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The first election of President Lincoln
November 1-30, 1860 -
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Southern States Seceded from the Union
South Carolina- December 20th, 1860
Mississippi- January 9th, 1861
Florida- January 10th, 1861
Alabama- January 11th, 1861
Gerogia- January 19th, 1861
Louisiana- January 26th, 1861
Texas- February 1st, 1861
Virginia- April 17th, 1861
Arkansas- May 6th, 1861
Tenessee- May 6th, 1861
North Carolina- May 20th, 1861 -
Confederate States of America is formed and Jefferson Davis is names its President
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Attack on Fort Sumter
At 4:30 AM Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell suffers a defeat at Bull Run 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resists Union attacks. Union troops fall back to Washington. President Lincoln realizes the war will be long. "It's damned bad," he comments. -
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant gets Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee
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Battle of the Ironclads
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. Engraving of the Battle In March - The Peninsular Campaign begins as McClellan's Army of the Potomac advances from Washington down the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay to the peninsular south of the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia then begins an advance toward Richmond. President Lincoln temporaril -
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Battle of the Ironclads
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Battle of Shiloh
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, more men than in all previous American wars combined. The president is then pressured to relieve Grant but resists. "I can't spare this man; he fights," Lincoln says. -
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Battle of Shiloh
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David Farragut and the Union Navy captures the seaport of New Orleans
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General Robert E. Lee is given command of the Army of Northern Virginia
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The 7 Days Battle
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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The 7 Days Battle
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Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas
75,000 Federals under Gen. John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. Once again the Union Army retreats to Washington. The president then relieves Pope. -
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Second Battle of Bull Run
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Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest day in U.S. military history as Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. Lee then withdraws to Virginia. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
Army of the Potomac under Gen. Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. "We might as well have tried to take hell," a Union soldier remarks. Confederate losses are 5,309. "It is well that war is so terrible - we should grow too fond of it," states Lee during the fighting. -
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation
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The Union enacts or passes a law creating the first military draft of men into the army
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Battle of Chancellorsville
The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. The Confederates, 13, 000 out of 60,000. "I just lost confidence in Joe Hooker," said Hooker later about his own lack of nerve during the battle. -
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Battle of Chancellorsville
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Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died
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Battle of Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
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The Fall of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrenders to Gen. Grant and the Army of the West 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. -
The opening of the Confederate prisoner of war camp Andersonville
Feburary 1-29, 1864 -
Battle at the Wilderness or The Wilderness Campaign
The beginning of a massive, coordinated campaign involving all the Union Armies. In Virginia, Grant with an Army of 120,000 begins advancing toward Richmond to engage Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, now numbering 64,000, beginning a war of attrition that will include major battles at the Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania (May 8-12), and Cold Harbor (June 1-3). In the west, Sherman, with 100,000 men begins an advance toward Atlanta to engage Joseph E. Johnston's 60,000 strong Army of Tennessee -
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Battles at the Wilderness
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Battle at Spotsylvania
The beginning of a massive, coordinated campaign involving all the Union Armies. In Virginia, Grant with an Army of 120,000 begins advancing toward Richmond to engage Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, now numbering 64,000, beginning a war of attrition that will include major battles at the Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania (May 8-12), and Cold Harbor (June 1-3). In the west, Sherman, with 100,000 men begins an advance toward Atlanta to engage Joseph E. Johnston's 60,000 strong Army of Tennessee. -
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Battle at Spotsylvania
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Battle at Cold Harbor
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. -
President Lincoln is re-elected for a 2nd term
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Union Gen. William T. Dherman burns Atlanta, GA. to the ground and begins his March to the Sea
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Union General Willian T. Sherman finishes his March to the Sea and captures Savannah, GA
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Battle at Petersburg
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. -
Battle at Petersburg
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. -
The Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia falls or is captured by the Union army
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The Confederacy and Gen. Robert E. Lee surrender to Grant at appomattox Courtnhouse VA.
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President Lincoln dies and Vice President Andrew Jahnson takes over as President of the U.S.
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The surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederacy
