William T. Crane was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1832 and was one of the group of "Special Artists" that Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper assembled to send back sketches and illustrations from the Civil War battlefields.  Crane sent back sketches throughout the war, notably during the campaigns in South Carolina and Georgia, and 244 of them were published in Frank Leslie's.  His last contributions involved the recent executions of the Lincoln conspirators not long before he died in Washington of throat cancer.  He was thirty-three years old. (By John Osborne)

The ironclad U.S.S. Dunderburg had been laid down in 1862 and took almost three years to complete at William Webb's shipyard in New York City.  In a pouring rain the long-delayed 5090-ton vessel was finally launched.  She had cost one and a quarter million dollars but never entered U.S. Navy service and Webb was allowed to sell her to France in 1868 where she became the Rochambeau.  She only lasted till 1872, when she was scrapped.  (By John Osborne) 

The Ninth German-American Saengerfest, a convention of German choirs from across the United States, was held in New York City.  More than two thousand visitors joined the area organizations in a week-long celebration.  The event opened with a reception at City Hall, continued with concerts, tours, a competition that saw the top two prizes go to choirs from Philadelphia, and closed with a great choral presentation. (By John Osborne)