the whole amount of bonds authorized as aforesaid, and treasury notes issued and to be issued in lieu thereof, shall not exceed the sum of four hundred millions of dollars." 1865, JANUARY 31.- The House of Representatives accepted the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. The vote stood, for the amendment, 103; against it, 16; not voting, 8. The joint resolution read as follows: "Be it resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both houses concurring, That the following articles be proposed to the legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; when ratified by three fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the said Constitution, namely: "Article 13. Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. "Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." The Senate had passed the resolution April 8, 1864, by a vote of 38 to 6, six members not voting. 1864, May 31, the House had rejected the resolution by a vote of 95 for to 66 against. 1865, FEBRUARY 3. — A conference for peace was held at Fortress Monroe between President Lincoln and Secretary Seward and Secretary Stephens, with two Confederate commissioners. It led to no result. 1865. A SOCIETY for the prevention of cruelty to animals was organized in New York city. Henry Bergh was its first president. 1865, FEBRUARY 5. - The Federals were repulsed at Hatcher's Run, Virginia. 1865, FEBRUARY 17.- Columbia, South Carolina, was captured by General Sherman. The city was almost destroyed in the conflagration caused by the cotton which had been set on fire. 1865, FEBRUARY 18. Charleston, South Carolina, was surren dered by the mayor to the Federal forces. General Hardee, in command of the Confederates, began the evacuation February 15. Sherman having captured the railroads connecting it with the interior, its surrender became imperative. The Confederates, before leaving, burned all the places containing cotton stored; the fire spread, and did great damage before the Federal troops could extinguish it. A quantity of rice, left behind, was dis tributed to the poor by the order of the captors, under the supervision of a committee of the citizens. The city had been besieged 585 days, from the lodgment made on Morris Island July 10, 1863, and under fire for 542 days. 1865, MARCH 3.—An act passed by Congress, authorizing the secretary of the treasury to borrow on the credit of the United States six hundred millions of dollars, was approved. Bonds or treasury notes were to be issued for the loan; "the principal, or interest, or both, may be made payable in coin, or in other lawful money. Provided: That the rate of interest on any such bonds or treasury notes, when payable in coin, shall not exceed six per centum per annum; and when not payable in coin shall not exceed seven and three tenths per centum per annum; and the rate and character of the interest shall be expressed on all such bonds or treasury notes." 1865, MARCH 3.- Congress passed an act laying a tax of ten per cent. upon the notes of state banks issued as a circulation. 1865, MARCH 3.-The act establishing the Freedmen's Saving and Trust Company was approved 1865, MARCH 7.-The Confederate congress decreed the arming of the slaves. The troops so raised were to receive the same rations, clothing, and compensation as others in the same branch of the service. "Nothing in this act shall be construed to alter the existing relations between master and slaves." 1865, MARCH 7.- Nova Scotia rejected the plan for a confederation. It proposed that New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, and Nova Scotia should form a separate union for themselves. 1865, MARCH 11.-General Sherman entered Fayetteville, North Carolina. Communication with Wilmington, by way of Cape Fear River, was immediately opened. The march to the sea was completed. 1865, MARCH 16. — The battle of Averysborough, North Carolina, was fought. The Confederates under General Johnston were defeated by the Federals under General Sherman. 1865, MARCH 18.-The battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, was fought. The Confederates under General Johnston were defeated by the Federals under General Sherman. 1865, MARCH 25.- Fort Steadman, near Petersburg, was captured by the Confederates, and recaptured by the Federals. 1865, MARCH 31.-The battle of Five Forks, Virginia, was fought. 1865, APRIL 2.- Selma, Alabama, was captured. An expedition under General Wilson, from Thomas's department, started on March 22 from Chickasaw, Alabama. At Selma he captured many prisoners and much material. On the 12th, Montgomery surrendered peaceably. On the 16th, Columbus, Georgia, was captured, after a severe contest. At Macon, on the 21st, he was met by a flag of truce, giving him information of the truce between Sherman and Johnston. 1865, APRIL 2.- Richmond was evacuated by the Confed erates. The army of the Potomac had broken through the defences of Petersburg. April 3, Grant moved into Petersburg before daylight, and soon after Weitzel entered Richmond. April 4, President Lincoln entered Richmond, and was welcomed by the people with enthusiasm. 1865, APRIL 6. The battle of Farmville, Virginia, was fought. General Sheridan with the advance had overtaken the retreating army of General Lee, and defeated them. 1865, APRIL. The Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, abandons the claim for the extradition of the St. Albans raiders. They had been a second time arrested, and, on the 30th of March, discharged. 1865, APRIL 8.- Spanish Fort, one of the defences of Mobile, Alabama, was evacuated by the Confederates. The Federals took possession of it. The siege of Mobile had begun on the 27th of March. 1865, APRIL 9.- Fort Blakely, at Mobile, Alabama, was captured by the Federals. 1865, APRIL 9.- General Lee with his army surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The following were the terms of surrender. At the meeting on the 9th, between Generals Grant and Lee, the terms were agreed upon in the following correspondence. General Grant wrote: "In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms; to wit: "Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officers as you may designate. "The officers to give their individual paroles not to take arms against the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of their commands. "The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. "This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside." Lee replied to this: "I have received your letter of this date, containing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect." - 1865, APRIL 13. Mobile surrendered to a combined army and naval attack. The attack commenced on the 2d. |