Civil War By Grmetzger May 30, 1854 The Kansas-Nebraska Act is signed into law Oct 18, 1859 U.S. Marines storm engine house at Harpers Ferry and capture John Brown Nov 6, 1860 Abraham Lincoln elected 16th President of the United States Dec 20, 1860 South Carolina adopts an Ordinance of Secession Jan 2, 1861 South Carolina troops seize Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor Feb 9, 1861 Jefferson Davis elected provisional Confederate President Mar 4, 1861 Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States of America Apr 12, 1861 The Confederates in Charleston bombard Fort Sumter Apr 19, 1861 President Lincoln declares a blockade of Southern ports Apr 22, 1861 Robert E. Lee accepts command of Virginia forces May 3, 1861 Lincoln calls for volunteers to join the Union Army for a three-year term May 24, 1861 Zouave leader Elmer Ellsworth killed in Alexandria by James W. Jackson Jun 2, 1861 P.G.T. Beauregard takes command of Confederate forces in northern Virginia Jul 5, 1861 Engagement at Carthage, Missouri Jul 31, 1861 Ulysses S. Grant promoted to brigadier general Aug 6, 1861 President Lincoln signs the Revenue Act of 1861 into law, creating the first national income tax in American history Apr 9, 1865 Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Court House Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln is shot at Ford's Theatre May 12, 1865 Skirmish at Palmito Ranch, Texas - the last engagement of the Civil War Nov 10, 1865 War criminal Henry Wirz hanged
