BIOGRAPHY - historical

Starring Dan O Herlihy as Mark Twain, this PBS special was created by renowned Twain scholars.

Probably the longest-running anthology series on television, the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" has been presenting television dramatizations of famous plays and books, as well as original programs especially written for the series, since 1951.

It showed the process it took to write the Constitution of the United States.

The great awakening in the Colonies in the spring of 1775; the patriotic activities of Samuel Adams and John Hancock; the midnight ride of Paul Revere; the gathering of the Minute Men and the battle of Lexington, all these important details of Colonial history are shown as a prelude to the intense war romance woven around the situation at Valley Forge during the terrible winter of 1777, when the cause of Liberty looked next to Betty, daughter of a Minute Man who was killed in the battle of Lexington, is stopping at the inn of her uncle, a Tory sympathizer, near the winter camp of Washington's army at Valley Forge. Betty loves and is courted by a rebel soldier, who in reality is a British spy. A detachment of Hessians are occupying the inn when news arrives from Valley Forge that the time is propitious for attacking the Continentals. Betty overhears the plans of the Hessians. To carry word of the proposed attack to Washington, she disguises herself as a crippled boy, and by a clever ruse obtains possession of the written plans of the Hessians. As she emerges from the inn she meets her sweetheart, the spy. Trusting in him, she tells him of her purpose and he takes the plans and' promises to deliver them to Washington. She returns to the inn and removes her disguise. Instead of carrying out Betty's instructions, the spy brings word to the Hessians that Washington will spend the night at the inn. Betty's brother, who has been granted a leave of absence by Washington to visit his sister, is concealed near the inn. He hears the spy betray his commander. The brother attacks the spy and in the battle the brother is overpowered, but not before Betty learns the true identity of the man she loves. The spy and the Hessians then plot to murder Washington if he arrives at the inn. Their plans are again overheard by Betty. Before she can do anything, however, the Hessians are hidden in the house, and Washington and Lafayette arrive. The conspirators intend to murder Washington as he sleeps and he is conducted to a bedroom by the Tory innkeeper. Betty now liberates her brother and tells him to flee to Valley Forge and bring the Continental soldiers to save their general. Betty then goes to Washington's bedroom and tells him: "The landlord says will you take the other room, sir. This one is already taken." Washington, with no suspicion of the girl's noble purpose, is led into her bedroom while she returns and occupies his room. The spy cannot prevail upon any one of the bloody soldiers to do the bloody deed, so he decides to do it himself. He steals upstairs and into the room he supposes is occupied by Washington. Once beside the bed, he plunges his dagger into the form which is lying before him. In the meantime, Betty's brother has warned the Continentals of the plot against Washington's life. Lafayette hurries to the inn with, a detachment of soldiers. Upon his arrival at the inn he accuses the spy. "Too late," cried the traitor, "your commander lies dead upstairs." At this intense moment General Washington comes downstairs, unscratched. A moment later, Betty follows him wounded to death. She denounces her former sweetheart and dies. The spy is taken prisoner and carried away to await the punishment which is reserved for traitors.

George Washington's leadership role in ensuring that the Colonial army would win the Revolutionary War after crisis.

George Washington struggles to hold his army together at a critical point during the Revolutionary War.

In 1863, the Northern and Southern forces fight at Gettysburg in the decisive battle of the American Civil War.

An examination of how President Abraham Lincoln used contemporary telecommunications to his maximum advantage in the American Civil War.

The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment fought bravely and gallantly for the North during the Civil War. The regiment suffered well over 200 casualties during the battles of Bull Run, Edward's Ferry, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale, Vienna, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. It was the role they played at Gettysburg though that cemented their place in history. As the Gettysburg Sesquicentennial approaches we follow their story and ask: What was the Civil War really all about?

The story of the Battle of Antietam, a major turning point of the American Civil War.

Commentary from leading historians are combined with eyewitness testimony and dramatic reenactments of Civil War battles to tell the tragic story of the battle of Antietam, which was fought on September 17, 1862. Eleven hours of fighting produced over 23,000 Union and Confederate casualties, the bloodiest single day of the war.

Historical documentary on the Battle of Antietam in 1862, the bloodiest day of the Civil War, that claimed nearly 4,000 lives and wounded over 17,000.

A realistic depiction of Lincoln's visit to General George McClellan's headquarters in Maryland two weeks after the Battle of Antietam. The role of Lincoln, essentially a non-speaking one, is played by Joseph Leisch, Jr.

Modern clips revisit scenes of historic post battles, attempting to find the precise position of photos taken by Alexander Gardner at Antietam National Battlefield in 1862.

The opening scene of our story shows a Union powder wagon making its way down the road convoyed by a company of mounted Union soldiers. The route of this wagon is reported to Confederate headquarters by one of its spies. Nan, a girl frequently employed by the department of the Confederate army, is called to headquarters and instructed to secure the destruction of the enemy's ammunition train just reported. Nan is fitted out with a Union uniform, mounted on a fast horse and sent on her journey, previously provided with a forged order supposedly signed by a Union general which authorizes her to pass through the lines. Nan succeeds in getting through the Union lines and quickly locates the ammunition train, taking up the march with them. When night arrives the convoy goes into camp, posts its sentinels for no especial fear of danger as they note they are well within the Union lines. Nan, however, watching her opportunity, slips up behind the lone sentry placed over the ammunition wagon and, having rendered him unconscious, drags him away from the wagon and takes his place. Watching her chance, Nan plants a dynamite cartridge under the wagon, lights a fuse and makes a quick run out of the danger zone. Suddenly there is a loud explosion and all there is left of the ammunition wagon is a heap of charred embers. Attention is drawn to Nan while she is attempting to escape owing to a crash in the underbrush caused by tripping her foot and falling. A pursuing party is sent after the daring spy who has had the hardihood to perform such a daring deed. Closely pursued by Union soldiers, Nan rushes through the underbrush on foot, finally reaching a nearby river where she plunges in, diving underwater and remains there until the Union soldiers retire from the scene. Coming up to the surface, she quickly swims ashore and makes her way rapidly to the Confederate army headquarters where she reports the successful ending of her mission, then on to her home to relieve her mother s anxiety.

Alma's brother, leaving for the front, gives her a final lesson on the drum. Six months later the young drummer boy is brought home dead. Grief-stricken at her brother's death, Alma determines to take his place. Dressing herself in his clothes, she enlists in the Confederate army but is recognized by an old friend, Lieutenant Lightfoot, who promises to keep her secret. The morning of a great battle arrives. Col. Summers, a Federal officer, is ordered to place a gun on the extreme left flank. The company of which Alma is the drummer is ordered to silence this Federal cannon which is dealing out a veritable hail of death. The Confederates charge, drive off the Federals, and Alma, though wounded, succeeds in spiking the gun. Alma is picked up from the field by Northern soldiers and taken to a Federal hospital. Two weeks later an exchange of prisoners brings about a double wedding.

From the first shots at Fort Sumpter, to the emotional Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, this program tells the story of the conflict which scarred the soul of a nation. The program features battle reconstructions and depictions of army life, dramatized eyewitness accounts, period photographs and engravings, plus expert commentary and analyses.

The American Civil War - as told in the re-enactment films of all the Confederate Pictures years that we were on the circuit; from 2004 to 2008. These films were the focus of our travels, from Fort Sumter in South Carolina to Appomattox in Southern Virginia. Some of this footage in this four DVD series has never been seen before. This is Disc Two of that series. From Shiloh in 1862 to near 1864.

A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.