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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Lincoln gives his Cooper Union Speech
Lincoln gives his Cooper Union Speech at the Cooper Institute in New York City. This speech solidified and is a large cause for his selection as Republican presidential candidate. -
The Pony Express is Started
The Pony Express was a mail service that delivered letters, newspapers, packages, etc. from Missouri to California. It allowed news to spread faster than ever before, and though it only ran until late 1861, it was very helpful in communication during the start of the war. -
The South holds a Democratic Convention
A Democratic Convention is held in South Carolina, but is largely disconnected within because the issue of slavery has torn apart many parts of the country. -
Thomas Jackson Commands Harpers Ferry
After John Brown's awful raid of Harpers Ferry in West Virginia (Oct. 1859), Thomas Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) was sent to command and protect it to prevent further attacks. -
Abraham Lincoln is the Republican Candidate
After the Chicago Republican Convention, Lincoln is chosen to be the Republican presidential candidate. -
Abraham Lincoln is Told to Grow his Beard
Grace Bedell, age 11, advises Lincoln via letter that he should grow his beard out, because he is scary without it. This sparks his famous look. -
Abraham Lincoln's Inauguration
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States, beating out opponents Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge, and John Bell. His presidency covers the Civil War in its entirety. -
James Chesnut Leaves the U.S. Senate
James Chesnut becomes the first senator from a Southern state to leave the U.S. Senate in the wake of secession gossip, shortly before South Carolina actually secedes. He later becomes Jefferson Davis's right-hand man. -
The Crittenden Compromise
U.S. Senator John J. Crittenden proposed a reform to the secession problem by reminding everyone about the real matter with slavery. While it was unsuccessful, it has been said to force some states that had the hopes of seceding to reconsider momentarily. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina becomes the first Southern state to secede from the Union, sparking the others to follow within the next year. -
Mississippi Secedes from the Union
Mississippi becomes the 2nd state to secede from the Union, enforcing the Confederacy and marking the turning point when the South's secession became real and not just a veiled threat. -
The Confederacy is Born
With 7 of the 11 Southern states seceded from the Union, the Confederate States are officially established in the South. -
Fort Sumter is Threathened
Major Anderson informs Lincoln via letter that Fort Sumter is at risk of attack by the Confederates. -
The Surrender of Fort Sumter
Usually considered the start of the Civil War, the Union surrender of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina marks the beginning of aggression by the South. Lincoln rejects ideas to fire and kill Confederate soldier and instead, he allows Davis to be seen as the aggressor. It is considered a Confederate win, despite no one being killed. -
Virginia Secedes from the Union
Virginia secedes from the Union, which is a major upset to the North. Virginia is the middle of the East Coast at this point, and it lies as the border of the Union capital, Washington D.C. -
Robert E. Lee Turns Down Union General Offer
After being offered a spot as the Union Army's general, Robert E. Lee does not accept, saying he must fight for his state, even if he disagrees with their values. -
The Anaconda Plan is Presented
As more and more states secede, Union General Winfield Scott decides to present The Anaconda Plan to officials in the North in efforts to establish a likely leg-up against the South. -
Tennessee Secedes from the Union
Tennessee becomes the last Southern state to secede from the Union, tying loose ends and finalizing the completely secession of the South. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Union forces on their way to Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, happen to pass through Manassas, Virginia, and there, they battle the Confederates. The Union soldiers are inexperienced, but the Confederates are exhausted throughout the day. Ultimately, it is decided that it is a Confederate win, because the Union retreats. It marks the first real battle of the Civil War. -
Jefferson Davis Becomes Confederate President
Jefferson Davis is given the position of President of the Confederacy, a few months after the last Southern state seceded from the Union. -
The Invasion of West Tennessee
Ulysses S. Grant, a Union General, invades West Tennessee, along with Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. He managed to grab the Union a victory in 11 days, earning his nickname "Unconditional Surrender" in the process. -
The Battle of Shiloh
Ulysses S. Grant moves troops to southwestern Tennessee, where they are surprise attacked by Confederate troops. After the South takes a victorious lead, they are not able to sustain it, and the Union ends up winning. It is one of the major battles of the early part of the Civil War, with about 1/4 of the 100,000 men there being killed or wounded. -
Lincoln Signs the Pacific Railway Acts
President Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Acts into effect, thus commencing production of the First Transcontinental Railroad. It will go on transform, expand, and industrialize America throughout its reconstruction. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
In Manassas, Virginia, the Confederates crush the Union troops, redeeming themselves after the last battle there, where the North won. -
The Battle of Antietam
In Sharpsburg, Maryland, Confederate and Union troops clash in the bloodiest single day in the Civil War. 26,000 casualties give the battlefield the nickname "Bloody Lane" and the Confederates retreat due to lack of supplies, men, and strength, despite no official surrender taking place. -
The Confederates Invade the North
For the first official time, Robert E. Lee manages to lead Southern troops from Virginia across the Potomac River and into Maryland. This sets them up to fight the North in Sharpsburg, in the Battle of Antietam. -
Lincoln tells people to expect the Emancipation Proclamation
A few months prior to signing off on and publicly officializing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln declares his plans for the address and lets the public know what he hopes for the future of America. -
Lincoln fires McClellan
After hesitant leadership at Antietam that led to far more casualties than necessary, Lincoln fires Commander of the Army of the Potomac George McClellan because he is "slow". -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
In the hopes of capturing Confederate capital Richmond, Virginia, Union troops manage to suffer a considerable number of casualties, failing in their goal of invading Richmond. -
West Virginia Becomes a Union State
Lincoln signs off on West Virginia's wish to become a Union state and split Virginia in two. -
The Emancipation Proclamation Goes into Effect
Lincoln officializes his promised Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel territories free as those seceded states rejoin the Union. -
Massachusetts gets the Go-ahead to Form All African-American Regiment
Massachusetts governor John A. Andrews pushes for the first all African-American regiment during the Civil War, and he finally gets it cleared by the government. -
The Enrollment Act
The U.S. Congress passesthe Enrollment Act, which allows any male of a certain age to be drafted into the Army, as a respect to the country. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
In Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Confederate forces reign victorious against the Union troops, with a combined total of 30,500 casualties. During the fighting, Lee's good friend and fellow Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is shot accidentally by a Confederate soldier and dies soon after. -
The 54th Massachusetts leave Boston to Fight
The first African-American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts, leave from Boston to fight for the Union, making history and helping to change the course of the war by pushing boundaries. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Lasting 3 days, the Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) marks the bloodiest battle in history. With anywhere from 45,000-50,000 casualties combined, each army suffers a great deal of struggle. The battle ends with a Union victory and solidifies the South as being a now predicted loser of the Civil War. -
The Siege of Vicksburg
In a month-long siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ulysses S. Grant leads his troops to force Confederate soldiers into surrender and ultimately allowing the Union control of the Mississippi River. -
The New York City Draft Riots
Outraged by new laws forcing the gathering of soldiers for the Civil War, countless citizens protest the drafts in New York City. Violence ensues and casualties reach 120 or so. -
Lee's Resignation
After Gettysburg, General Lee sends Jefferson Davis a resignation letter. Davis rejects his letter, forcing Lee to continue. -
The Gettysburg Address
Following the turning-point battle of the Civil War, at Gettysburg, Lincoln visits to deliver a speech. Presided by a 2-hour long introduction, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is an underwhelming 2 minutes long, but leaves everything that needs to be said, said. It proclaims and admires the strength of a nation divided. -
Ulysses S. Grant Becomes the Union Commander
After a year or two of being a general to the Union Army, Ulysses S. Grant is finally promoted by President Lincoln and becomes Lieutenant. He controls the entirety of the Union Army. -
The Richmond Bread Riots
As a result of high costs, few ports, and a month of fasting/prayer dictated by Jefferson Davis, people in the South were starving and in need of supplies and food. To show Davis how they felt, a group of women gathered in town and started a riot to express their desire for bread. This is just one example of the tension tearing the Confederacy at its seams. -
The Fort Pillow Massacre
After Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest captures Fort Pillow from the Union in Tennessee, violence ensues. The South gets angry that the Union is utilizing African-American soldiers, so the Confederate soldiers proceed to slaughter all of them. -
Ulysses S. Grant Calls Off Prisoner Exchanges
