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Civil War Events Time and Dates
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Lincoln Elected
Abe Lincoln elected 16th President of the United States -
South Carolina secedes
On news of Lincoln's election, South Carolina (site of nullification fight in 1830s) secedes -
Confederacy Formed
Seven states form Confederacy, write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation -
Lincoln Inaugurated
Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot. -
Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle
Gen. McDowell leads 30,000 men against Gen. Johnston's 22,000 Southern troops in an attempt to crush the rebels and go "On to Richmond." South scores victory as Union troops flee back to Washington in disarray. McDowell replaced by Gen. McClellan -
Peninsular Campaign (Yorktown, Seven Days' Battle, Fair Oaks)
After continual prodding by Lincoln, McClellan decides to attack Richmond via the South. He moves his large army down the Potomac, marches on Richmond, and then assumes a defensive position rather than pushing for victory. Gen. Lee takes command of Southern troops -
Monitor vs. Merrimac
First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained -
Shiloh
Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South -
Second Bull Run (Manassas)
McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan -
Antietam
Heavily outnumbered, Lee's troops face McClellan in bloody fighting. Over 23,000 casualties (more than all previous American wars combined). Lee retreats to Virginia -
Emancipation Proclamation
With victory at Antietam, Lincoln announces that on 1/1/63, all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. Does not affect border states. Forces European nations to recognize that choosing sides in the Civil War is to take a stand on slavery -
Fredericksburg
Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000). -
Chancellorsville
Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but General Stonewall Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed. -
Gettysburg
Over 165,000 soldiers participate in the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere. After three days of fighting, Lee retreats, leaving 4,000 dead Confederates. Total casualties: 23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederates -
Vicksburg
After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control -
Chattanooga
Reinforced with troops from the East, Grant is able to push Southern troops back and prepare for assault on Atlanta and the heart of the Confederacy -
Gettysburg Address
Beginning with the now-iconic phrase "Four score and seven years ago," referring to the Declaration of Independence during the American Revolution in 1776, Lincoln examined the founding principles of the United States in the context of the Civil War, and memorialized the sacrifices of those who gave their lives at to ensure the survival of America's representative democracy, that the "government of the people, by the people, for the people. -
Grant promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops
Grant prepares for assault on Richmond. When Lincoln's Cabinet complains that Grant is a drunk and seeks to interfere with his command, Lincoln gives him unconditional support and asks not to notified of his plans. -
Wilderness & Spotsylvania
Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to RichmondThough suffering huge losses (55,000 men to South's 31,000), Grant states "I propose to fight on this line if it takes all summer" -
Petersburg
Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication outside Richmond. Long siege of Petersburg begins with troops living in trenches which stretched for 50 miles -
Shermans March to the Sea
Gen. Sherman destroys Atlanta and then sends troops on 300 mile destructive march to the sea. Railroads torn up, buildings destroyed, crops burned in an attempt to break the will of the South -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
. Lincoln was shot while watching the play Our American Cousin with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on the night of April 14, 1865. By assassin John Wilkes Boothe -
Lee surrenders
Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender. At Appottomatox Courthouse
