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American Civil War
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Senator Jefferson Davis speaks for Slavery
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party. -
Cooper Union Adddress
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influential speech and many people believe it won him the presidency. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner. -
Constitutional Union Party Forms
The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constitutional Union Party, They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
Grace Bedell writes to Lincoln
Grace Bedell, an 11 year old girl, writes Lincoln. In her letter she tells him that a beard would make his face look better because it is so thin. Lincoln immediatly decides to let his whiskers grow out. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincon wins the 1860 election. Lincoln won 39% of the popular vote and would become Cheif of Party for the Rebublicans. -
Souther Secession is Urged
Seven senators and twenty-three representatives issue a manifesto urging southern secession. It also recommends forming a Souther Confederacy. -
South Carolina Seceeds
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union as a direct result of Lincoln becoming president. The south did not want their way of life changed and they knew that Lincoln would abolish slavery. -
South Carolina Congressmen
The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession. However, their names remain on the roll because the Union still does not agknowledge secession. -
South Carolina's Declaration
South Carolina issues their "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Seccession of South Carolina from the Federal Union". This was South Carolina's version of the "Declaration of Independence". -
Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as 16th President
Lincoln was inaugurated as president after his election in 1860. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire marking the start of the Civil War. This event is said to be the start of the Civil War. -
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation
Lincoln calls for 75,000 troops/millitiamen. -
First Battle of Bull Run
Confederate victory over a Union army invading Virginia. Bull Run ensured that the Confederacy would survive past its first few months but also increased determination to fight on in the North. -
Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri
Battle in Missouri that saw the death of the key Federal commander in the area. -
Battle of Hatteras, North Carolina
The first of a series of battles that saw the Confederates loose control of most of the North Carolina coastline. -
Battle of Cheat Mountain, Virginia
A Confederate defeat in West Virginia, notable as the first battle commanded by General Lee. -
Battle of Port Royal, South Carolina
Important Union naval victory against the land fortifications of Port Royal. The victory gave the Union control of the coastal islands of South Carolina. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the union, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Kansas follow shortly after. -
Battle of Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Naval battle that saw the destruction of a small Confederate fleet on the North Carolina coast. -
Siege of Fort Donelson, Tennessee
The fort surrendered, but only after several Confederate commanders escaped, including Nathan Bedford Forest, later a famous cavalry commander. The Union victory soon led to the capture of Nashville. -
Battle of New Madrid, Missouri
Union forces drive Confederate garrison out of New Madrid. -
Battle of New Berne, North Carolina
Second Union success during the Burnside expedition on the North Carolina coast. New Berne remained in Union hands for the rest of the war -
Battle of Shiloh
Shiloh was the first of the really big battles of the Civil War. -
Battle of New Orleans, Louisiana
Union naval force under Farragut ran the defence of New Orleans and forced the surrender of the Confederacy’s largest city. -
Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia
Confederate rearguard action that delayed McClellan even more. -
Battle of McDowell
First battle of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s campaign in the Valley. The battle disrupted General Fremont’s plan to attack south into Eastern Tennessee -
Battle of Fort Pillow
Minor Confederate victory on the Mississippi when their gunboat fleet surprises the Union fleet attacking Fort Pillow. -
Battle of Memphis, Tennessee
Naval battle that saw the defeat of the Confederate fleet guarding Memphis and the Union capture of the city. -
Battle of Arkansas Post, Arkansas
Federal combined operation against a Confederate position on the Arkansas river that succeeded but at too high a cost for General Grant, who ordered a withdrawal. -
Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi
Part of Grant’s Vicksburg campaign in which a small Confederate army of 6,000 was defeated by 23,000 Union soldiers. -
Battle of Raymond, Mississippi
First battle during the Big Black River campaign -
Battle of Brandy Station
Largest cavalry battle of the war. A confederate victory in which a large Union cavalry force, sent on to find General Lee, was repulsed after some initial success. -
Surrender of Vicksburg
The garrison of 30,000 was released on parole, on the expectation that they would spread gloom around the Confederacy. General Grant was later to say that the surrender of Vicksburg was the decisive event of the war. -
Battle of Bristoe Station
