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November 6, 1860
Abraham Lincoln is elected sixteenth president of the United States, the first Republican president in the nation who represents a party that opposes the spread of slavery in the territories of the United States -
December 17, 1860
The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina -
December 20, 1860
South Carolina secedes from the Union -
January 1861
Six additional southern states secede from the Union -
February 8-9, 1861
The southern states that seceded create a government at Montgomery, Alabama, and the Confederate States of America are formed -
January 19, 1862
Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky. The Union victory weakened the Confederate hold on the state -
February 6, 1862
Surrender of Fort Henry, Tennessee. The lost of this southern fort on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river -
February 8, 1862
Battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. A Confederate defeat, the battle resulted in Union occupation of eastern North Carolina and control of Pamlico Sound, to be used as Northern base for further operations against the southern coast -
May 31-June 1, 1862
The Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond, Virginia. General Joseph Johnston, commander of the Confederate army in Virginia is wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee who renames his command the "Army of Northern Virginia" -
December 31-January 3, 1863
Battle of Stones River, Tennessee. Fought between the Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg, the costly Union victory frees middle Tennessee from Confederate control and boosts northern morale
