confidence of the government of China to such an extent as to be chosen by them as the leader of their embassy to this country and the governments of Europe, arrived at New York.
” 29—Gen. Schofield appointed Sec. of War.
June 5—Mr. Burlingame and the Chinese embassy presented to the President.
” 6—A Bill for the re-admission of Arkansas passes Congress.
[685]
” 9—Bills for the re-admission of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida are passed.
” 12—Hon. Reverdy Johnson appointed Minister to England.
” 20—Bill for re-admission of Ark. vetoed by the President, but passed over his veto by a two-thirds vote.
” 24—The Bill for the admission of the other States being vetoed by the President was likewise passed over his veto.
July 4—Horatio Seymour of N. Y. and F. P. Blair of Mo. nominated for President and Vice-President by the Democrats.
A political amnesty proclamation issued by the President.
” 16—Admiral Farragut received with distinguished honor by the Queen of England.
” 20—A Bill to exclude the electoral votes of the Southern States not re-admitted vetoed by the President and passed by Congress over the veto.
” 21—The 14th Amendment declared ratified, and a part of the Constitution.
” 28—Military government ceases in Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
Aug. 6—Jefferson Davis lands in Liverpool, England.
” 13—U. S. steamers Wateree and Fredonia destroyed during an earthquake at Lima, Peru; 40,000 lives were lost in this dreadful catastrophe.
Sept. 7—Negro members of the Georgia Legislature expelled on account of race, contrary to the 14th Amendment.
” 18—Battle with the Indians on Republican River. Lt. Beecher and others killed.
” 19—Riot at Camilla, Geo., caused by hostility of Southern people to the political privileges of the blacks. Many negroes killed.
” 29—Gen. Reynolds, military governor of Texas, forbids the election in that State for President, Texas not having been re-admitted. This was in accordance with the law of Congress passed the 20th of July.
Oct. 17—The Legislature of Oregon withdraws its assent once given to the 14th Amendment.
Nov. 3—U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax elected President and Vice-President. Popular majority 309,722. Electoral votes for Grant and Colfax, 214; for Seymour and Blair, 80. Virginia, Mississippi and Texas did not vote, and Nevada was not counted in. The whole popular vote was 5,722,984. In Florida the electors were chosen by the Legislature.
” 27—The Indians defeated by Gen. Custer, on the Washita river. Black Kettle, the chief, and more than a hundred warriors killed.
Dec. 1—Ft. Lafayette, N. Y., destroyed by fire.
[686]
” 3—Political troubles in Arkansas, in which many murders are committed.
” 7—Third session of the 40th Congress begins.
” 15—A social gathering of the union soldiers at Chicago.
1869.
 
Jan. 7—John Minor Botts, a statesman of Va., imprisoned by the Confederate government during the war for his union sentiments, died.
Feb. 27—A joint resolution of Congress recommends to the States the adoption of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.
Mar. 4—Gen. Grant inaugurated eighteenth President.
” ”—First session of the 41st Congress commenced.
” 13—James Guthrie, a statesman of Ky., died.
” 25—Hon. E. Bates, of Mo., Att’y Gen’l under Lincoln, died.
May 15—The union Pacific Railroad was completed by joining the two ends at Ogden, Utah. Distance from Omaha to San Francisco 1904 miles. This completed the line of railroad joining the Atlantic and Pacific. The greatest triumph of engineering yet known was accomplished in the Nevada Mts., by carrying the road to a height of over 7000 feet in 105 miles.
July 30—Hon. I. Toucey, of Conn., who had filled many offices in the State and United States government, died.
Sept. 8—William B. Fessenden, of Me., a statesman of reputation, died.
” 10—John Bell, of Ky., candidate for the Presidency in 1860, died.
” 6—Gen. J. A. Rawlins, Sec. of War, died. He had been Gen. Grant’s Chief of Staff during the war.
Oct. 8—Franklin Pierce, of N. H., ex-President, died.
Nov. 7—Rear Admiral Stewart, of U. S. Navy, died.
Dec. 24—Edwin M. Stanton, of Pa., Sec. of War during most of the civil war, died.
This year closes a most important era in the history of the United States, and of the world. The account with the civil war was definitely closed, and the final seal set on the policy of reconstruction by the inauguration of Gen. Grant, and the continuance of the Republican party in power by the people, together with the readmission of most of the Southern States and the possibility of the reversal of the decision in regard to slavery done away by the adoption of the fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, giving the elective franchise to the colored population. Much emphasis was given to all these things by the prosperity of the country, and the rapid reduction of the debt, by the generally wise conduct of the Southern people, and the slowly increasing prosperity of that section. These results reacted in other countries to strengthen the tendency to freer and more popular governments, and seem, in some respects to have introduced the Era of Republicanism.[687] However slow may be the changes in this direction, they are sure to be made.
1870.
 
