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Civil War Timespan
Events that lead to and occurred during the Civil War -
Lincoln Is Elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th president of the United States of America -
South Carolina Succeeds
South Carolina officially succeeds from the United States of America - becoming the first state to do so and start the confederacy. -
The Confederate States of America is Formed
Six southern states in addition to South Carolina succeed from the Union and created the Confederate States of America -
Jefferson Davis - CSA
Jefferson Davis is selected as president of the new Confederate States of America before they can arrange formal elections -
Stopping the Rebellion
Lincoln classified South Carolina's Succession along with the other states - as a rebellion. Leading him to call 75,000 men to form a militia and shut it down. -
Potomac River
Union forces cross the Potomac and occupy Arlington Heights, where around Colonel Elmer Ellsworth is shot dead after removing a Confederate flag -
Battle of Big Bethel
This was the wars first land battle in Virginia -
West Virginia
At a large convention, section of Virginia officially break away and form West Virginia, which soon becomes the 35th state of the Union -
First Battle of Bull Run
Was one of the first major battles of the war. Originally a success for Union forces, however when a stronger lead group of Confederate soldiers push back - the Union retreats. Thomas Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall" here. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
Union forces attacked confederate troops in southern Missouri, the Confederates won and emphasized the Confederate presence that side of the Mississippi. Union General Nathaniel Lyon was also killed in this battle. -
Lexington, MO
This town in Missouri falls to the Confederacy under Sterling Price -
Crossing the Potomac (Pt. 2)
Battle of Balls Bluff, VA. Colonel Baker lead Union troops across the Potomac, but once crossed Baker was killed at the edge of the water. Many soldiers drowned trying to re-cross back to the other side. -
Battle of Mill Springs
This battle in Kentucky weakened Confederate forces and gave the Union an important victory. -
Battle of Roanoke Island
Union victory which resulted in Union control of eastern North Carolina, wherein they would form military bases for further protection and defense against the south -
Surrender of Fort Donelson
Union forces cause the surrender of major Confederate Fort in Tennessee, and this gave General Ulysses S. Grant the nickname 'Unconditional Surrender' -
C.S.A Presidential Inaugeration
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the first president of the Confederate States of America -
Battle of Pea Ridge
Gave a Union victory which costed the South the loss of control of certain parts of the Mississippi River -
First Major Naval Battle
This was the first major naval battle in the war - and was the first to be fought with the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia -
Battle of Shiloh
First major battle in Tennessee. The Souths 'finest officer' killed almost immediately, and leading to a Union Victory -
Surrender of New Orleans
David Farragut leads Union troops into Louisiana where they demand the surrender of New Orleans - leaving the North with control of the Mississippi, which was one of the most important trade routes -
Battle of Memphis
This Union victory gains the North more control over the Mississippi - leaving them with one section in Confederate control -
Battle of Antietam
Bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War -
Emancipation Proclamation
A proclamation that freed all enslaved people, and outlawed slavery -
Conscription
This form of drafting soldiers goes into affect in the North as it had a year prior in the South -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War, which made Confederate General Robert E. Lee lose hope in possibly winning, leading him to attempt to resign -
Union Naval Attack on South Carolina
This attack was taken close to major Southern Cities, and involved the first African American regiment of volunteers to be sent to combat -
Draft Riots
Riots in New York by the working class laborers are caused by their belief that the draft is unfair and favors the rich -
Second Assault on Battery Wagner
Massachussets 54th Colored Infantry was lead to an assault on the Confederate base in South Carolina - once again- by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who is killed with many of his regiment -
Sacking of Lawrence
Confederate soldiers are lead into Lawrence, Kansas during the day by William Clarke Quantrill, and under his lead ~150 men and boys are killed, and most of the town is destroyed -
Torpedo Attack on New Ironsides
Confederate forces struck a torpedo on some of the Union fleet - and all confederates involved were captured by the Union -
Gettysburg Address
The Dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg, and Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address -
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
Lincoln issues the proclamation that anyone involved in the Confederacy or 'rebellion' will be pardoned if they take an oath to the Union -
Escape from Libby Prison
109 Union officers escaped out of Libby Prison after weeks of dedication to digging - 48 were recaptured, 2 drowned, and the other 59 made their way over to Union lines -
First Successful Submarine Attack
CSS HL Hunley attacked the USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. All but 5 on the Housatonic died - and the Hunley was not heard from or found until 1995 -
Camp Sumter Prison Camp Opens
This was the date the notorious and miserable military camp was opened in Georgia -
Ulysses S. Grant Appointed Lieutenant General
President Lincoln revives Grants position as Lieutenant General of the Union army, and is in command of all armies on the field the next day -
Red River Campaign
This was the beginning of a Union strategy to get very deep into Confederate territory. Both an army and naval fleet were lead into this campaign -
Battle of Sabine Cross Roads
This was the first major battle of the Red River Campaign in Louisiana -
President Lincoln ... Again
Lincoln is nominated by his political party for another term as president -
Battle of Monocacy
Confederate forces attack Maryland to get Union troops away from Richmond, and in doing so encountered 6,000 federal troops who attempted to drive them off. The Union was defeated - however this battle lead the Confederates away from Washington -
March to Sea Begins
Union troops will be lead by General Sherman to reach Confederate forces in Savannah, Georgia -
March To Sea Completed
Union General Sherman will succeed in leading his troops in a march towards Savannah, Georgia, these troops will claim Fort McAllister and force the Confederate troops out -
Union Captures Colombia
After leaving Georgia, Sherman marches his troops back up to the Carolina's where they capture Colombia and defensive Confederate troops evacuate. -
Lincolns Second Inaugeration
Lincoln is inaugurated as president for the second time -
Union Troops Occupy The Capital
Union troops occupy Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia which are the Capital cities of the Confederacy -
The Battle of Sailors Creek
Around a third of Lee's army was cornered by Union soldiers at Sailors Creek, and annihilated -
Battle of Appomattox Court House and Surrender
After an attempted to break past the Union forces that block the route Lee wishes to take - he seeks an audience with Grant to discuss terms. Lee signs the document of surrender - disbanding the army of North Virginia -
Lincoln is Assassinated
Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinates Abraham Lincoln at Fords Theater - on this day as well South Carolina is re-occupied by Union troops -
Surrender near Durham, North Carolina
General Joseph Johnston signs surrender documents for the Confederate Army of Tennessee along with other southern troops that may have been attached to him -
Confederate President is Captured
Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured around Irwinville, Georgia -
Final Battle
This is the final battle of the Civil War in Palmito Ranch, Texas. This is a Confederate Victory -
Civil War Official End
General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters terms for surrender of the Army of Trans-Mississippi -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Congress officially passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which allows and confirms citizenship for African Americans, as well as protecting their rights