Civil War Timeline

South Carolina Secedes

Dec 20, 1860

http://www.tulane.edu/~sumter/Dilemmas/DDec20.html On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina separated itself from the United States. The people wished to continue with the use of slaves and President Lincoln opposed this idea. Eventually, the secession led to the creation of the Confederacy.

Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated

Mar 4, 1861

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/day-lincoln-inaugurated On March 4th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the president of the United states. He delivered an inaugural address that focused on the crisi of the Civil War. Chief Justice Roger B. Tauney administered the oath of office!

Attack on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graphics/battles/fortsumter.html General Beauregard commanded the Union to surrender at Fort Sumter. Anderson refused and so the Confederacy attacked the Fort. The next day, Anderson surrendered. Unfortunately, the Union lost the first battle of the Civil War.

Virginia Seceded

Apr 17, 1861

http://www.janus.umd.edu/Feb2002/Cote/01.html Virginia decided to removeitself from the Union on April 17th. Viriginia was geographically sandwiched between the North and the South. They also were torn culturally. It was a long battle before the states seceded.

1st Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/netscape/battles/bullrun.html The Bull Run, occurred in Manssas, was the first major battle in the Civil War. McDowell was the General for the Union and led 28,000 men. He fought General Beauregard with 33,000 men of the Confederacy. In this battle, General Jackson achieved the nickname "stonewall" for holding his ground against the Union. Ultimately the South had the victory.

Battle of Monitor and the Merrimac

Mar 8, 1862

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_hampton_roads.html The Battle of Monitor and the Merrimac may have been the most important naval battle of the Civil War. The battle was an attempt by the Confederacy to break throught the Union blockades in Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia. The result was inconclusive however the Union lost 200 more men.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/netscape/battles/shiloh.html General Grant , Union, and his army were encamped west of the Tennessee river. General Johnston of the Confederacy and Beauregard and their army launched a surprise attack on the Union force. On the first day they were successful, however the Union eventually won the second day. Thousands were wounded and thousands killed that day.

McClellan returns to Washington after the Peninsula Campaign

Jul 21, 1862

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_peninsular1862.html The Confedracy won the Peninsula Campaign. Washington was extremely vulnerable after their loss. The fact that the Union was not offensive, allowed the Confederates to have victory in Richmond and at Bull Run.

2nd Bull Run

Aug 28, 1862

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/secondmanassas/maps/secondmanassasmap1.html This Battle at Bull Run was at a much larger scale than the battle that occured on the same land a year earlier. "Stonewall" Jackson captured the Union supply depot at Manassas. This threatened General Pope's access to Washington DC. Jackson's army broke through a Union resistence and Pope retreated to Centreville, VA. The Confederates won killing 10,000 Union soldiers.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html At Sharpsburg, Maryland, General Lee confronted General McClellan. Union General Hooker's army attacked Lee's left flank which began the battle. The Confederates counterattacked and this day was the bloddiest day in American history. 12,401 Union soldiers were killed or wounded. 10,316 Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded. The result was inconclusive however the Union won by means of strategy.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Fredericksburg_Battle_of Ambrose E Burnside of the Union and Lee of the Confederacy battled in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia. In this battle, the Union lost twice as many men s the Confederates because it was a one-sided battle. The Confederates were victorious.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1549.html As a result of the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It gave slaves the right to fight in the Civil War. It proclaimed that all slaves should be free that lived in the South. Although it wasn't initially accepted by the South, eventually it became law that all men are free.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chancellorsville.html This battle lasted until May 6th, 1863 in Spotsylvania County. Lee was faced with defeating an army twice his size (Hooker). It is said that lee fought the "perfect battle" because he took a risk going up against a larger opponent and winning. In this battle, Lee lost his "right arm." "Stonewall" Jackson was killed. The second bloodiest day of the Civil War was May 3rd.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graphics/experience/battles/gettysburg.html The Battle of Gettysburg was the War's turning point. The battle lasted 3 days and was the bloodiest battle in American history. The North was able to resist the Confederate force and they retreated back to Virginia. Fifty-three thousnad soldiers died at Gettysburg.

Surrender at Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullRecord.asp?id=70075 General John C. Pemberton (Confederate) surrendered to Ulysses Grant and his Union army at Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was part of the Vicksburg Campaign which was one of the Union's most successful parts of the war. The town didn't celbrate the fourth of July for 81 more years.

The Battle of Fort Wagner

Jul 18, 1863

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_fort_wagner.html The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, made up of African Americans, attempted to take the Confederate Fort on Morris Island, SC. They were unsuccessful, however they were recognized throughout the North for their bravery.

Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/exhibition.cfm?key=38&exkey=1197 President Abraham Lincoln deliered this famous speech at the opening of the Soldier's National Cemetary in Gettysburg. The speech was only two minutes long and the audience was not impressed by it at all. In fact, they said it was a waste of time. AS time passed, people began to appreciate it and its message.

Grant Displays Fighting Style at Cold Harbor

Jun 3, 1864

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/coldharbor/cold-harbor-history-articles/ Grant, the Union General, attempted to attack the Confederate forces in Hanover County, VA. His tactics were diffrent because he had the army fight as one large unit. His style of fighting did not lead to victory. HE later said "I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made. ... No advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained."

Sherman Sets out for the Sea

Nov 1, 1864

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-641 General Sherman of the Union army set out on a six month expedition to Savannah Georgia after burning Atlanta. Along the way, they affected the lives of women and children and plummaged countryside and plantations. Ironically, they had more food at the end of the march than at the beginning.

Atlanta burns to the Ground

Nov 11, 1864

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-641 On November 11th, 1864, as part of the March to the Sea, General William T. Sherman ordered his troops to set fire to Atlanta, Georgia. All the buildings important to the Confederates were destroyed. After mayor Calhoun surrendered the city, the Union set fire to the city.

Sherman Reaches Savannah

Dec 10, 1864

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-641 After the capture of Atlanta, Sherman tried to get Grant to allow him to move on to Savannah, Georgia. He was granted permission and practiced scorched earth policy on his march. When he arrived he sent this telegram to Lincoln, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton."

Lincoln delivers 2nd Inaugural Address

Mar 4, 1865

http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=17&CRLI=94 Due to extreme weather conditions leading up to March 4th, caused spectators to stand in thick mud in order to hear Lincoln's Inaugural Address. Chief Justice Salmon Chase administered the oath of office. The major theme he spoke of in his speech was "reconstruction of the nation." His conspirators were in the audience. These were the men that would assassinate him in a few weeks.

Richmond Falls

Apr 3, 1865

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/warfare-and-logistics/warfare/richmond.html Richmond was the Confederate States of America's capital. After Lee made an attack on Fort Stedman, Grant decided to become offensive. On April 2nd, the Union army broke through the Confederate lines. That night, the Confederate government and army fled the city. The next morning, the Union occupied Richmond.

Robert E. Lee Surrenders Commission

Apr 9, 1865

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered 28,000 troops at Appomattox ,Virginia. He was forced to abandon Richmond. When the Union band began to play a celebration song Grant said, "The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again." This surrender ended the war.

Surrender at Appomattox

Apr 9, 1865

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/appomattox-courthouse.html After attempting to break free of the Union's surrounding army, Lee surrendered to Grant. Wilmer McClean offered his home for the meeting place where Lee and Grant signed an agreement ending the war.