American Civil War

Lincoln Wins Close Race

Nov 6, 1860

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_LincolnNovember 6, 1860Lincoln Wins Close RaceAbraham Lincoln wins a four-way race for President of the United States. Although he does not win a popular majority and is not even on the ballot in nine southern states, he earns enough electoral votes to beat all other opponents.

South Carolina First to Secede

Dec 20, 1860

December 20, 1860South Caroline First to SecedeSouth Carolina officially secedes from the Union, becoming the first state to do so.

Lincoln Inagurated

Mar 4, 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_LincolnMarch 4, 1861Lincoln InaguratedAbraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the sixteenth President of the United States. In his Inaugural Address he gives a stark warning to the South: he will not tolerate secession.

Confederate Constitution Signed

Mar 11, 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_ConstitutionMarch 11, 1861Confederate Constitution SignedThe Constitution of the Confederate States of America is signed in Montgomery, Alabama.

Civil War Begins

Apr 12, 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_WarApril 12, 1861Civil War BeginsConfederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard bombard Major Robert Anderson and his Union soldiers at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War officially begins.

Union Surrender at Ft. Sumter

Apr 14, 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_SumterApril 14, 1861Union Surrender at Ft. SumterMajor Robert Anderson surrenders Fort Sumter to Confederate forces after two days of bombardment.

Merrimac vs. Monitor

Mar 9, 1862

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_vs_MerrimackMarch 9, 1862Merrimac vs. MonitorThe Confederate ironclad USS Merrimac battles the Union ironclad USS Monitor in Chesapeake Bay. The battle is a draw but it makes wooden ships obsolete and ushers in the era of steel warships, changing naval warfare forever.

Seven Day Attacks

Jun 25, 1862

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Days_BattlesJune 25, 1862Seven Day AttacksOver the course of seven days, General Robert E. Lee attacks George McClellan's Union Army of the Potomac near Richmond, Virginia. Huge casualties cause McClellan to withdraw north towards Washington.

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_AntietamSeptember 17, 1862 Antietam
The Battle of Antietam is the bloodiest day in United States history. Over 26,000 men are killed, wounded or missing in action on both sides. Though officially a draw, the battle stops General Robert E. Lee's invasion of Maryland and he retreats back to Virginia.

Preliminary Emancipation

Sep 22, 1862

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_ProclamationSeptember 22, 1862Preliminary EmancipationLincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declares his intention to free all slaves in any new territory captured by the Union Army.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_ProclamationJanuary 1, 1863Emancipation ProclamationLincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. It frees all slaves in territory captured by the Union Army, and orders the enlistment of black soldiers. From this point forward, the Civil War is a war over slavery.

First Draft Enacted

Mar 3, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_WarMarch 3, 1863First Draft EnactedCongress enacts the first draft in American history, requiring every man to serve in the army unless he can furnish a substitute or pay the government $300. These escape provisions are wildly unpopular with workers and recent immigrants, and lead to draft riots in New York and other northern cities.

Chancellorsville

May 1, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ChancellorsvilleMay 1, 1863
Chancellorsville
Over the course of three days, General Robert E. Lee divides his army in the face of a larger enemy, and manages to defeat the Union Army led by "Fighting" Joe Hooker. The North suffers 17,000 casualties, the South 13,000.

Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_GettysburgJuly 1, 1863GettysburgFrom July 1 to July 4, the Union Army under General Meade defeats Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. One of the bloodiest battles of the war, Gettysburg is a turning point, and marks the farthest advance of the Confederate Army into northern territory.

Pickett’s Charge

Jul 3, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickett%27s_ChargeJuly 3, 1863
Pickett’s Charge
On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee orders General George Pickett to assault entrenched Union positions. In what would become known as "Pickett's Charge," More than half of the 12,000 Confederate soldiers who participate in the charge are slaughtered as they walk slowly across a 3/4-mile field into a hail of gunfire.

Lincoln Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_Gettysburg_AddressNovember 19, 1863Lincoln Gettysburg AddressPresident Lincoln delivers the two-minute Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Lincoln Appoints Grant

Mar 9, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._GrantMarch 9, 1864
Lincoln Appoints Grant
Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant commander of all Union armies, ending his long search for a decent general to command northern forces. General William T. Sherman takes over as commander in the West.

Virginia Campaign

May 4, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_CampaignMay 4, 1864Virginia CampaignBeginning a drive aimed at ending the war, Ulysses S. Grant and 120,000 troops march south towards Richmond, the Confederate capital. Over the course of the next six weeks, a brutal war of attrition results in the deaths of nearly 50,000 Union soldiers.

Battle of the Wilderness

May 4, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_WildernessMay 4, 1864Battle of WildernessDuring the horrific Battle of the Wilderness, thousands of men burn to death as the woods in which they were fighting catch fire.

Battle of Cold Harbor

Jun 1, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cold_HarborJune 1, 1864Battle of Cold HarborThe bloody battle of Cold Harbor is a disaster for the Union. General Ulysses S. Grant makes a series of tactical mistakes that result in the deaths of 7,000 Union in twenty minutes.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Nov 15, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman%27s_March_to_the_SeaNovember 15, 1864Sherman’s March to the SeaUnion General Sherman begins his famous March to the Sea, cutting a swath of destruction 300 miles long and 60 miles wide through Georgia. "All war is hell," he comments.

West War Over

Dec 15, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_WarDecember 15, 1864West War OverThe Confederate Army of the Tennessee is crushed by the Union Army of the Cumberland in Nashville. The war in the West is nearly over.

Savannah Captured

Dec 21, 1864

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_SavannahDecember 21, 1864Savannah CapturedSavannah is captured, ending the March to the Sea. Union General Sherman offers the city to Lincoln as a Christmas present.

Thirteenth Amendment Ends Slavery

Jan 31, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_ConstitutionJanuary 31, 1865Thirteenth Amendment Ends SlaveryThe United States Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which will abolish slavery.

Lincoln Second Term

Mar 4, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_LincolnMarch 4, 1865Lincoln Second TermLincoln is sworn in for his second term as President of the United States.

Richmond Falls

Apr 2, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_RichmondApril 2, 1865Richmond FallsThe Union Army captures Richmond, Virginia, which is nearly leveled by shelling and fire.

Lee Surrenders

Apr 9, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclusion_of_the_American_Civil_WarApril 9, 1865Lee SurrendersGeneral Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant in a farmhouse in the town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The war is over.

Lincoln Shot

Apr 14, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_assassinationApril 14, 1865Lincoln ShotAbraham Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.

Lincoln Dies by Assassination

Apr 15, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_assassinationApril 15, 1865Lincoln Dies by AssassinationLincoln does not regain consciousness after being shot at Ford's Theater. He dies from his wound.

South Surrenders

Apr 18, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclusion_of_the_American_Civil_WarApril 18, 1865South SurrendersGeneral Joe Johnston, leading the largest Confederate Army still in existence, surrenders in North Carolina.

Slavery Abolished

Dec 6, 1865

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_StatesDecember 6, 1865Slavery AbolishedThe Thirteenth Amendment is ratified by the States. Slavery is abolished.