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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Abraham Lincoln is president
Lincoln won presidency -
1860 Election
Lincoln: 180 electoral votes & 1,865,593 popular
votes -
1860 Election
Breckenridge: 72 electoral votes & 848,356
popular votes -
1860 Election
Douglas: 12 electoral votes & 1,382,713 -
1860 Election
Bell: 39 electoral votes & 592, 906 popular votes -
South Carolina calls for a convention
South Carolina calls for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union -
Robert Anderson makes his third request
Robert Anderson makes his third request for reinforcements at Fort Moultrie -
Georgia calls for a convention
Georgia calls for a convention of Southern states to form an independent nation. -
South Carolina Succeeds from the union
South Carolina Succeeds from the union. Within 2 more months Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas did the same. -
President Buchanan tipped to upcoming problems
President Buchanan, tipped to upcoming problems for Secretary of War John Floyd, requests his resignation. -
Convention of Seceded states adopts
The Convention of Seceded States adopts a provisional constitution forming the Confederate States of America -
Confederate states of America is formed
Confederate states of America is formed with Jefferson Davis who was a west point graduate and a former Army officer as the president. -
Lincoln is Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president -
The Civil War begins
Early in the morning the confederates opened fire with 50 cannons at fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina and that was the beginning of the civil war. -
Lincoln Gets Army men
Lincoln issues a proclamation and he called for 75,000 men for war. -
More states Succeed from the Union
Virginia succeeded from the union and soon later so did Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina and that now formed an 11 state confederacy. -
Robert E. Lee moves
Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the united states army. -
Lincoln in a speech
In a speech Lincoln "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..." and then congress called for 500,000 more men. -
First Bull Run
Union army got defeated at bull run 25 miles south west of Washington. -
"Stonewall"
Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname Stonewall. -
General U.S. Grant Invades
General Ulysses S. Grant invades west Tennessee. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. -
Rough Time for President Lincoln
President Lincoln is struck with grief as his beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
President Lincoln is struck with grief
President Lincoln is struck with grief as his beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
Lincoln issues General War order
President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 calling for all United States naval and land forces to begin a general advance by February 22 -
Evolution in War
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. -
Seven Pines Battle
The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. But Johnston is badly wounded. -
Robert E. Lee assumes
General Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia. -
President Lincoln takes the task of General
After four months as his own general-in-chief, President Lincoln hands over the task to General Henry W. Halleck. -
Preliminary Emancipation
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves issued by President Lincoln. -
War to preserve the Union
The war to preserve the Union now becomes a revolutionary struggle for the abolition of slavery. -
Appoints Hoe Hooker
The president appoints Gen. Joseph Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac. -
Grant is placed in Command
General Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West, with orders to capture Vicksburg. -
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft
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. -
South suffers a huge blow
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." -
Gen. Lee with 75,000 Confederates
Gen. Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches his second invasion of the North, heading into Pennsylvania in a campaign that will soon lead to Gettysburg. -
President meets with abolitionist
The president meets with abolitionist Frederick Douglass who pushes for full equality for Union 'Negro troops.' -
President appoints general
The president appoints Gen. Grant to command all operations in the western theater. -
Slave followers raid a town
At Lawrence, Kansas, pro-Confederate William C. Quantrill and 450 pro-slavery followers raid the town and butcher 182 boys and men. -
President Lincoln delivers a two minute speech
President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant
President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. Gen. William T. Sherman succeeds Grant as commander in the west. -
A costly mistake by Grant
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. -
Union forces miss an opportunity
Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee. -
Battle the Rebels
At Atlanta, Sherman's forces battle the Rebels now under the command of Gen. John B. Hood, who replaced Johnston. -
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln. -
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. "Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," Sherman telegraphs Lincoln. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election. -
Union victory by Cavalry Gen. Philip H. Sheridan
A decisive Union victory by Cavalry Gen. Philip H. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley over Jubal Early's troops. -
Sherman begins a march
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. -
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is crushed at Nashville by 55,000 Federals including Negro troops under Gen. George H. Thomas. The Confederate Army of Tennessee ceases as an effective fighting force. -
Sherman reaches Savannah
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. -
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. -
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure - the war will continue. -
Inauguration ceremonies
Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington. "With malice toward none; with charity for all...let us strive on to finish the work we are in...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations," Lincoln says. -
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins
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. -
Grant's forces begin a general advance
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. -
President Lincoln tours Richmond
President Lincoln tours Richmond where he enters the Confederate White House. With "a serious, dreamy expression," he sits at the desk of Jefferson Davis for a few moments. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
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. -
Celebrations
Celebrations break out in Washington. -
Lincoln dies
President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency. -
Joseph E. Johnston surrenders
Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. -
First formal Observation
The first formal observation of President Lincoln's birthday is held in Washington, D. C. President Andrew Johnson attends -
New bill passed
New Freedman's Bureau bill passed by Congress. President Andrew Johnson vetoes the bill that authorized military trial for those accused of "depriving Negroes of the Civil Rights" on the same day -
Texas repeals
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention -
Vetos
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional -
U.S. declars that a state of peace exists
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -
Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy
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 until 1893 -
Congress overrides Presidents Veto
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act -
Cholera epidemic begins in New York
Cholera epidemic begins in New York when an infected passenger arrives in New York. -
Another guy dies
Winfield Scott dies, West Point, NY -
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution -
Ohio ratifies the 14th Amendment
Ohio ratifies the 14th Amendment -
Virginia rejects the 14th Amendment
Virginia rejects the 14th Amendment -
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
General Philip Sheridan assumes command of the 5th Military district encompassing Louisiana and Texas
General Philip Sheridan assumes command of the 5th Military district encompassing Louisiana and Texas. He designates New Orleans as his headquarters. -
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. Democrats called it "Seward's Folly" -
Senate ratifies treaty purchasing Alaska
Senate ratifies treaty purchasing Alaska -
Congress passes a bill admitting
Congress passes a bill admitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union -
Edwin stanton is suspended
Edwin Stanton suspended by President Andrew Johnson -
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States
