Abraham Lincoln elected 16th President of the United States
South Carolina Senator James Chestnut Jr. resigns his seat in the U.S. Senate
South Carolina Senator James Henry Hammond resigns his seat in the U.S. Senate
Georgia legislature appropriates $1,000,000 to arm the state
South Carolina adopts an Ordinance of Succession
Major Robert Anderson evacuates Fort Moultrie for Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor
South Carolina troops seize Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor
Georgia state troops seize Fort Pulaski
Alabama state troops seize the U.S. Arsenal at Mount Vernon, Alabama
U.S. Senators from seven Southern states meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss secession
The state of Florida seizes the Apalachicola Arsenal
Mississippi and Alabama State Conventions meet to discuss secession
Jacob Thompson of Mississippi - the Secretary of the Interior and last Southern member of President James Buchanan's Cabinet
Mississippi secedes from the Union
The Star of the West fails to relieve Fort Sumter
Florida adopts an Ordinance of Secession
Alabama adopts an Ordinance of Secession
Federal troops occupy Fort Taylor at Key West in order to prevent its seizure by secessionist forces
Crittenden Compromise dies in the U.S. Senate
Georgia adopts an Ordinance of Secession
Engagement at Middle Creek, Kentucky
Edwin M. Stanton confirmed as U.S. Secretary of War
The Confederate Congress votes to formally organize the Confederate Territory of Arizona
Union forces destroy the Confederate "Mosquito" fleet at Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America. He had been serving as the Confederacy's provisional president since February 1862
Federal troops occupy Fayettsville, Arkansas
Federal troops occupy Nashville, Tennessee
Lincoln asks Congress to provide funds to states willing to begin the gradual abolition of slavery
Lincoln relieves McClellan from his position as general-in-chief of the Federal Armies
Union forces capture New Madrid, Missouri
George W. Randolph appointed Confederate Secretary of War
The Battle of Stones River concludes
Skirmish at Lick Creek, Arkansas
Lincoln approves Congressional resolution authorizing the Treasury to issue $100,000,000 in new notes in order to pay Union soldiers and sailors. President Lincoln also calls for regulation of the national currency
Union Major General Ambrose Burnside's "mud march" ends in failure
Confederate ironclads temporarily break the blockade in Charleston Harbor
Skirmish near Washington, North Carolina
Skirmish at Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Abraham Lincoln signs the Conscription Act, creating the first national military draft in American history
Confederates at Fort Pemberton block Union attempt to bypass Vicksburg's defenses
USS Mississippi runs aground near Port Hudson. The ship's crew scuttles the vessel in order to keep it from falling into Confederate hands
Rosser's Raid in West Virginia
Skirmish at Grand Gulf, Mississippi
Skirmish near Newport, Tennessee
Engagement at Fair Gardens (Kelly's Ford), Tennessee
Operations around New Bern, North Carolina
Cavalry skirmish at Medley, West Virginia February 1864
Southern navy captures U.S. gunboat Underwriter but is forced to burn and flee
Union General William T. Sherman begins the Meridian Campaign in Mississippi
Skirmish at Lake City, Florida
Federal troops capture Meridian, Mississippi
Confederate Government evacuates Richmond, Virginia
Selma, Alabama assailed and captured
Richmond and Petersburg occupied by Federals
Lincoln visits Richmond, Virginia
Engagement at Cumberland Church, Virginia
Siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama concludes
Mobile, Alabama surrenders
Skirmish at Raleigh, North Carolina
United States flag raised over Fort Sumter, South Carolina
Abraham Lincoln dies
A civil rights act is passed by the US congress, guarantee the legal rights of African Americans.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the US constitution is established