http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Brooks
Beat an esteemed senator to near death on the Senate floor:
"Two days after the speech, on the afternoon of May 22, Brooks confronted Sumner as he sat writing at his desk in the almost empty Senate chamber. Brooks was accompanied by Keitt and Henry A. Edmundson of Virginia. Brooks said, "Mr. Sumner, I have read your speech twice over carefully. It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine." As Sumner began to stand up, Brooks began beating Sumner with his thick gutta-percha cane with a gold head. Sumner was trapped under the heavy desk (which was bolted to the floor), but Brooks continued to bash Sumner until he ripped the desk from the floor. By this time, Sumner was blinded by his own blood, and he staggered up the aisle and collapsed, lapsing into unconsciousness. Brooks continued to beat Sumner until he broke his cane, then quietly left the chamber. Several other senators attempted to help Sumner, but were blocked by Keitt who was brandishing a pistol and shouting "Let them be!""
Also, here's another cool one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Crater. Cliffnotes: Union forces own Confederates by building huge explosive mine underneath Petersburg, blow it up, then own themselves by not sending in black troops who were trained for the aftermath, troops sent in immediately run into the crater and get picked off by Confederate troops left above.
Finally,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_boats. This has been posted on 2p2 before but surely some have missed it.
Last edited by Michael Davis; 03-16-2010 at 10:57 PM.