The first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States sat in Washington, DC. with Schuyler Colfax of Indiana in the Speaker's chair. The session lasted until July 28, 1866. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, DC, the first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States returned from its fourteen day holiday recess. It sat then until July 28, 1866. (By John Osborne)

In late December, 1865, the first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States adjourned for its fourteen day holiday recess. It returned on January 5, 1866. (By John Osborne)

Although it did not actually meet over the long weekend of December 6-11, 1865, the first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States was sitting in Washington. The House sat for only two weeks before its holiday recess started on December 21, 1865. Schuyler Colfax of Indiana was in the Speaker's chair. (By John Osborne)

The Senate has already sat in a short special session in March but now the full Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States opened in Washington, D.C.  With seats representing the late Confederacy still vacant, 193 representatives sat in the House, along with nine territorial delegates. The Republicans had a heavy majority with their 136 seats dominating the 38 Democratic members. Eighteen others sat as Unionists or Independent Republican.  Schuyler Colfax, Republican of Indiana and incumbent Speaker of the House was re-elected. (By John Osborne)