-
Election of Abraham LincolnOn this date, Lincoln became President of the United States, having declared that "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..."
-
Fort Sumter Assault On this date, the Civil War began when General Pierre Beauregard opened fire in Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.
-
War CallOn this date, Lincoln officially called for 75,000 militiamen and summoned a special session of Congress for July 4, of the same year.
-
Voluinteer CallLincoln, as the President of the Union, gave a speech to Congress, in which he affirms that the Civil War is..."a People's contest...a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men..." As a result of this speech, 500,000 men joined his ranks.
-
General Orders No. 1President Lincoln placed forth General War Order No. 1, through which he called for all United States naval and land forces to commence a general advance by February 22, the date marking George Washington's birthday.
-
Capture of New OrleansSeventeen ships from the Union, under the leadership of David Farragut, moved up the Mississippi River and took New Orleans, the South's most valuable seaport.
-
Emancipation Proclamation On this date, President Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, through which he freed slaves.
-
Lincoln and DouglassOn this date, Lincoln met with abolitionist Frederick Douglass who argued in favor of full equality for Union 'Negro troops.'
-
Grant's Nomination On this date, President Lincoln appointed General Grant to command all of the armies of the United States.
-
Emancipation On this date, Congress ratified the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, bringing an end to salvery.
