One more big battle On April 9, 1865, as Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was receiving the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse, Illinoisans over seven hundred miles away were taking part in a last big battle of the war at Mobile, Alabama. A rugged campaign was soon lost sight of in the glow of Appomattox and the gloom of assassination. Objective—Mobile A campaign leading to the capture of Mobile,…
Farewell to President Lincoln Most Illinoisans learned of the shooting and death of President Lincoln within hours of his last breath. In many towns public meetings held on April 15 adopted formal statements of outrage and sorrow. Some ministers worked to replace the sermons they planned to deliver on Easter Sunday (April 16) with talks that pondered the tragedy, its origin, and its meaning for the future. Many other clergymen and local leaders delivered memorial…