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United States Civil War
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Lincoln's Speech at Cooper Institute
Abraham Lincoln addresses gathering at the Cooper Institute in New York, attacking slavery. -
Governor Gist Notifies the South
Governor William Henry Gist notifies other Deep South states that South Carolina is considering secession as an option. -
Douglas brings campaign to Atlanta
U.S. politician Stephen Douglas, leader of the Democratic Party and one of the four presidential candidates, brings his campaign to Atlanta, where he spoke against secession. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected president
Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States, receiving 180 of 303 electoral votes. He is the first Republican president who represents a party that opposes the spread of slavery. -
Senator Chestnut Jr. Resigns
South Carolina Senator James Chestnut Jr. resigns his seat in the U.S. Senate. South Carolina legislature approves a bill calling for a secession convention. -
Senator Hammond Resigns
South Carolina Senator James Henry Hammond resigns his seat. He was one of the strongest supporters of the Southern way of life, slavery, and secession. -
Georgia Calls for a Convention
Georgia calls for a convention of Southern states to form an independent nation. Only South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama are invited. -
Secession Convention
The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. In the next two months, so will Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama. -
South Carolina seizes the Charleston Arsenal
Federal arsenal at Charleston falls into the hands of the rebels. General Scott again writes to Buchanan, urging the reinforcement of Fort Sumter. -
CSA is formed
All the succeeded states create a government at Montgomery, Alabama called the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis, a former army officer, is chosen as president. -
Abraham Lincoln Inaugeration
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the 16th President in Washington D.C.. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War Begins. -
President Lincoln Issues Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militia men, and a special Congress meeting on July 4th. -
Proclamation of Blockade
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation of Blockade against Southern ports. This prohibits the South from staying well supplied during the war. -
Union Forces Crossing
Union forces cross the Potomac River and occupy Arlington Heights. -
The Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run is fought near Manassas, Virginia. The Union army under General Irvin McDowell retreats and loses. -
George B. McClellan is Commander
President Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac. He replaces McDowell. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
Under General Nathaniel Lyon, the Union attacks Confederate troops south of Springfield, Missouri. The Confederate troops win. -
Battle of Ball's Bluff
Colonel Edward Baker led troops across the Potomac River only to be forced back to the river's edge. Many soldiers died to the icy water. -
Grant earns nickname "Unconditional Surrender"
Grant and the Union army capture Fort Henry in Tennessee, and 10 days later Fort Donelson. -
Jefferson Davis Inaugeration
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America. -
Naval Battle
The naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia is fought in Hampton Roads, Virginia -
Battle of Shiloh
The first major battle is fought in Tennessee. The Union, being led by Ulysses S. Grant, wins. -
New Orleans is Conquered
17 Union Ships under David Farragut move up the Mississippi River to take New Orleans, the South's greatest seaport. -
Battle of Seven Pines
Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. -
Battle of Memphis
A Union fleet under Commander Charles Davis defeats a Confederate river force on the Mississippi River. The Union is now in Union control. -
Seven Days Battle
General Lee's army attacks McClellan's army near Richmond, resulting in losses for both armies. McClellan begins a withdrawal back towards Washington D.C. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
75,000 Federals under John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Jackson and Longstreet in northern Virginia. Once again, the Union Army retreats. -
Harpers Ferry Invasion
Lee invades the north with 50,000 Confederates and heads for Harpers Ferry. The Union army defeats them under the command of McClellan. -
The Siege of Chattanooga
Confederate forces surround Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Grant is put in charge of the blockaded Union army. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves held by Confederates. -
Conscription in the North
Conscription, (the drafting of soldiers into military service) begins in the North, one year after the South. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Union army under General Hooker is defeated to the Confederates under Lee. General Stonewall Jackson is badly wounded. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
General Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds from the Battle of Chancellorsville. -
Seige of Vicksburg
The Seige of Vicksburg, Mississippi begins. In the end, the Union's capture of Vicksburg gives them complete control of the Mississippi. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania becomes the bloodiest battle of the civil war when the Confederates loose to invading the North. -
Battle of Chickamauga
