On September 17, Lee met General McClellan in the bloodiest single day of fighting in the war and in American history. Union ...

This Congressional Gold Medal was awarded on December 17, 1863 to General Grant after his victory at Vicksburg. The battle of Vicksburg was a turning point for the Union Army. The siege lasted six ...

For years the colonies had flourished in a state of “salutary neglect.” Britain had been content to leave the day-to-day ...

Mississippi Rifle .54 caliber M1841 rifle, made under contract by Eli Whitney, 1849. This gun derives its nickname of the "Mississippi rifle" from the Mississippi Riflemen led by Jefferson Davis. Gift ...

In March 1945, U.S. Army Air Forces intensified their strategic bombing campaign over Japan. Instead of flying high-altitude ...

Strangers in adjoining bunks had just weeks to become brothers in arms. Trainees learned to snore, shower, sweat, swear, smoke, and soldier together.

With the discovery of gold in California and the ensuing gold rush, white settlement accelerated. Many of the attitudes of the new arrivals conflicted with Mexican culture and its strong Catholic ...

In the first week of May, following Adolph Hitler’s suicide on April 30, the Nazi regime collapsed. Berlin fell to the Soviets, and Axis armies in Italy gave up. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered, ...

Washington sought to impose strict military protocols and daily orders on life in camp, but was constantly frustrated by all ...

The American public knew little of their plight. But Americans were painfully aware of the nearly 800 who were prisoners of ...

France had fallen to the Nazis in 1940, but an internal resistance movement had struggled to sabotage occupying forces and ...

Coveting what remained of the Indian lands in the Southeast and lower South, the United States forced tribes to cede their ...