On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery
at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War,
President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In fewer than 275 words, Lincoln
brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the
Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought some four months earlier, was
one of the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over the course
of three days, more than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured
or went missing. The battle also proved to be the turning point of
the war: General Robert E. Lee’s defeat and retreat from Gettysburg marked the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory and the beginning of the Southern army’s ultimate decline.

The original uncropped photo of the speakers stand at Gettysburg.

Abraham Lincoln’s original Gettysburg Address in an Illinois museum.

(FOX NEWS) – On this day in history, June 15, 1864, Arlington
National Cemetery, our nation’s honorable military burial
ground, was officially established.

The national cemetery began with the seizure of Gen. Robert
E. Lee’s hilltop home (shown below) after he defected to the
Confederacy during the Civil War.  History.com.

Robert Edward Lee
(January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870)

On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military        
cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the
American Civil War,  President Abraham Lincoln
delivered one of the most  memorable speeches in
American history. In fewer than 275 words, Lincoln  
brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public
why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War. 

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought some four months
earlier, was  one of the single bloodiest battle of the
Civil War. Over the course  of three days, more than
45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went
missing.        

The battle also proved to be the turning point of the war:
General Robert E. Lee’s defeat and retreat from Gettysburg
marked the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory
and the beginning of the Southern army’s ultimate decline.       

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

In 1904, more than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard
the steamboat General Slocum in New York’s East River. In
1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act making
the National Guard part of the U.S. Army in the event of war
or national emergency.

The excursion boat General Slocum lies beached off Hell
Gate in New York City’s East River, following a fire and
resulting panic. The disaster cost the lives of 1,030
mostly German immigrants, June 15, 1904. (AP)

CAMILLE BOHANNON

King John of England put his seal on the Magna Carta on this day in
1215.

One of only four surviving exemplifications of the 1215 text of the
Magna Carta.

This is the seal of King John, which would have been
attached to the Magna Carta.

A deadly steamboat fire in New York City on this day in 1904.

On this day in 1978, King Hussein of Jordan married 26-year-old American Lisa Halaby, who became Queen Noor.

Cutting the wedding cake with a ceremonial sword.

An order to establish a military burial ground was signed by The 
Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton (below) on this day in 1864. It
later became known as Arlington National Cemetery.

Edwin McMasters Stanton (1814-1869)

It was on this day in 1996.