Tag: Fort Sumter

History Lessons

A night of horror and a night of flags

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Leaping from the scene of his crime, Booth catches his spur on a flag. (Library of Congress)

The story of the assassination on Abraham Lincoln, 150 years ago, is the story of American flags, blood-stained, ripped and draped with black ribbons. On April 14, 1865, joyous over the recent end of the Civil War, when Confederate flags had been folded in defeat at Appomattox, Lincoln had an idea. He invited his wife… continue

History Lessons

Lincoln and flags as his death approached

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One hundred and fifty years ago, in the closing weeks of his life, Abraham Lincoln was focused on the finale of the Civil War – and on flags. On March 17, 1865, for example, he issued an address to the 140th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which had captured a rebel flag during a battle in North… continue