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The first election of President Abraham Lincoln
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The first election of President Abraham Lincoln
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Dates the 11 Southern States seceeded from the Union
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Dates the 11 Southern States seceded from the Union
South Carolina December 20, 1860
Mississippi January 9, 1861
Florida January 10, 1861
Alabama January 11, 1861
Georgia January 19, 1861
Louisiana January 26, 1861
Texas Febuary 1, 1861
Virginia April 17, 1861
Arkansas May 6, 1861
Tennessee May 6, 1861
North Carolina May 20, 1861 -
Confederate States of America is formed and Jefferson Davis is named its President
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis as president. -
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Confederate States of America is formed and Jefferson Davis is named its President
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Representation of the Stars on the Flag
The seven stars represent the seven oringinal states to seceed from the Union. Shortly after this flag was created , four more states seceeded from the Union and the South considered the boarder states of Kentucky and Missouri. Two stars would be for the boarder states of Kentucky and Missouri. Eleven stars for the states officailly in the Confederacy. -
Attack on Fort Sumter by the Confederacy
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. -
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Attack on Fort Sumter by the Confederacy
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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. -
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First Battle of Bull Run
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Gen. Ulysses S. Grant gets Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee
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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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
17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River then take New Orleans, the South's greatest seaport. Later in the war, sailing through a Rebel mine field Farragut utters the famous phrase "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -
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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
Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan is not impressed, saying Lee is "likely to be timid and irresolute in action." -
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General Robert E. Lee is given command of the Army of Northern Virgina
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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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The Fall of Vicksburg
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Second Battle of Bull Run
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. -
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Battle of Antietam
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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. -
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Battle of Fredericksburg
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President Lincoln issues the Emmancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army. The war to preserve the Union now becomes a revolutionary struggle for the abolition of slavery. -
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President Lincoln issues the Emmancipation Proclamation
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The Union enacts or passes a law creating the first military draft of men into the army
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. "The blood of a poor man is as precious as that of the wealthy," poor Northerners complain. -
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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 dies
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." "I have lost my right arm," Lee laments. -
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Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson dies
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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. -
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The Fall of Vicksburg
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The opening of the confederate prisoner of the war camp Andersonville
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The opening of the Confederate prisoner of war camp Andersonville
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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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The wilderness Campaign
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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) -
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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. -
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Battle at Cold Harbor
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President Lincoln is re-elected for a 2nd term
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. "I earnestly believe that the consequences of this day's work will be to the lasting advantage, if not the very salvation, of the country," Lincoln tells supporters. -
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President Lincoln is re-elected for a 2nd term
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Union Gen. William T. Sherman burns Atlanta, GA, to the ground and begins his March to the Sea
After destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman, with 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea. President Lincoln on advice from Grant approved the idea. "I can make Georgia howl!" Sherman boasts. -
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Union Gen. William T. Sherman burns Atlanta, GA. to the ground and begins his March to the Sea
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Union General William T. Sherman finishes his March to the Sea and captures Savannah, GA.
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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Union General William 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. -
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Battle at Petersburg
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The Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia falls or is captured by the Union army
Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond, is evacuated. Fires and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the Stars and Stripes. -
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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 Courthouse, VA.
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. "After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources," Lee tells his troops. -
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The Confederacy and Gen. Robert E. Lee surrender to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, VA.
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President Lincoln dies and Vice President Andrew Johnson takes over as President of the U.S.
President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency. -
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President Lincoln dies and Vice President Andrew Johnson takes over as President of the U.S.
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The surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederacy
Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. -
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The surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederacy
