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1857 Historical Happenings

March 4 Washington, D.C.The inaugural address of James Buchanan, sworn in today as the 15th

President of the United States, continued the theme of his Save theUnion campaign platform, stressing tolerance of slavery for the purposeof keeping the states united

March 9 Washington D.C.The Supreme Court has decided the Dred Scott case, ruling that a Negrodescended from slaves is not a citizen and that the Missouri Compromiseis unconstitutional.

May 26 Dred Scott freed by his new owner.

New York City First passenger elevator, invented by Elisha Otis, installed in HaughwoutDepartment Store

Chicago Baseball ruling sets length of game at nine inning. In 1839, AbnerDoubleday laid out a diamond-shaped field with four bases 60 feet apart inCooperstown, New York and named the game baseball.

Michigan Thomas Edison founds chemistry lab at home, marking all bottlespoison, to amusement of friends.

June 16 Arizona - Edward Beale blazes wagon trail from Fort Defiance toColorado, using camels as pack animals.

United States American cities reportedly have highest death rates in world, due, in largepart, to tuberculosis.

New York City Lithographers Nathaniel Currier and James Merritt Ives establish theirown imprint. The company published more than 4,000 color pictureshowing the manners, customs and sports of the times; the California goldrush; railroads and clipper ships; fires; and other historic events.

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1858 Historical Happenings

New York City Mason JarsA jar that makes it possible for any housewife to preserve food forextended periods has been patented by John L. Mason. The Mason jarutilizes a rubber seal and a screw top to prevent deterioration of food onceit is cooked. This invention is one of several this year that promise tomake life easier for workers, farmers and homeowners. Others include thesteel-nibbed pen, a lawn-mowing machine and a harvester that ties graininto bundles.

April 6Washington, D.C.President Buchanan, in demanding that the Mormons obey federal law,accuses them of levying war against the United States

May 11 Minnesota becomes Unions 32nd state.

June 13 Memphis, TennesseeSteamship Pennsylvania explodes on Mississippi River killing 160 people.

June 16 Springfield, IllinoisRepublican Abraham Lincoln, upon receiving Senate nomination,proclaims, A house divided against itself cannot stand.

July 20 New York CityAdmission charged to baseball game for first time: New York All-starsdefeat Brooklyn.

October 7 Stagecoach owned by the Overland Mail Company went from St. Louis,Missouri to Los Angles, California in 20 days, the longest stage route inthe world. It ran day and night, non-stop, over 2,600 miles of deserts,plains and hostile Comanche Indian territory.

October 16 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow publishes The Courtship of MilesStandish, narrative poem about romance among Pilgrims

New York City Ladies Christian Association founded (YWCA)

Haddonfield, New JerseyFirst dinosaur skeleton excavated in United States

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1859Historical Happenings

Cambridge, MassachusettsMassachusetts Institute of Technology is founded.

Mount Vernon, VirginiaGeorge Washingtons home dedicated as national monument.

Salem, MassachusettsMoses Gerrish Farmer demonstrates his electric incandescent lighting withtwo lamps powered by wet-cell battery with platinum filaments.

Mississippi Legislature resolves to secede from union immediately if a Republican iselected president.

January 5 Springfield, Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas wins second term in Senate,defeating

Abraham Lincoln.

February 14 Oregon 33rd State admitted into the Union

April 9Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) becomes licensed riverboat pilot on Mississippi River.

July 2 Utah TerritoryMail service established to Salt Lake City by stagecoach.

Aug. 20 Titusville, PennsylvaniaOil began flowing today from a well drilled by Edwin L. Drake on property owned by the

Pennsylvania Rock Oil Co. It is the first such well to be drilled anywherein the world.

Oct. 16John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia

Oct. 30MassachusettsHenry David Thoreau speaks adamantly on behalf of John Brown.

Dec. 2 John Brown hangs for Harpers Ferry.

December ColoradoPikes Peak or bust is gold rush slogan.The Pikes Peak or bust phenomenon is reaching epidemic proportions. Since gold was

discovered in Boulder Canyon on January 15, the rush that ensued hasbrought an estimated 100,000 would-be miners from all parts of theUnited States to the slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

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1860Historical Happenings

April 13 Sacramento, California

Pony Express makes 11-day run to WestA young Tom Hamilton received a rousing welcome as he gallopedfuriously into town bearing a satchel with 49 letters and three newspapersafter leaving St. Joseph, Missouri, just 11 days ago. The 11-day pace is anastounding improvement over the eight week wagon convoys.