Sick and tired of unfair treatment to African-American soldiers who the South refused to parole and exchange if prisoners of war, Grant calls off all prisoner exchanges until the Confederacy recognizes the worth of the African-American soldiers. -
Battle of the WIlderness
A 3-day long battle in Virginia between Grant and Lee's men. Both sides fought hard and suffered a total of nearly 30,000 casualties. The battle resulted in an inconclusive draw. -
The Battle of Resaca
After 3 days or so of fighting, the Battle of Resaca, a part of the Atlanta Campaign, resulted in an inconclusive outcome, with the Confederate troops retreating. -
The Battle of Cold Harbor
This battle is considered the last real victory of Lee's of the Civil War. Taking place in Virginia, this battle spans from late May to mid-June, but the heaviest amount of fighting is on the 3rd. -
The Battle of Atlanta
After a major defeat in Gettysburg, the Battle of Atlanta stands as an important opportunity for the South to regain power; however, the UNion's strategy gives them a leg-up and they win. The battle solidifies the Union's complete victory of the Civil War. -
General Sherman Begins his March
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman begins his March to the Sea, a month-long trek through the South. As he travels with 60,000 soldiers, Sherman tears apart Georgia, moving from Atlanta to Savannah. He kills more than just soldiers and destroys the Confederacy's lands. -
Sherman's March to the Sea Ends
After a whole month of violence and non-stop aggression, Sherman's March to the Sea finally ends in Savannah, Georgia, leaving a crumbling South in its wake. -
The Carolinas Campaign
Sherman, infamous for his destruction of the South during the Civil War, commences his march through South Carolina to Columbia, starting in February and finishing in late April. -
The 13th Amendment is Passed
The 13th Amendment is passed, abolishing slavery in America after many years of injustice. -
Columbia, South Carolina Burns
After General Lafayette McLaws of the South tries resisting Sherman and his troops in Columbia, his men burn the city to the ground in the process of fighting. Columbia surrenders to Sherman. -
Robert E. Lee Becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Confederacy
After years of being general to the South, Lee is officially put in charge of the whole Confederate Army and named Commander-in-Chief. -
Lincoln's 2nd Inauguration
President Lincoln is inaugurated for a second term following his handling of the Civil War. -
Confederacy Accepts African-American Soldiers
Much after the Union, the South finally decides to approve slaves/freed black men as soldiers, though most say no. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant
In Appomattox Court House, Virginia, Robert E. Lee meets with Ulysses S. Grant to signify the Confederate surrender. This ends the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assassination
During a play that he is seeing with his wife and friends, President Lincoln is shot in the back of the head by Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booth and badly wounded. He dies within that next 24 hours. -
Lincoln's Funeral Train Leaves Washington
Lincoln's body is transported by train to Springfield, Illinois from Washington D.C. for the proper burial. -
Jefferson Davis is Captured
As punishment for his treasonous acts against the U.S., Union troops capture Confederate President Jefferson Davis. -
President Johnson Vetos Civil Rights Act
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act, protecting African-American citizens rights and freedoms, but Congress overrides his veto. -
The Memphis Race Riots
A series of violent riots and protests in Tennessee that resulted from a white police officer trying to arrest an African-American. The violence spanned 3 days. -
The 14th Amendment is Passed by Congress
The 14th Amendment, entailing that no citizen can be stripped of their basic rights or mistreated for being different, is passed by Congress. It won't be ratified until 1868. -
Ulysses S. Grant Named 1st General of the U.S. Army
After leading the Union Armies to victory in the Civil War, Grant is honored as the 1st General of the Army. -
Tennessee Readmits to the Union
Tennessee rejoins the Union and becomes the first Southern state to do so after the war. -
New Orleans Massacre
White Democrats attack and violently protest a group of mostly African-American Republicans outside of Mechanics Institute. -
The National Union Convention
Johnson arrange a National Union Convention in Philadelphia to try and repair the tension with Johnson's ideals for Reconstruction and the general ideas of Republicans -
President Johnson Declares Civil War Over
Though the Civil War technically ended with Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, John declare the war officially over once every Confederate general has surrendered. -
The "Swing Around the Circle" Tour
"Swing Around the Circle" was a speaking tour that President Johnson went on that bombed. He had hoped to give people a better understanding of his reconstruction views, but it just blew up in his face. It lasted only 1 month. -
Frederick Douglass Attends a Convention
Frederick Douglass, former slave and writer, becomes the first African-American to attend any type of national convention. -
African-Americans Can Vote in D.C.
