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Things Pertaining to the Civil War
lots of stuff happened -
Jefferson Davis Speaks His Mind
Jefferson Davis official comes out in favor of succession from the union. -
Pony Express Debutes
The first rider to officially deliver mail for the pony express leaves St. Joseph, Missouri. He is about to embark on an 1,800 mile ride to Sacramento, California. -
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois to decide on the republican nominee for presidency. Abraham Lincoln is chosen as the republican nominee on the third ballot. -
Democratic National Convention (April)
The Democratic National Convention is held in Charleston, South Carolina to decide on the democratic presidential nominee. A nominee could not be figured out and the meeting was moved to continue the next month. -
Democratic National Convention (May)
The Democratic National Convention resumed in Baltimore to decide a nominee for presidency of the United States. The democrats nominate Stephen Douglass and Herschal V. Johnson for presidency. -
Rumors of South Carolina's Planned Secession
Governor William Henry Gist notifies the southern states that South Carolina is considering secession. -
Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln is elected the seventeenth president of the United States. He is the first republican to be elected that is against the spread of slavery. -
Crittenden Compromise
Senator John J. Crittenden proposes an idea to resolve the issue of southern secession from the union. The south denied the proposition. -
First Secession Convention
The first formal meeting between state leaders to decide of the decision of secession from the union occurs. This meeting is held in Columbia, South Carolina. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the union. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi secedes from the union following South Carolina. -
Jefferson Davis Appointed President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis is officially appointed president of the Confederate States of America following the secession of southern states. -
Lincoln is Inaugurated
Abraham is officially inaugurated as president of the United States in Washington, D.C. -
Fort Sumter
Confederate forces open fire on Fort Sumter. This tees off the Civil War. -
Lincoln Issues Public Decleration
President Lincoln officially acknowledges the fact that an insurrection exists and precedes to call for the enlistment of thousands. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The battle of Bull Run begins. It is the first official battle of the Civil War. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
Union forces attack confederate forces at Wilson's Creek, Missouri. The confederates fend off the attack and prove their strength. -
Fort Hatteras
Fort Hatteras is captured by Union forces. This begins the union's push to close southern ports along South Carolina. -
Lexington Falls
Lexington, Missouri falls to confederate forces. -
Battle of Ball's Bluff
Union forces were lead across the Potomac river and met confederate forces. The confederates forced the union troops back up against the river forcing many to drown while trying to escape to the other side. -
Battle of Mill Springs
Union forces achieve victory in Mill Springs, Kentucky thus weakening the confederate hold on the state. -
Surrender of Fort Henry
Union forces capture Fort Henry in Tennessee, thus opening the door to securing the Mississippi river. -
Surrender of Fort Donelson
Union forces capture Fort Donelson in Tennessee which was the ast primary confederate fort on the Mississippi; leaving the river in the Union control. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh is the first major battle in Tennessee. Union forces led by General Grant defeat the confederates. -
The Battle of Seven Pines
The commander of the confederate army in Virginia is wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee. General Lee renames the army "Army of Northern Virginia." -
The Seven Days Battle Ends
General Lee attacks General McClellan at the Potomac River and pushes the union forces away from the confederate capital. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
The union was once again defeated at same site as before. -
The Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest dingle day battle of the Civil War. Resulted in a union victory. Following this victory President Lincoln introduced the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
General Lee once again defeats the union forces after they tried to cross the Potomac. -
Battle of Stones River
The union defeats the confederates at Stones river and opens up Tennessee to be captured by the union. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation officially goes into effect. -
Drafting in the North Begins
Drafting of soldiers in the union army begins in the north; one year after it begins in the south. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
General Lee's greatest victory in the war. Stonewall Jackson is mortally injured. -
Stonewall Jackson's Death
General "Stonewall" Jackson of the confederate army dies from a wound sustained in the battle of Chancellorsville. -
Battle of Brandy Station
