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Civil War Timeline
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Jefferson Davis Speaks on 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. -
Cooper Union Address
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. This also meant that news would spread quicker thus creating more tension. -
John H. Reagan Writes to the North
Texas' representative, John H. Reagan, published a letter in which it stated the desire of the North to "strike down the sovereignty and equality of the States". -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected the first Republican president with 40% of the popular vote and an electoral majority. His party's platform is the abolishment of slavery. -
The Threats Begin
Major Robert Anderson notifies Lincoln that Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston. -
The Confederacy Idea Forms
Seven senators and twenty-three representatives issue a manifesto urging southern secession. It also recommends forming a Southern Confederacy. -
The Secession Convention (Confederates)
The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. -
South Carolina Forms Declaration of Independence
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". -
Kansas joins the Union
Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is 34th U.S. state and was supposed to be a slave state. Much controversy led it to eventualy become free. -
The Confederate States of America Were Founded
The original 7 seceded states, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana all met in Montgomery, Alabama to formally establish a formal government. Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina would later join the Confederacy. -
Jefferson Davis Becomes First and Last Confederate President
Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Abraham Lincoln is Inaugurated
The anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the sixteenth president of the United States in Washington, DC. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter signaled the start of the Civil War. Only a total of one casualtie, forces of the Confederate States of America opened fire on the United States military garrison, Fort Sumter. -
Lincoln Declares 75,000 Militia to Stop the Rebellion
President Lincoln issues a public declaration that an insurrection exists and calls for 75,000 militia to stop the rebellion. As a result of this call for volunteers, four additional southern states secede from the Union in the following weeks. -
Lee Rejects Lincoln
Robert E. Lee, 25 year distinguished veteran of the U.S Army, is offered command of the Union Army. However, he declines as he is unable to fight against is state; thus proving, that loyalty to state is more important than loyalty to the union -
Battle of Big Bethel
The first land battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Big Bethel was a Confederate victory with the Union having total casualties of 79, while the Confederates were 8. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Fought in Manassas, Virginia, The Union Army under General Irwin McDowell initially succeeds in driving back Confederate forces under General Pierre Gustav Toutant Beauregard, but the arrival of troops under General Joseph E. Johnston initates a series of reverses that sends McDowell's army in a panicked retreat to the defenses of Washington. It is here that Thomas Jackson, will receive everlasting fame as "Stonewall" Jackson. -
George B. McClellan Becomes General of the Union
Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army, He replaces the aging Winfield Scott. This is probably Lincoln's worst decision of the entire Civil War as George always hesitated and prolonged the war. -
Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclomation
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army. -
Surrender of Fort Henry
The Surrender of Fort Henry, located in Tennessee resulted in the loss of this southern fort on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river. -
Surrender of Fort Donelson
A fort located in Tennessee, Fort Donelson was a primary southern fort on the Cumberland River left the river in Union hands. It was here that Union General Ulysses S. Grant gained his nickname "Unconditional Surrender". -
Jefferson Davis Inauguration
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the first and last President of the Confederate States of America. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
A fort located in Arkansas, this Union victory loosened the Confederate hold on Missouri and disrupted southern control of a portion of the Mississippi River. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The first major battle in Tennessee. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, a veteran of the Texas War of Independence and the War with Mexico considered to be one of the finest officers the South has, is killed on the first day of fighting. The Union victory further secures the career of Union General Ulysses S. Grant. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
Occuring in the same place as the first battle, the Confederates won this battle, which was a lot bloodier than the first battle at this site. Because of this, many confederates believed they could win and other states decided to secede. -
The Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest one day battle of the war, a total of 23,000 men were either wounded or killed. The Battle of Antietam lasted a total of 12 hours, and it resulted in a Union victory. -
McLellan Has The Slows
Lincoln replaces McClellan with General Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln grew impatient with McClellan's slowness to follow up on the success at Antietam, even telling him, "If you don't want to use the army, I should like to borrow it for a while." -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
A camp located in Virginia, the Army of the Potomac, under General Ambrose Burnside, is soundly defeated by Lee's forces after a risky river crossing and sacking of the city. -
Emancipation Proclomation
The Emancipation Proclomation was a proclomation issued and signed by Union President Abraham Lincoln. It declared that "all persons held as slaves," within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
The South turns to Conscription
The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army, The signing of this act led to the week long New York Draft Riots. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Union Army is defeated by Lee's much smaller force at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia due to Lee's daring tactics. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is wounded by his own soldiers. -
The Death of Stonewall Jackson
The Confederacy looses one of their greatest generals when Stonewall Jackson succumbs to his wounds. His last words are, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." -
The Battle of Champion Hill
Hinds County, Mississisppi is where this battle occured. This important strategic Union victory led to the Union's siege of Vicksburg in the coming months which was an extremly important victory. -
Siege of Vicksburg