May Indian disturbances interrupt Pony Express services for a month.

May 16 Chicago

Abraham Lincoln was declared Republican presidential nominee today.

June 20 President Buchanan vetoes Homestead Bill which calls for federal landgrants to Western settlers.

November 6 Washington, D.C.Abraham Lincoln Elected President of the United States

November FloridaState legislature appropriates $100,000 for troops after Lincolns election.

December 20 Senate names Committee of Thirteen to seek ways of preserving union:members include Stephen A. Douglas and Jefferson Davis.

December 20 South Carolina secedes from union.

New Haven Winchesters rifle is now in production

Washington D.C. Nations population reaches 31 million.

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1861Historical Happenings

January 11 See George Wadsworths Diary, Jan 11, 1861

South Carolina had seceded from the Union on Dec. 20, 1860. On December 26,1860 Major Robert Anderson moved the Union troops into Fort Sumter. SouthCarolina protested to Washington but instead of withdrawing the Union troops,President Buchanan sent an unarmed merchant steamer, the Star of the West, withmen and supplies to reinforce the Fort. On January 9, Charleston gunners firedupon her and she turned back.

Jan. 29 Kansas becomes 34th state admitted to the Union.

March 4 Abraham Lincoln of Illinois inaugurated President of the United States..

April 12 Confederate troops attack Fort Sumpter, South Carolina

April 13 Bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumpter.

April 15 Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers.

April 17 Virginia secedes from the Union.

April 19 Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers fired on by a mob while passing throughBaltimore. Three men of the Sixth were killed and eight wounded.

1899 Franklin & Wrentham Directory

April 20 Seizure of Norfolk Navy Yard by Confederates.General Butler declares fugitive slaves contraband of war.

May 6 Arkansas secedes from the Union.

May 20 North Carolina secedes from the Union.

May 21 Richmond, Virginia, was chosen as the Confederated capital.

June 8 Tennessee secedes from the Union

July 21Northern troops retreated in disorder after first Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) Virginia

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1862Historical Happenings

Feb. 6 Grants Northern troops captured Ft. Henry, Tennessee.

March 9 The ironclad ships Monitorand Merrimackbattled to a draw.

April 6-7 Both sides suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Shiloh, won by the Union.

April 16 The Confederacy began to draft soldiers.

April 18-29 A Union fleet under Farragut captured New Orleans.

May 4 McClellans Union troops occupied Yorktown, Virginia, and advanced on to Richmond.

May 30 Corinth, Mississippi fell to Northern forces.

June 3 Lee takes actual command of the Confederate armies around Richmond.

June 6 Memphis fell to Union armies.

Aug. 29-30 Lee and Jackson led Southern troops to victory in the second Battle of Bull Run.

September 17 Confederate forces retreated in defeat after the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)Maryland.On this day 12,410 Union soldiers and 11,172 Confederate soldiers lost their lives in thebloodiest single day of the Civil War.

December 13 Burnsides Union forces received a crushing blow in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

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1863Historical Happenings

January 1 Washington, D.C., Emancipation Proclamation is signed by Abraham Lincoln.

February 23 Act establishing National Banks.

March 3 Washington, D. C. March 3, 1863

North orders first draft.With todays signing of the Conscription Act, President Lincoln can, by executive order,compel American citizens to report for duty in the Civil War unless they can buy theirway out instead.The law empowers the War Department to draft males of 20 to 46, for the Union army.However, for a fee of $300, ones military obligation can be waived.

May 10 Guiney Station, Virginia, Stonewall Jackson dies of wounds received at the battleof Chancellorsville.

July 1 3 The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, ended in a southern defeat and markedthe turning point in the Civil War. The South, under General Robert E. Lee,suffered more than 20,000 casualties and the North, lead by General George G.Meade, had about 18,000 casualties.

July 13-16 Draft riots in New York City.

July 17 George Wadsworth sees his name on the draft list

August 13 George Wadsworth goes with 14 of us conscripts to Worcester to be examined fordraft.

August 24 George Wadsworth Went to Mr. E. Adamses and got my draft papers.

Sept. 19-20 Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Northern casualties, 11,500 and 17,000Southern casualties.

Nov 19 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.Abraham Lincoln delivers Gettysberg address.

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