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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Jefferson Davis comes out on top
Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of secession for the first time. Will later become the leader of the Confederate States. -
Meeting failed in South Carolina
The Democratic National Convention, meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, cannot agree on a nominee. The only thing they can agree on is to continue the debate in Baltimore the next month -
Union Party meets in Baltimore
The Constitution Union Party, meeting in Baltimore, creates a platform taken heavily from the U. S. Constitution and selects John Bell of Tennessee for President and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for Vice-President. It represents southern Whigs and Know-nothings (American Party). Sometimes called the Bell-Union Party -
Republican Convention meets in Chicago
Republican Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois are the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. Lincoln wins on the third ballot. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, an outspoken, long-time abolitionist is chosen for vice-president. -
Democrats meet in Baltimore
The Democrats reconvene in Baltimore to select a nominee, but Douglas can't make the necessary 2/3 majority until the anti-Douglas delegates leave on June 22 and the floor rules are changed to require 2/3 vote of the members present. On June 23rd the Convention nominates Stephen Douglas and Herschal V. Johnson. -
Breckenridge for Presidential nominee
Southern Democrats hold a convention in Richmond where they select John C. Breckinridge as their nominee for President. Will lose to Lincoln in the upcoming election. -
West point commander replaced
Lieutenant Colonel William Hardee is replaced by Major John F. Reynolds as commander of cadets at West Point. -
President Buchanan sends distressed message
Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to retain slaves as property. -
South Carolina calls for meeting
South Carolina calls for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union -
Anderson reports to Sumter
Major Robert Anderson reports Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston as federal forces begin to improved Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter in the harbor. -
South Carolina has left the United States
South Carolina has left the United States. It becomes the 1st state to leave the United States. -
Mississippi has left the United States
Mississippi has left the United States. It becomes the 2nd state to leave the United States. -
Florida has left the United States
Florida has left the United States. It becomes the 3rd state to leave the United States. -
Alabama has left the United States
Alabama has left the United States. It becomes the 4th state to leave the United States. -
Georgia has left the United States
Georgia has left the United States. It becomes the 5th state to leave the United States. -
Louisiana has left the United States
Louisiana has left the United States. It becomes the 6th state to leave the United States. -
Texas has left the United States
Texas has left the United States. It becomes the 7th state to leave the United States. -
Confederate States of America formed
On Febuary 4th. 1961, the Condederate States of America were formed as Jefferson Davis becomes president -
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is officially sqorn in as the 16th president of the United States of America. He will serve one full term. -
Virginia has left the United States
Virginia has left the United States. It becomes the 8th state to leave the United States. -
Arkansas has left the United States
Arkansas has left the United States. It becomes the 9th state to leave the United States. -
North Carolina has left the United States
North Carolina has left the United States. It becomes the 10th state to leave the United States. -
Tennessee has left the United States
Tennessee has left the United States. It becomes the 11th state to leave the United States. -
President Lincoln issues War Order
President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 calling for all United States naval and land forces to begin a general advance by February 22, George Washington's birthday. They plan to move south battling off any Confederate troops -
General Grant captures Fort Henry & Donelson
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. -
President's son dies
President Lincoln is struck with grief as his 11 year old son Willie dies from fever. Caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
Conferate States sink two Union ships
The Confederate Ironclad 'Merrimac' sinks two wooden Union ships then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. Naval warfare is thus changed forever, making wooden ships obsolete. -
Western Tennessee invaded by the Union
An army lead by Ulysses S. Grant march into West Tennesse. They took control of many bases in the local area -
Union gets ambushed
Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River. Results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates -
Union Ships move down south into New Orleans
17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River. The ships then proceed to take New Orleans. -
General Johnston get wounded
The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. But Johnston is badly wounded. -
Robert E. Lee takes Command Of Confederate Troops
Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his army the Army of Northern Virginia. -
The Seven Day Battle has begun
The Seven Days Battles as Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond, resulting in very heavy losses for both armies. McClellan then begins a withdrawal back toward Washington. -
President Lincoln frees slaves
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates. He also emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army. -
General Burnside gets replaced
The president appoints Gen. Joseph Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac. He will be replacing General Burnside. -
General Grants is ordered to takes Vicksbug
General Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West. With orders from the president to capture Vicksburg. -
General Hooker Defeated
The Union Army under General Hooker is defeated by General Lee's smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville. As a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. -