Confederate army under General Hill attacked one Union force, just to find itself under attack by a second. -
Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee
Accidental battle that marked the only Confederate attempt to break Grant's 'Cracker Line' feeding supplies into Chattanooga. -
Battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
First attack by Grant’s new army forces the Confederate forces off Lookout Mountain. -
Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee
Second Union attack outside Chattanooga that included one of the few occasions in the war where a frontal attack against a fortified position succeeded. The battle breaks the siege of Chattanooga. -
Battle of Knoxville, Tennessee
Failed Confederate assault on the Union positions at Knoxville. -
Battle of Olustree, Florida
Confederate victory over a Union invasion of north eastern Florida. -
Battle of Sabine Crossroads, Louisiana
Union army under General Banks attacking into northern Louisiana defeated by a confederate army under General Richard Taylor. -
Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Taylor tries a second attack but is repulsed. Banks still decides to withdraw, after a support force fails to arrive. -
Battle of Petersburg, Virginia
Failed Union attack on Petersburg, one of the great missed chances of the war. After the battle, the Union settled down to a regular siege (to 3 April 1865) -
Battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia
Grant dispatched 10,000 cavalry under General Sheridan south. Jeb Stuart gave ineffective chase with half of his cavalry, before standing and fighting at Yellow Tavern, six miles north of Richmond, where his cavalry was crushed. Stuart was fatally wounded during the fighting. -
Battle of Newmarket, Virginia.
Defeat of a Union army that had been sent into the Shenandoah valley as part of Grant’s plan for 1864 -
Battle of New Hope Church, Georgia
A period of unproductive fighting during Sherman’s advance towards Atlanta. -
Battle of Brice’s Crossroad, Mississippi
Confederate victory in Mississippi in which a force of 8,000 Union soldiers sent to defeat Forest’s cavalry force found them, and was defeated by a force half their size. -
Battle of Trevilian Junction, Virginia
Bloodiest cavalry battle of the war, between a raiding force under Sheridan and Wade Hampton’s confederate cavalry. Something of a draw, but the raid soon withdrew. -
Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi
Force of 14,000 Federal troops sent to deal with Forrest’s raiders in Tennessee defeat a Confederate force half their size, wounding Forrest. -
Capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Union victory that finally isolated Wilmington, the last southern port capable of helping Lee’s army. -
Lee becomes general
Lee became general in chief of the South. -
Battle of Waynesborough, Virginia
Final destruction of Early’s army of the Shenandoah by a force led by George Custer -
Battle of Averasborough, North Carolina
Confederate delaying action whose main significance was that it told the Confederates that Shermans’ army was split into two wings, with a twelve mile gap. -
Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina
Confederate attempt to defeat one wing of Sherman’s army before the other wing could come to its assistance. The attempt failed, and two days later Union reinforcements forced a Confederate retreat. -
Battle of Five Forks, Virginia
A Confederate force guarding a key crossroads was overwhelmed by Sheridan’s cavalry. The defeat showed Grant that the Confederate army was starting to collapse. -
Battle of Saylor’s Creek, Virginia
As Lee’s army begins to dissolve, one quarter of it was cut off by Union forces. 6,000 Confederates surrendered. -
Lincoln's assassination
He was attending a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D. C. The assassin was and actor named John Wilkes Booth. After twelve days of running Booth was fatally shot. -
Confederate's surrender
Confederate forces in Alabama and Mississippi surrendered. -
Davis's capture
Jefferson Davis was captured near Georgia. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now becomes unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Jesse James
Robbery by Jesse James and his gang, although no one is quite sure where Jesse James fits into this event. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans -
Tennessee
Following the Civil War Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union -
General of the Army
Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold that title. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train robbery
The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
James Robs a Bank
Jesse James and his gang robs a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with $2,000. -
African American Males are given the right to Vote
African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
Jesse James Strikes Again
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah,Missouri. The attempt failed with one casualty. -
First Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander. -
Ride ins
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation -
Alaska is Purchased
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnsons' veto, -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska isacquired
The United States officially takes possesion of Alaska from Russia. $7.2 million is paid for it. -
Congress looks to impeach Johnson
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction. -
Grange organization
Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. Today it is known as the Grange.
