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Civil War Timeline
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Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of secession for the first time. Will later become the leader of the Confederate States.
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The Democratic National Convention, meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, cannot agree on a nominee. The only thing they can agree on is to continue the debate in Baltimore the next month
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The Constitution Union Party, meeting in Baltimore, creates a platform taken heavily from the U. S. Constitution and selects John Bell of Tennessee for President and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for Vice-President. It represents southern Whigs and Know-nothings (American Party). Sometimes called the Bell-Union Party
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Republican Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois are the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. Lincoln wins on the third ballot. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, an outspoken, long-time abolitionist is chosen for vice-president.
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The Democrats reconvene in Baltimore to select a nominee, but Douglas can't make the necessary 2/3 majority until the anti-Douglas delegates leave on June 22 and the floor rules are changed to require 2/3 vote of the members present. On June 23rd the Convention nominates Stephen Douglas and Herschal V. Johnson.
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Southern Democrats hold a convention in Richmond where they select John C. Breckinridge as their nominee for President. Will lose to Lincoln in the upcoming election.
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Lieutenant Colonel William Hardee is replaced by Major John F. Reynolds as commander of cadets at West Point.
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Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to retain slaves as property.
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South Carolina calls for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union
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Major Robert Anderson reports Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston as federal forces begin to improved Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter in the harbor.
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South Carolina has left the United States. It becomes the 1st state to leave the United States.
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Mississippi has left the United States. It becomes the 2nd state to leave the United States.
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Florida has left the United States. It becomes the 3rd state to leave the United States.
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Alabama has left the United States. It becomes the 4th state to leave the United States.
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Georgia has left the United States. It becomes the 5th state to leave the United States.
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Louisiana has left the United States. It becomes the 6th state to leave the United States.
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Texas has left the United States. It becomes the 7th state to leave the United States.
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On Febuary 4th. 1961, the Condederate States of America were formed as Jefferson Davis becomes president
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Abraham Lincoln is officially sqorn in as the 16th president of the United States of America. He will serve one full term.
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Virginia has left the United States. It becomes the 8th state to leave the United States.
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Arkansas has left the United States. It becomes the 9th state to leave the United States.
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North Carolina has left the United States. It becomes the 10th state to leave the United States.
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Tennessee has left the United States. It becomes the 11th state to leave the United States.
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President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 calling for all United States naval and land forces to begin a general advance by February 22, George Washington's birthday. They plan to move south battling off any Confederate troops
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Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
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President Lincoln is struck with grief as his 11 year old son Willie dies from fever. Caused by polluted drinking water in the White House.
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The Confederate Ironclad 'Merrimac' sinks two wooden Union ships then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. Naval warfare is thus changed forever, making wooden ships obsolete.
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An army lead by Ulysses S. Grant march into West Tennesse. They took control of many bases in the local area
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Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River. Results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates
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17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River. The ships then proceed to take New Orleans.
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The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. But Johnston is badly wounded.
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Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his army the Army of Northern Virginia.
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The Seven Days Battles as Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond, resulting in very heavy losses for both armies. McClellan then begins a withdrawal back toward Washington.
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President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates. He also emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army.
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The president appoints Gen. Joseph Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac. He will be replacing General Burnside.
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General Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West. With orders from the president to capture Vicksburg.
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The Union Army under General Hooker is defeated by General Lee's smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville. As a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics.
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The South suffers a huge blow as Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds, his last words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."
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Gen. Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches his second invasion of the North, heading into Pennsylvania in a campaign that will soon lead to Gettysburg.
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President Lincoln appoints Gen. George G. Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Hooker. Meade is the 5th man to command the Army in less than a year.
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The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. North army led by General General George G. Meade
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Vicksburg is the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River which has surrendered to General Grant and the Army after a six-week siege. With the Union now in control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy is effectively split in two, cut off from its western allies.
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The Rebel siege of Chattanooga ends as Union forces defeat the army of General Braxton Bragg. During the battle, one of the most dramatic moments of the war occurs, yelling "Chickamauga! Chickamauga!"
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A costly mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during an offensive against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor in Virginia.
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Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee.
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At Atlanta, Sherman's forces battle the Rebels now under the command of Gen. John B. Hood, who replaced Johnston.
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Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for President. And is set to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln.
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Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. "Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," Sherman telegraphs Lincoln. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election.
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A decisive Union victory by Cavalry Gen. Philip H. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley over Jubal Early's troops.
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Abraham Lincoln is re-elected President, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes.
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after destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman and 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea.
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Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is defeated at Nashville by 55,000 Federals including Negro troops under Gen. George H. Thomas.
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Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta. Sherman then telegraphs Lincoln, offering him Savannah as a Christmas present.
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270,000 women were employed in 1865. Which is only 2 percent of all women living in Union states
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The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification.
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A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure - the war will continue.
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Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington. "With malice toward none; with charity for all...let us strive on to finish the work we are in...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations," Lincoln says.
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The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces at Petersburg. Four hours later the attack is broken.
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President Lincoln tours Richmond where he enters the Confederate White House. With "a serious, dreamy expression," he sits at the desk of Jefferson Davis for a few moments.
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Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep horses and mules.
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President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency.
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Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina.
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The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.
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New Freedman's Bureau bill passed by Congress. President Andrew Johnson vetoes the bill that authorized military trial for those accused of "depriving Negroes of the Civil Rights" on the same day
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Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention
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President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional
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The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia
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Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act.
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Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
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States are beginning to approve the 14the amendment. Connecticut and New Hampshire are the first to approve.
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The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK was established earlier this year
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On the 6th anniversary of secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. This is only one of the states that had rejecred this bill
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Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act. Which denies the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress.
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Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act.
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Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto.
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William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. Democrats called it "Seward's Folly"
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General Philip Sheridan assumes command of the 5th Military district encompassing Louisiana and Texas. He designates New Orleans as his headquarters.
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Congress passes a bill admitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union
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House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed. This will soon help with the reconstruction of our country.
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Russia turns over Alaska to the United States. President Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting the territory of Alaska into the Union as the 49th and largest state.