The largest cavalry battle of the Civil War. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the civil war and also a huge union victory that boosted moral in the north. -
Surrender of Vicksburg
Union forces officially capture Vicksburg, Mississippi thus giving the union complete control of the Mississippi River. -
Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. -
Battle for Chattanooga
Union forces break through confederate siege of the city and gain control thus forcing the confederate army further back into the south. -
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
President Lincoln issues the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction which pardons all rebel sympathizers as long as an oath to the north is given. -
Opening of Andersonville Prison
The most notorious prison camp of the civil war officially opens. -
General Grants' Promotion
General Grant is promoted to Lieutenant General and takes control of all the union armies. -
Beginning of the Atlanta Campaign
Three armies under the control of General Sherman march south from Tennessee into Georgia. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The union forces attacking General Lee's fortifications at Cold Harbor, Virginia fail to dislodge General Lee from his position. -
Abraham Lincoln Nominated
Abraham Lincoln is nominate by his party again for a second term of presidency. -
Assault on Petersburg
After 4 days of battle General Grant sets up a siege on Petersburg, Virginia to cut off supplies for confederate occupants. -
The Fall of Atlanta
General Sherman claims Atlanta at the end of his conquest through Georgia. -
Abe Lincoln Reelected
Abraham Lincoln is reelected president of the United States. -
The March to the Sea Begins
General Sherman and his army begin his conquest of destruction throughout the south. -
The March to the Sea Ends
Sherman's army arrives in Savannah, Georgia thus ending his march of terror. -
Sherman Captures Columbia
General Sherman's army continues into the carolinas and captures Columbia, South Carolina. -
Freedmen's Bureau
Established by Congress to aid former slaves and poor white people in the South. -
Lincoln Inaugurated for Second Term
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his second term of presidency. -
Attack on Fort Stedman
General Lee's last offensive move in the Civil War before being put into a retreat by Union forces. -
The Fall of Richmond
Union forces close in on Richmond and General Lee decides to abandon the city. -
Battle and Surrender of Appomattox Court House
Union forces break through confederate lines at Appomattox court house and General Lee is forced to surrender. -
Lincoln Dies
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, while he was attending a play. -
Jefferson Davis Captured
Confederate president Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Final Battle of the Civil War
The final battle of the Civil War takes place at Palmito Ranch, Texas and is a confederate victory. -
The Official End of the Civil War
General Simon Bolivar Buckner agrees to surrender the last confederate standing army. -
Celebrating Lincoln
The first formal celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday is held. -
Texas Repeals Secessionist Convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
President Johnson Vetoes Civil Rights Act
President Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
State of Peace
The United States declares that is in a state of peace with the southern states. -
Congress Overrides Veto
Congress overrides the veto of the Civil Rights Act by President Johnson. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Andrew Johnson's vetoed the bill, then the bill became a law due to two- thirds of majority ruled in Congress. -
Cholera Outbreak Begins in New York
Cholera breaks out in New York City and kills thousands. -
Memphis Race Riot
During the early stages of Reconstruction, a white officer shot a African American solider. -
The New Orleans Massacre
Whites attacked African Americans who were outside the Mechanics Institute. -
South Carolina Rejects the 14th Amendment
On the 6th anniversary of its secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th amendment. -
New Longest Suspension Bridge Opens
The longest suspension bridge at the time opened between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky. -
Blacks can Vote
Blacks can vote in Washington, D.C. after a bill is passed by Congress. -
Nebraska Becomes a State
Nebraska officially becomes a state. -
Rejection of Black Votes
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousands of votes cast by negroes. -
Purchase of Alaska
Alaska is bought by the United States for two cents an acre. -
Admitting States into the Union
Congress admitted several of the southern states as well as new ones western ones into the union. -
Kidder Massacre
A Sioux and Cheyenne war party kills US Lieutenant Lyman Kidder, an Indian scout and ten enlisted men in Kansas. -
The First Elevated Railroad
The first elevated railroad in the United States becomes operational. -
First Dental School in the US Opens
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine officially opens making it the first dental school in the US. -
Charles Dickens First Public Reading
Charles Dickens reads publicly for the first time in the US in New York City.
