African American Soldiers in the Civil War By Laurenpurcell Nov 1, 1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected president Period: Nov 1, 1860 to Dec 6, 1865 African American Soldiers in the Civil War Dec 1, 1860 South Carolina is the first of eleven states to secede from the Union Feb 1, 1861 Confederate States of America is formed Apr 12, 1861 The Civil War begins Jul 21, 1861 Confederacy wins the First Battle of Bull Run Jul 17, 1862 Congress rules that black Americans can now enlist in Union Army Aug 1, 1862 The War Department organizes 5,000 black volunteers to fight in the Union army Sep 1, 1862 Louisiana Native Guards becomes first all-black regiment to formally join Union army Jan 1, 1863 Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation Apr 1, 1864 Black soldiers are ruthlessly shot down by Confederates at Fort Pillow, Tennessee Jun 15, 1864 Congress grants equal pay for black soldiers Oct 2, 1864 Black soldiers fight heroically at Battle of New Market Heights, Virginia. Fourteen earn Medal of Honor. Oct 2, 1864 About 600 black soldiers of the Fifth and Sixth U.S. Colored Cavalry attack the salt furnaces at Saltville, Virginia Mar 23, 1865 Confederacy issues law to use slaves as soldiers Apr 9, 1865 Confederate general Robert E Lee. surrenders to Union general Ulysses S. Grant Apr 15, 1865 Lincoln dies after being shot; Andrew Johnson becomes president May 13, 1865 The last battle of the Civil War is fought at Palmetto Ranch, Texas Dec 6, 1865 The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery in the United States