Despite a hard veto from President Johnson, African-AMericans are allowed to vote in Washington D.C. only. It is a step forward for them. -
The 1st Reconstruction Act was Passed by Congress
The 1st Reconstruction Act was passed by Congress, despite Johnson's veto. -
The Alaska Purchase
For $7.2 million, President Johnson buys the state of Alaska from Russia. -
The 2nd Reconstruction Act was Passed by Congress
The 2nd Reconstruction Act was passed by Congress, even though Johnson, again, vetoed it. -
Congress Approves Construction of the Lincoln Memorial
The U.S. Congress decides to allow a monument, the LIncoln Memorial, to be built in honor of the 16th President. -
African-American Voter Registrations Go South
While Reconstruction hits the South, the spread of acceptance for blacks does, too, and voter registrations can now be found there. -
The 3rd Reconstruction Act was Passed by Congress
Despite Johnson's veto again, the 3rd Reconstruction Act was passed by Congress -
African-Americans Vote in a Southern Election
For the first time ever, blacks are allowed to vote in a Tennessee election. -
Johnson Suspends Secretary of War
Despite Congress's strict no on suspending Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, Johnson goes against the wishes of the government. This move is risky and contributes to his later impeachment. -
U.S. Congress Tries Impeaching Johnson
After poor decisions, multiple vetoes, little help with Reconstruction, and defying characteristics, the U.S. Congress Commission decides to try impeaching President Johnson. -
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Trial
After being a poor fit for president and generally unhelpful, Andrew Johnson was put on trial for impeachment. -
The Treaty of Fort Laramie
William Tecumseh Sherman brokers the Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Plains Indians. -
Johnson is Acquitted
Despite being on trial for impeachment with reasonable cause, President Johnson is acquitted because he is only 1 vote shy of being impeached and therefore, he stays in office. -
Arkansas Readmits to the Union
3 years after the Civil War ends, Arkansas becomes the 2nd state to readmit itself to the Union after seceding. -
More Southern States are Readmitted to the Union
States such as Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia are readmitted to the U.S. -
The 14th Amendment is Passed
The 14th Amendment, very similar to the Civil Rights Act, protected citizenship and deemed it forbidden to try and take someone's basic rights away. -
Ulysses S. Grant Becomes President
Grant becomes the 18th President of the U.S. after beating out Horatio Seymour. -
John W. Menard is the 1st Black Congressman
John W. Menard becomes America's 1st African-AMerican Congressman -
Johnson Pardons Confederate Involvement
Though he is still upset and hesitant about it, Andrew Johnson gives a pardon to those who rebelled during the Civil War -
Jefferson Davis is Pardoned from Treason
Because of Johnson's pardon on all Confederate soldiers from the Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who had been on trial for treason, was released of his crimes.
