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Civil War Timeline/Ballard
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Keitt"s Speech to the House of Representatives
South Carolina representative Laurence Keitt, one of the known "Fire-Eaters" in the House, delievers a speech saying that slavery is the corner-stone of the country's economy and suggests that the South should succed -
Democratic Convention Begins
During the deeply divided convention held down in Charleston, Soth Carolina, 50 Southern delegates walked out in protest to having Stephen Douglas as their canidate. -
Republican Convention Begins
The Republican Party held their convention in Chicago in the "Wigwam", a wooden building constructed in just six weeks for the convention. After three ballots, Abraham Lincoln get 235, two more than needed, to be named the Republican's nominee. -
Abraham Lincoln wins Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln wins the Election of 1860 running on the Republican Party's ticket beating out three other canidates including Stephen Douglas, John C. Breckenridge and John Bell. -
South Carolina Secession Convention Begins
169 delegates from South Carolina met in Columbia, South Carolina later to reconvene in Charleston, due to an outbreak of smallpox. The delegates later choose to secced from the Union. -
Florida Seceed from the Union
At a conference held in Tallahassee, delegates vote to cut off ties with the Union -
Buchanan Issues a Message to Congress
President James Buchanan wrote a letter to the United States Congress asking them to think-over any actions that may lead to war until voters go to the ballot box. -
Confederate Constitutional Convention
In Montgomery, Alabama, the seven current seceding states held a convention to write a constitution and names Jefferson Davis the president until elections could be held -
Lincoln Becomes President
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the 16th President of the United States. In his address, he said that he had no plans to end slavery but would not accept secession. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
After being asked to surrender by South Carolina forces, U.S. troops under the command of Robert Anderson refused to surrender until they ran out of supples and the first shots of the war was fired. There was no casualities on both sides. -
Capture of Fort Henry
Along the Tennessee River, Union general Ulysses S. Grant took control of the Confederate controlled Fort Henry which was under the command of Confederate general Lloyd Tilghman. Ten days later, Grant's forces will also capture the Confederate fort, Fort Donelson -
Monitor vs. Merrimac
The Union ironclad, the U.S.S. Monitor squared off against the ironclad C.S.S. Merrimac. After the duel ended in a draw, the Merrimac sunk two wooden Union warships. -
Battle of the Shiloh
Confederate forces attack Union forces under the command of Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. The Union forces were almost defeated until reinforcements arrived. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
After the Confederate victory at the 1st Battle of Bull Run was fought on July 21st, 1861; Union general John Pope and his men fought against the men of Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The battle ended with another Confederate victory and Pope was later forced to retreat his men back to Washington D.C, -
Habeas Corpus is Suspended
President Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus again over the entire North after loses on the battlefield, poor chances for the Lincoln Administration in upcoming elections, outcry over conscription and doubts over the public's reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln puts the Emancipation Proclamation into full effect making slavery illegal in all the rebelling states. Slaves in rebelling states are now seen as free indivisuals in the mind of the U.S. Government and Military. -
The March Consrciption Act
A lottery is set up to draft men ages 20-45 into military service in the North. The draft exculded men who could pay a $300 fee or find a subsitute. This caused many poor Americans to riot in the streets saying that "the blood of a poor man is as precious as that of the wealthy." -
Battle of Chancellorville
Union troops under the command of Maj. General Joseph Hooker fought against Confederate troops under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson outside of Chancellorville, Virginia. Due to his risky decision making, Lee's Confederate Army won but not without losing Stonewall Jackson to friendly fire. Lee likens the lost of Jackson to "losing my right arm." -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodest three-day battle of the Civil War ended in a crushing lost for the Confederate Army. After winning victories in Chancellorville, Gen. Lee decided to invade the North for a second time. On the third day of the battle, after the failed attempt of Confederate Gen. George E. Pickett's advance onto the Union line, the Condederates suffered a casualty rate of 50%. -
Lincoln"s Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
With plans to reintegrate the South back with the North, President Lincoln issues a proclamation pardoning all Southerners, execpt those who were high ranking Confederate officals and or mistreated Black prisioners of war. The amnesty seeker would have to take an oath swearing that they would support the Constitution of the United States. -
Andersonville Prison Camp Opens
Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia opens. Over 13,000 Union prisioners of war will die there due to neglect and the camp's commander, Major Henry Wirz, will be the only Civil War solider tried, found guilty of and executed for war crimes at the end of the war. -
Lincoln Appoints Grant as Commander-in-Chief
President Lincoln appoints Union General Ulysses S. Grant as commanders of all Union armies. General William T. Sherman takes over Grant's previous position as commander in the West. -
Sherman Begins Advance on Atlanta
Union General William T. Sherman begins his march from Dalton to Atlanta, Georgia. On his march, Sherman will skirmish with Confederate forces and bring fear to the Southern population by burning cities and crops to the ground. -
Arlington National Cemetary is Founded
Union General Montgomery C. Meigs establishes Arlington National Cemetary. After Mary Custis Lee, wife of General Robert E. Lee, was unable to abide by tax laws, the land was confiscated and 200 acres were set aside for a military cemetary. -
Election of 1864
Republican President Abraham Lincoln faced a reelection bid against Democratic challenger and former general George B. McClellan. Lincoln won with 55% of the popular vote and 212 of the 233 electorial votes and choose Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee Democratic senator who stayed loyal to the Union, to be his running mate. -
Congress Approves 13th Amendment
The United States Congress passes a 13th Amendment to the Constitution to outlaw slavery throughout the United States. The Amendment is sent to the states for ratification. -
Sherman Captures Columbia
General William T. Sherman, on his march up from Georgia, captures the city of Columbia, South Carolina. Sherman's men burn two thirds of the city. -
Confederacy Enlists Black Troops
In a desperate move to fill his armies, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signs an order allowing slaves to join the Confederate Army. Of the few who do join, none see action before the war is over. -
Richmond Falls
General Ulysses S. Grant captures the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virgina. Confederate government officals flee and President Lincoln visits the city on April 4th. -
The South Surrenders
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders on behalf of the Confederate States at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. He surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Five days later, President Lincoln is assassinated.