General Grant and his Amry of Tenessee sieged and took the last confederate stronghold on the Mississippi river, thhe city of Vicksburg. -
The Battle of Brandy Station
Confederate Army of Northern Virginia streamed into Culpeper County after its victory at Fredericksburg. the troops seemed invincible and massed around Culpeper preparing to carry the war north into Pennsylvania. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
A two day battle, Union and Confederate forces fought around the town of Gettysburg. The battle involved the largest number of casualties (bloodiest multiple day battle) of the war and resulted in a Union victory. The Battle of Gettysburg is often considered to be the turning point of the war. -
Lincoln meets Frederick Douglass
President Lincoln meets with Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist who pushes for full equality for black soldiers of the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address, dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. The goal of this speech was to create a sense of unity among the North and South -
The Establishment of Andersonville
The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many of the men held there did not survive because of the brutal conditions faced there. -
Ulysses S. Grant is Appointed as General of the Union
Abraham Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant commander in chief of all Union armies. -
Conscription Hoax
The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union army, The public decided it was not true when they found that only two papers had published the news. -
Ware Bottom Church
Confederate forces Beauregard attacked Butler's Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. After driving back Butler's advanced pickets, the Confederates constructed the Howlett Line. -
Lincoln Establishes a New Conscription Law
Confederate forces Beauregard attacked Butler's Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. After driving back Butler's advanced pickets, the Confederates constructed the Howlett Line. -
Confederate Spy is Caught
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. She is held at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. -
Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines All Captured
A combined Union force initiated operations to close Mobile Bay to blockade running. Some Union forces landed on Dauphin Island and laid siege to Fort Gaines.Fort Morgan, the last big holdout, fell, shutting down the port. The city, however, remained uncaptured -
William Tecumseh Sherman Captures Atlanta
General Sherman captures the city of Atlanta Georgia. Later in 1864 he would march with his troops as far as the ocean and capture Savannah Georgia. Along the way General Sherman and his troops would destroy and burn alot of the land his army passed through. -
Abraham Lincoln is Re-elected
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan. -
New York City Burns
A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 20 places. This is their unsuccessful attempt at burning New York down. -
The 13th Amendment is Passed
United States Congress abloshishes slavery. By passing the 13th Amendment, all slaves are freed with in the United States. -
The Fall of Fort Stedman
The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack. -
Jefferson Davis Flees Richmond
Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. -
Union Troops Capture Richmond, Virginia
The Confederate Capital became occupied by the Union just one day after Jefferson Davis decided to flee -
Confederate General Robert E. Lee Surrenders
In Appomattox, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders his 28,000 men to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, which ended the civil war. -
Abraham Lincoln is Shot
A pro-confederate man and actor, John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. -
President Abraham Lincoln Dies
President Abraham Lincoln dies in the morning as a result of being shot by John Wilkes Booth -
John Wilkes Booth is Caught
John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia. -
Abraham Lincoln is Buried
Abraham Lincoln is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Illinois. -
Jefferson Davis is Captured
Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. He was found despite being disguised as a woman. -
Idea of Freedman's Bureau Introduced
Congress stated the Freedman's Bureau was passed "To establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees." Which meant to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land to displaced Southerners, including newly freed African Americans. -
Secessionist Convention
Texas repals the actions of the Secessionist Convention -
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Vetoed
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 because it was unconstitutional. -
The United States is at Peace
The United States at peace with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. -
Ford's Theatre Purchased
Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy Ford's Theater. It will house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department records. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
Signed by Congress 1 year following the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It declared that "without distinction of race or color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude." It passed after it was overriden by Congress. -
Winfield Scott Dies
Former Union General Winfield Scott died in West Point, New York -
Freedman's Bureau Bill passed
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill. -
General of Armies
Congress establishes "general of the armies". This is the second highest rank that one could acheive in the military -
Ku Klux Klan
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan, a racially motivated group. -
Nebraska joins United States
Nebraska becomes the 37th state of the United States -
African Americans given the right to vote
African Americans in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Radical Republicans Pass Military Reconstruction Act
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 outlined the terms for readmission to representation of rebel (Confederate) states. sThe bill divided the former Confederate states, except for Tennessee, into five military districts. -
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act
The Tenure of Office Act was intended to restrict the power of the president to remove certain office-holders without the approval of the Senate. The law was enacted over the veto of President Andrew Johnson. -
Virginia ignores the Reconstruction Act
Virginia rejects votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
Purchasing Alaska, Expanding Freedom
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. -
Edwin Stanton
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Ulysses S. Grant Replaces Edwin Stanton
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War. -
Andrew Johnson Decides to Suspend Stanton
Edwin Stanton suspended by President Andrew Johnson after he clashed with Johnson over his lenient treatment of the former Confederate states. -
Alaska is Officially the United States
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States, but it did not become a state yet.
