Civil War Timeline

Civil War

Period: Oct 31, 1860 to May 1, 1865

Lincoln Elected

Nov 6, 1860

Abraham Lincoln elected president: March 4th 1861, had no plans to end slavery in states that it already existed and did not accept succession. He hoped to resolve the national crisis without warfare.

Ft. Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Battle at Fort Sumter: April 12 1861, Planned to send supplies he told the state in advance to avoid problems. The commander of the fort Robert Anderson, was asked to surrender immediately. He said he would, but only after he had ran out weapons. His offer was rejected and they started to fire.

Lincoln orders blockade of the south.

Apr 19, 1861

Lincoln orders blockade of the south: April 19 1961, The federal navy had to be improved and they used ships.

1st Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Also known as First Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the city of Manassas. It was the first major land battle of the American Civil War.

Monitor Vs. Virginian

Mar 9, 1862

Monitor vs. Virginia naval battle: March 8-9, 1862- the Ironclad ship Virginia(confederates) sunk 2 wooden Union ships then the Union also made a iron ship (the Monitor)- changed ship warfare for forever

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Grant captured many forts in Tennessee. The South lost.

7 Days Campaign

Jun 25, 1862

7 Days Campaign: June 26- July 2, 1862 They fought a series of battles: Mechanicsville (June 26-27), Gaines's Mill (June 27), Savage's Station (June 29), Frayser's Farm (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1). The Confederates withdrew to Richmond.

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Antietam: September 17 1862, Robert E. Lee told the Confederates to fight. He crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. Union troops battled in Sharpsburg. Lee withdrew troops.

Emancipation Issued

Sep 22, 1862

Union generals declared slaves escaping to their lines (contraband war) that they weren’t returned to their masters. Congress passed an act that all slaves from the Union be considered free.

2nd Bull Run

Sep 29, 1862

attacked the Union and it turned into a disaster.

Emancipation take effect

Jan 1, 1863

President Lincoln signed the final Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavering in rebelling states.

Battle at Chancellorsville

May 1, 1863

Union General Hooker crossed the Rappahannock River to attack General Lee's forces. The Union army almost completely defeated them.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg:July 1–3, 1863-The battle with the largest number of casualties

Siege of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

Grant surrounded the fort. On July 4th they surrendered. The North gained control of the Mississippi river.

Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

The high marker of the Confederacy. It was also significant because it ended the hope of the Confederate hopes to be recognition by foreign governments.

Battle at Chattanooga

Nov 23, 1863

Union forces pushed Confederate troops away.

Ulysses S. Grant takes over the Union Army

Mar 10, 1864

Ulysses S. Grant takes over the Union Army: March 9 1864, Lincoln tells general Grant to command all armies of the United States. William T. Sherman accepts Grant as commander.

Sherman captures Atlanta

Nov 5, 1864

General Sherman cuts the rail lines around Atlanta and captures the key Southern city, bolstering public opinion in the North as Lincoln prepares for re-election.

Abraham Lincoln re-elected

Nov 8, 1864

He ran against George B. McClellan. Elections were held in the Union states and he won by more than 400,000 votes.

Sherman begins march to the sea

Nov 16, 1864

William T Sherman left Tennessee with 100,000 troops. Soldiers burned and destroyed everything within 60 miles.

Savannah, GA falls to the Union

Dec 21, 1864

Sherman telegraphs Lincoln offering him Savannah as a Christmas present.

13th Amendment passed

Jan 31, 1865

officially outlawed slavery except as a punishment for a crime.

Union Army moves in and occupies Richmond, VA.

Mar 3, 1865

General Grant and General Meade's Army moved to the south of Richmond. During the winter of 1864-65 the Union army attacked many times, but could not break through. After nine months General Lee was forced to retreat toward Lynchburg giving up both Petersburg and Richmond.

Robert E. Lee surrenders

Apr 9, 1865

Robert E. Lee surrenders: April 14 1865, He surrenders after Fort Sumter.

Abraham Lincoln shot and killed

Apr 14, 1865

Abraham Lincoln shot and killed: April 14, 1865- Shot in head by John Wilkes Booth, a member of a group to kill Lincoln.