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South Carolina secedes from the Union
Followed within two months later by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. -
Jefferson Davis is chosen as South president
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Abraham Lincoln sworn in as president of the United States
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Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, General P.G.T. Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30pm on April 13 Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day. -
Period: to
The Civil War
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President Lincoln issues a Proclamation
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen, and summoning a special session of Congress for July 4. -
Lee declnes command of the Union Army
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Virginia secedes from the Union followed by several more states
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina,forming an eleven state Confederacy with a population of 9 million, including nearly 4 million slaves. The Union will soon have 21 states and a population of over 20 milllion. -
Southern Blockade
President Abraham Lincoln issue a proclamation for a blockade for foreign countries to deem the South belligerent, but famously to block off the South's export of cotton and imports of the supplies. The blockade covered the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Major ports had been covered by July 1861. -
Robert E. Lee resigns from the United States Army
Robert E. Lee then goes to Richmond, Virginia, and is offered command of the military and naval forces of Virginia. He accepts the offer. -
Richmond becomes capitol of confederacy
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First battle of Bull Run
It was 25 miles southwest of Washington D.C. Thomas Jackson also earns the nickname "Stonewall Jackson" for not backing down to multipule Union attacks. -
President Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac
President Lincoln made George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac, replacing Irvin McDowell. -
President Lincoln revokes Gen. John C. Frémont
for his unauthorized military proclamation of emancipation in Missouri. Later, the president relieves Gen. Frémont of his command and replaces him with Gen. David Hunter. -
An International Diplomatic Crisis for President Lincoln Began
A diplomatic crisis began for President Lincoln when two Confederate officials sailing toward England where seized by the U.S. Navy. -
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. -
Willie Lincoln dies
Lincoln's eleven-year-old son, Willie, dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
Battle of Shiloh
Union troops stationed at the Tennesse River are attacked by Confederate troops, leaving 13,000 Union casualties and 10,000 Confederate casualties. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest battle in the Civil War leaves 26,000 troops dead, wounded, or missing by the end of the day. Union Gen. George McClellan and superior numbers halted Robert E. Lee and Confederate troop's movement at Antietam, leading to the battle. -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation begins freeing slaves. It was issued by President Lincoln. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
The second battle of Bull Run (Manassas) was fought between Union general John Pope. While Pope was waiting for McClellan's Army of the Potomac to join with his, Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent his army to battle General Pope's. The Confederate charge of 55,000 defeats Pope's army of 75,000 causing him to retreat. -
The President Replaces McClellan
The president replaces McClellan with Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln had grown impatient with McClellan's slowness to follow up on the success at Antietam. -
Fredericksburg
the army of patomic under Gen. Burnside suffers a defeat at Fredericksburg with losses of 12,653 union men -
The Final Emancipation Proclamation
freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army -
Joesph Hooker
The president appoints Gen. Joseph Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Burnside. -
the draft
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. "The blood of a poor man is as precious as that of the wealthy," poor Northerners complain. -
Chancellorsville
The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. The Confederates, 13, 000 out of 60,000. -
Stonewall Jackson dies
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." -
Second invasion of the North
Gen. Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches his second invasion of the North, heading into Pennsylvania -
George G. Meade
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. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. -
Vicksburg
Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrenders to Gen. Grant and the Army of the West after a six week siege. -
Roits
Anti-draft riots in New York City include arson and the murder of blacks by poor immigrant whites. At least 120 people, including children, are killed and $2 million in damage caused, until Union soldiers returning from Gettysburg restore order -
Fort wagner
'Negro troops' of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Robert G. Shaw assault fortified Rebels at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Col. Shaw and half of the 600 men in the regiment are killed -
Lawernce Kansas
At Lawrence, Kansas, pro-Confederate William C. Quantrill and 450 pro-slavery followers raid the town and butcher 182 boys and men. -
Grant
The president appoints Gen. Grant to command all operations in the western theater. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
Chattanooga
The Rebel siege of Chattanooga ends as Union forces under Grant defeat the siege army of Gen. Braxton Bragg. During the battle, one of the most dramatic moments of the war occurs. Yelling "Chickamauga! Chickamauga!" Union troops avenge their previous defeat at Chickamauga by storming up the face of Missionary Ridge without orders and sweep the Rebels from what had been though to be an impregnable position -
George McClellan
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln. -
Cold harbor
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 -
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. -
Abe Lincoln re-elected
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
After destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman, with 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea. President Lincoln on advice from Grant approved the idea. -
Nashville
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is crushed at Nashville by 55,000 Federals including Negro troops under Gen. George H. Thomas. The Confederate Army of Tennessee ceases as an effective fighting forc -
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 -
13 amendment
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. -
peace confence
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 -
the last offensive
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 -
the fall of richmond
Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond, is evacuated. Fires and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the -
Appomattox
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 Shot and Killed
The night of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln and his wife Mary attended a play at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., during the third act of the play, John Wilks Booth shot lincold in the head. Docter attended to him but there was nothing that could be done. -
Joesph surrenders
Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina -
the war is over
Remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends. Over 620,000 Americans died in the war, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors return home as amputees -
the 13 amedment is passed
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.
