Summary

The first section is titled “From 1861 through 1865." This section details the overall events of this time in American history. The author writes that the United States was involved in a Civil War that had began because of two questions. The first was the right to keep slaves. The second was whether a state had the right to secede. Lincoln was elected as president in 1860. He believed that slavery was wrong and that the United States had to remain united. The Civil War lasted 4 years and more than half a million men died to fighting and disease.

The next section of the book is the Prologue. The weather in Washington, D.C. Was “ugly” on March 4, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was being sworn in for another term in office. A photographer, Alexander Gardner, took photos of the event. Hie captured the faces...