Stonewall Jackson pronounced dead
The South suffers a huge blow as Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds, his last words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." -
General Lee moves north with army
Gen. Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches his second invasion of the North, heading into Pennsylvania in a campaign that will soon lead to Gettysburg. -
General Hooker has been replaced
President Lincoln appoints Gen. George G. Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Hooker. Meade is the 5th man to command the Army in less than a year. -
South lose the Battle of Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. North army led by General General George G. Meade -
North wins Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg is the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River which has surrendered to General Grant and the Army after a six-week siege. With the Union now in control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy is effectively split in two, cut off from its western allies. -
North wins another battle
The Rebel siege of Chattanooga ends as Union forces defeat the army of General Braxton Bragg. During the battle, one of the most dramatic moments of the war occurs, yelling "Chickamauga! Chickamauga!" -
Grant's mistake costs lives
A costly mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during an offensive against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor in Virginia. -
North fails to capture Petersburg
Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee. -
Battle of Atlanta takes place
At Atlanta, Sherman's forces battle the Rebels now under the command of Gen. John B. Hood, who replaced Johnston. -
George McClellan runs for presidency
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for President. And is set to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln. -
Sherman's army takes Atlanta
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. "Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," Sherman telegraphs Lincoln. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election. -
Union win in Shenandoah Valley
A decisive Union victory by Cavalry Gen. Philip H. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley over Jubal Early's troops. -
Lincoln wins presidential election, starts second term
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected President, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes. -
Sherman and his army march towards the sea
after destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman and 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea. -
Hood's army defeated
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is defeated at Nashville by 55,000 Federals including Negro troops under Gen. George H. Thomas. -
Sherman and his army reach Savannah
Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta. Sherman then telegraphs Lincoln, offering him Savannah as a Christmas present. -
270,00 women are employed
270,000 women were employed in 1865. Which is only 2 percent of all women living in Union states -
13th amendment ratified
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. -
A peace offering by union
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure - the war will continue. -
Lincoln inaugurated
Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington. "With malice toward none; with charity for all...let us strive on to finish the work we are in...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations," Lincoln says. -
Another battle of Petersburg
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces at Petersburg. Four hours later the attack is broken. -
Lincoln tours Richmond
President Lincoln tours Richmond where he enters the Confederate White House. With "a serious, dreamy expression," he sits at the desk of Jefferson Davis for a few moments. -
Rob E. Lee surrenders
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep horses and mules. -
President Lincoln dead
President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency. -
General Johnston surrenders
Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. -
13th amendment ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished. -
Andrew Johnson vetos bill
New Freedman's Bureau bill passed by Congress. President Andrew Johnson vetoes the bill that authorized military trial for those accused of "depriving Negroes of the Civil Rights" on the same day -
Texas repeals convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention -
Andrew Johnson vetos another bill
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional -
Peace with southern states
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 override veto
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
14th amendment approves
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. -
States approve 14th amendment
States are beginning to approve the 14the amendment. Connecticut and New Hampshire are the first to approve. -
KKK under investigation
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK was established earlier this year -
South Carolina rejects bill.
On the 6th anniversary of secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. This is only one of the states that had rejecred this bill -
Congress passes Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act. Which denies the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Virginia still hatting on Negroes
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
Congress Passes 2nd Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto. -
United States signs treaty with Russia
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. Democrats called it "Seward's Folly" -
General Sheridan takes command
General Philip Sheridan assumes command of the 5th Military district encompassing Louisiana and Texas. He designates New Orleans as his headquarters. -
Congress allows more states into the Union
Congress passes a bill admitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union -
House reconstruction has begun
House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed. This will soon help with the reconstruction of our country. -
United States welcomes new state
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States. President Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting the territory of Alaska into the Union as the 49th and largest state.
