Civil War Timeline By Lydia Herter Nov 6, 1860 THe first election of President Abraham Lincoln Apr 12, 1861 Attack on Fort Sumter by the Confederacy Apr 12, 1861 The surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederacy Jul 21, 1861 First Battle of Bull Run Nov 2, 1861 President LIncoln is re-elected for a 2nd term Nov 2, 1861 The Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia falls or is captured by the Union army Nov 6, 1861 Confederate States of America is fromed and Jefferson Davis is named its president Nov 6, 1861 Confederate States of America is fromed and Jerfferson Davis is named its President Feb 2, 1862 David Farragut and the Union Navy captures the seaport of New Orleans Feb 6, 1862 Gen. Ykysses S. Grant gets Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee Mar 8, 1862 Battle of the Ironclads Apr 6, 1862 Battle of Shiloh Apr 11, 1862 Battle of Chancellorsville Jun 18, 1862 General Robert E. Lee is given command of the Army of Northern Virginia Period: Jun 26, 1862 to Jul 1, 1862 The 7 Days Battle Aug 28, 1862 Second Battle of Bull Run Aug 28, 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg Sep 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam Jan 1, 1863 President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation Mar 3, 1863 The Union enacts or passes a law creating the first military draft of men into the army May 10, 1863 Confederate General Thoman "Stonewall" Jackson dies Jul 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg Jul 4, 1863 The Fall of Vicksburg Feb 22, 1864 The opening of the Confederate prisoner of war camp Andersonville May 5, 1864 Battles at the Wilderness May 8, 1864 Battle at Spotsylvania May 31, 1864 Battle at Cold Harbor Jun 9, 1864 Battle at Petersburg Nov 18, 1864 Untion General William T Sherman burns Atlanta, GA. to the ground and begins his March to the Sea Dec 21, 1864 an finishes his March to the Sea and captures Savannah GA Mar 4, 1865 President Lincoln dies and Vice President Andrew Johnson takes over as President of the U.S. Apr 9, 1865 The Confederacy and General Robert E Lee surrender to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, VA