The Union Army, under General William Rosecrans is defeated at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. -
Mine Run Campaign
The Union Army under General Meade marches against Lee's Army near the Rapidan River. -
Siege of Knoxville
The Confederate Army under General Longstreet siege the city of Knoxville, occupied by Union forces. -
Libby Prison Escape
109 Union officers dig to escape the Libby Prison in Richmond. -
1st Successful Submarine Attack
The Confederate Submarine, the CSS H.L. Hunley strikes the Union's USS Housatonic with a torpedo. -
Battle of Sabine Crossroads
The first major battle of the Red River Campaign is fought in Mansfield, Louisiana. -
Battle of Wilderness
Lee's army attacks the Union in the woods of Wilderness, Virginia. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Union's plans failed to march towards Richmond, Virginia. Over 7,000 Union Soldiers died in the first 20 minutes of fighting. -
Battle of Brice's Crossroads
Outnumbered almost two to one, Confederates gain a major victory at Battle of Brice's Crossroads in Baldwyn, Mississippi. -
Battle of Cedar Creek
Confederates drive Union troops from their camps on the banks of Cedar Creek near Middletown, Virginia. -
Lincoln is Re-Elected
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, beating McClellan. -
March to the Sea
General Sherman and 62,000 men begin the March to the Sea after destroying Atlanta's railroad facilities. -
March to the Sea is Completed
After less than a month, Sherman's army arrives at Savannah, Georgia. The troops will then head to Fort McAllister and force the Confederates to leave the city. -
13th Amendment Approved
The U.S. Congress approves the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, to abolish slavery. -
Sherman's Army in South Carolina
Sherman's Army leaves Savannah to march through the Carolinas. Once there, they capture Columbia, while Confederates evacuate Charleston, South Carolina. -
Attack on Fort Stedman
Confederate troops under General John B. Gordon capture the Union Fort Stedman in Petersburg, Virginia. By nightfall, the Confederate troops were driven out. -
The Battle of Five Forks
When the Confederate troops suffer a defeat in Virginia at the Battle of Five Forks, Lee cancels plans to siege Petersburg. -
Battle of Sailor's Creek
One-third of Lee's Army is cornered along the banks of Sailor's Creek and killed. -
Lincoln Assassination
President Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C.. -
The Army of the Tennessee Surrenders
The Confederate Army of Tennessee signs the surrender document in Durham, North Carolina. -
General Richard Taylor Surrenders
General Richard Taylor surrenders Confederate forces in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. -
Jefferson Davis is Captured
C.S.A. President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Battle of Palmito Ranch
The final battle of the Civil War takes place at Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is a Confederate victory. -
Civil Rights Act is Vetoed
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 ( granted citizenship and the same rights to all men) on the grounds that it was unconstitutional -
State of Peace
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -
Congress buys Ford's Theater
Congress buys Ford's Theater for $100,000. It will house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department records until 1893 -
Congress Approves Civil Rights Act
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act -
Cholera Epidemic
Cholera epidemic begins in New York when an infected passenger arrives in New York. -
14th Amendment Approved
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution -
Congress Establishes "General of the Armies"
Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star general and put in this position. -
Farragut appointed Admiral
Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank -
Secret Service Investigates the Ku Klux Klan
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan -
Texas Proclamation of Peace
A proclamation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson -
South Under Military Watch
Congress temporarily places most of the South under military rule. North Carolina is under the rule of General Canby. -
Black Males Vote in Washington D.C.
After overriding President Johnson's veto, black male citizens in the District of Columbia are granted the right to vote. -
Reconstruction Acts
States may be readmitted if their new state constitutions provide for black suffrage. -
Second Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the Second Reconstruction Act. Military commanders in each southern district are to register all qualified adult males to vote. -
Votes cast by blacks are rejected
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousands of votes cast by blacks. This was against the Reconstruction Act. -
Congress enacts the third Reconstruction Act
Congress enacts the third Reconstruction Act. It affirms the authority of the military district commanders to remove state officials from office. -
Tenure of Office Act
Johnson violates the Tenure of Office Act when he suspends Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and replaces him with Grant during a congressional recess. -
Reconstruction Prospect
The Reconstruction Prospect identified the sectional crisis in North Carolina and surrounding southern states. -
Johnson Opposes Congressional Policy
Johnson insists on the removal of the radical Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, in defiance of the Tenure of Office Act. -
Reconstruction Elections
By the end of 1867, new elections have been held under the Radical Reconstruction plan in every southern state except Texas.