Jan. 1—Ten years ago the cloud of civil war settled densely over the country, and threatened its destruction. To-day that tornado has been passed by nearly six years, and its ruins are almost buried under the new and more thrifty growth of all interests and industries even in the South.
” 20—H. R. Revels, of Miss., is chosen the first colored Senator who ever represented a State in Congress.
” 23—The U. S. steamer Oneida sunk by collision with another vessel on the coast of Japan. 176 lives lost.
Feb. 22—Hon. Anson Burlingame, head of the Chinese embassy to the powers of Christendom, died at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Mar. 28—Gen. G. H. Thomas dies in San Francisco, Cal.
” 30—The Sec. of State proclaims the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution by three-fourths of the States.
June 15—Death of Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, at Baltimore, Md.
July 12—Death of Admiral Dahlgren, at Washington, D. C.
” 20—Death of M. Prevost Paradol, French Minister at Washington.
Aug. 14—Death of Admiral Farragut, at Portsmouth, N. H.
Sept. 7—Recognition of the French Republic by the U. S. government.
Oct. 12—Death of Gen. R. E. Lee, formerly of the Confederate army.
1871.
 
Great changes have been taking place in Europe. The Emperor, Napoleon III. taken prisoner by the Germans, his government was set aside by the people of France who founded a Republic.
Jan. 1—At this time the German army, under the lead of the King of Prussia (about this time made Emperor of Germany), is besieging Paris, the capital of France.
” 17—The San Domingo Commission sail from New York.
” 28—Paris capitulates to the Germans, which ends the Franco-Prussian war, terms of peace being soon arranged.
Feb. 12—Alice Carey, the authoress, died at New York.
” 16—An important Japanese mission to the U. S. and other governments arrives at San Francisco.
Mar. 1—The Germans make a triumphal entry into Paris.
” 20—British House of Commons votes $265,000 for the relief of Paris.
Apr. 20—A Bill against the Kuklux, a secret organization of Southern conspirators and murderers, passed in Congress.
May 1—The Legal Tender Act declared Constitutional by the U. S. Supreme Court.
” 31—The French government does not imitate our clemency to prisoners taken in rebellion. The soldiers of the Commune are slaughtered by thousands, by order of the Court Martial of the government army.
[688]
June 18—An earthquake on Long and Staten Islands, N. Y.
” 20—The first Atlantic Cable of 1865, which soon broke and became useless, is recovered and worked.
July 5—Earthquake at Visalia, Cal.
” 12—Irish Catholic riot in New York; 51 killed, 30 wounded.
” 30—Steamer Westfield explodes, killing near 100 people.
Sept. 17—The Mont Cenis Tunnel, opening a passage for a railroad 7?ths miles long through the Alps from France to Italy, inaugurated. It had been many years building.
Oct. 2—Brigham Young, the head of the Mormons in Utah, arrested for bigamy.
” 8—A fire nearly consumes Chicago, destroying-property worth $200,000,000 and many lives. Fires rage in the forests of Wisconsin and Michigan. Much property, some towns, and many persons are burned.
” 17—South Carolina placed under martial law.
$2,050,000 received in aid of the people of Chicago.
Nov. 15—Cholera appears on vessels at New York.
” 18—The Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, arrives at New York. He travels through the country for some months.
Dec. 9—Commissioners of the English and U. S. governments meet in Washington to settle the difficulties between the two governments arising from the spoliations of the Alabama.
” 16—Catacazy, the Russian Minister, called home at the request of our government.
” 29—Investigation of abuses in the New York city government commences. W. M. Tweed surrenders to the sheriff.
1872.
 
Jan. 2—Brigha............