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The Confederate States of America
On this day, the seceeded states collect together to form the Confederate States of America. It would still be months before the border states decided which side of the conflict they were on. -
Term Ends and Term Begins
James Buchanan, the last Democratic President before an age dominated by Republicans, represented a faltering sense of control for the Southern Democrats. They were not only losing Buchanan, but his Vice President, John Beckinridge had also failed to take the national election, leaving some southerners feeling powerless. -
Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter was a watershed moment. Although few people actually died, it committed the Confederate States to pursuing their independence from the North and careening the two sides into the Civil War. -
Who Shall Join Our Cause?
By April 15th, states in dark blue were free states that had joined the Union. Yellow states are those that permitted slavery, but still joined the Union. Dark red states are those nine states which joined the Confederates before April 15th. While light red states are those that joined the Confederates after April 15th. All red states permitted slavery. -
Anaconda Plan
Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" takes shape. It would constitute much of the overall strategy of the North, even though its creator was not healthy enough to survive the onset of the war. With Scott's failing health and the battle of Manassas, command of the Army of the Potamac was given to General George McClellan. -
East Tennessee Attempts to Flee
During the vote on Order of Secession in June, East Tennessee, much like West Virginia had voted in majority against secession. Maroon counties voted against secession 80%+, red counties voted against secession somewhere between 51%-79%, gray counties voted for secession, and white counties either did not exist or the results are unknown. Oddly enough, this is the same region that once attempted to become the State of Franklin. -
Battle of Manassas or was it Battle of Bull Run?
The first major battle of the war and the first Confederate victory. General McDowell's forces, being inexperienced, break without order and a retreat becomes a rout. The battle becomes a key indicator that this would not be an easy or quick war. -
Not Crittendon's Compromise?
The Crittendon-Johnson Resolution was an act passed by the U.S. Congress (Union) that officially declared that the war was being fought to preserve the Union, not to end slavery. Why would they feel the need to say this? What about the last week perhaps influenced them to say this? -
West Virginia Secedes from a Seceded State?
After much controversy and worry about what it meant to secede from a Confederate state in trying to rejoin the Union, a vote on October 24th settled the matter, and West Virginia was born. Or did it settle the matter? Only 34% of eligible voters turned out for the referendum, and of the number who voted for, there were allegations of Union soldiers casting illegal votes. -
Capture of New Orleans
The capture of New Orleans in the early part of the war marked the overall dominance of Union forces over Confederates in the Western Theater of the war. -
Battle of Seven Pines
George McClellan's epic moment in history when he utterly to take Richmond. This was merely the culmination of his failures throughout the Peninsular campaign from Yorktown to the Seven Days Battle, when McClellan was removed from the area. -
Seven Days Battle
After a long and weary series of battles ranging from just East of Richmond to Malvern Hill on the James River, McClellan was forced to retreat back down the peninsula. By August the army would be ordered by Lincoln to return to the capital in defense against the Confederates. -
Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas?)
General Lee, having abandoned McLellan to the the Virginia Peninsula back in July, squared off against General John Pope's army in northern Virginia as part of an offensive against Union troops in Virginia. For his failure, Pope was sent to Minnesota where he fought in the Dakota War for the remainder of the Civil War. -
Goodbye Pope
General John Pope is removed from his position, and his army is merged with McClellan's Army of the Potamac. Pope himself will not see another bit of action throughout the war. -
Battle of Antietam
If there was a beginning of the end, it would be the Battle of Antietam. Although it was technically a Union victory by sheer numbers and goals, it is the dismissal of McClellan that allows for better generals to take his place and the end of Lee's first invasion North having followed several Confederate victories. Also, can anyone point out a very important landmark to Liberty Indiana? -
Emancipation Proclaimation
Emboldened by the victory at Antietam, Lincoln issues his Emancipation Proclaimation 'freeing' slaves in rebel states. It said nothing about slaves in the three slave states that had stayed in the Union, but it did garner international support from European countries which had managed to free their slaves 50-60 years before the U.S. did (Great Britain and France). -
Goodbye McClellan
Blamed for not pursuing Lee after the strategic victory at Antietam, McClellan is dismissed from his position as General of the Potamac. -
Hello Mr. Burnside
The general relieving McClellan, Major General Ambrose Burnside is defeated at the Battle of Fredricksburg. It is not long before Burnside is replaced by General Hooker. -
Goodbye Mr. Hooker
Despite having replaced the successor of the successor to McClellan's poor tactics, General Hooker is shown up by General Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863. This would prompt Lee to begin his disasterous second northern campaign. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Hooker's replacement, General Meade soundly defeats the Confederates due to sheer dumb luck (finding the plans, Pickett's charge, the 63rd Infantry to name a few), and his failure to pursue Lee in the aftermath of the battle causes Lincoln to replace him with someone who would become president one day: Ulysses S. Grant. -
Can you spell DOOM?
Beginning in May of 1864, Grant repeatedly forced Lee back taking heavy Union casaulties until June of the same year when he threatened the capture of Petersburg which would doom the Confederate capital. This ultimately pinned General Robert E. Lee down into a position he could not break free from and would surrender in April of the next year. -
Nevada becomes a State
To help ensure Lincoln's re-election, Nevada officially became the 36th state, made out of some Utah territory and from the Confederate New Mexico territory to take its present day shape. -
Surrender spells DOOM
Lee surrenders his army to General Grant. No longer fighting McClellan or Pope, Grant had utilized his massive force size to whittle Lee's army down to nothing. It would only be be a matter of days before the rest of the Confederacy surrendered...but not without a cost. -
John Wilkes Booth
At the beginning of his second term in office, John Wilkes Booth assassinates President Lincoln. The war is over, and half the nation mourns.
