Elections at all levels were held across many of the United States.  In the East and Midwest, Unionist and Republican tickets were largely more dominant than usual, even in areas like Peoria, Illinois which had seen strong Democratic representation earlier. There the local press called the county "redeemed from the stench of Copperheadism."  Returning soldiers were seen as crucial to Republican gains.  (By John Osborne) 

The Musical Protective Association had been founded in 1863 amongst the city's many professional musicians and had in the days before begun a strike against all venues in the New York City.  The meeting at the Germania Assembly Rooms was aimed at raising funds to aid members in keeping up the pressure of the stoppage.  The union had suffered some defections and threats from managers to ship in new talent from Europe but stayed firm for now.  (By John Osborne)

Early winter gales caused mayhem on Lake Ontario throughout the day. Early reports mentioned that several cargo vessels had been blown ashore in the vicinity of Oswego, New York with several others aground and heavily damaged on the Canadian side.  (By John Osborne)

Plagued somewhat by wind and rains at the start and end of the gathering, the Conference was nevertheless reported as a success.  Extensive reports were made on the progress of settlements in northern Utah like Bear Lake Valley and in the far south along the Colorado. And Mormon leader Brigham Young floated the idea of sending five hundred ox-teams to the Missouri River in spring 1866, to aid Mormons otherwise too poor to reach the Utah settlements.  (By John Osborne)

Benjamin Franklin Butler of Massachusetts and John Adams Dix of New York were both appointed as major-generals of volunteers on May 16, 1861 and became aggressive "political" generals. Both resigned on the same day. Butler's interpretation of escaped slaves as enemy "contraband" and his occupation of New Orleans and Dix's heavy hand in Maryland and his famous threat to shoot any man seeking to haul down the national flag made them reviled across the South. Later, Butler became a leading congressman and Dix governor of New York. (By John Osborne)

Four miles south of Oswego, New York, a construction train of the Oswego and Rome Railroad reportedly hit cattle on the lines, derailing two of its cars.  The brakeman on the cars was killed instantly and several railroad workers in the cars were injured. (By John Osborne)  

By proclamation, President Johnson had on October 28, 1865 designated this day as the third annual national festival of Thanksgiving, following the tradition Abraham Lincoln had begun during the Civil War.  Family dinners were held and across the country charitable institutions prepared meals for the needy.  The following year, the holiday moved back to November.  (By John Osborne)