Civil War Timeline

The Civil War

Period: Oct 1, 1860 to May 30, 1865

Timespan for the Civil War

The Confederacy of the United States is Formed

Feb 4, 1861

South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana, all form the Confederacy of the United States, and created their own constitution which made slavery acceptable. Jefferson Davis became the Confederacy's first and only president.

Battle of Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Charleston Harbor, South Carolina
Length: 3 Days
Confederate Victory
"The Civil War had begun!" Even though Anderson and his men moved to Fort Sumter, which was "an imposing fortification in the middle of the harbor," Anderson surrendered the fort on April 13, 1861.

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia
Length: 1 Day
Confederate Victory
The first major land battle in Virginia, which also convinced Lincoln and his administration that the civil war would be very long and trying.

Battle of Fort Henry

Feb 6, 1862

Stewart County and Henry County, Tennessee, and Calloway County, Kentucky
Length:
Union Victory
After Confederate forces escaped to Fort Donelson, those remaining at Fort Henry surrendered. Then, ten days after Fort Donelson fell, two major water transportation routes became Union territory,

Battle of Fort Donelson

Feb 11, 1862

Stewart County, Tennessee
Length: 5 Days
Union Victory
After an unconditional surrender, it became a major victory for General Grant and a setback for the South.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Hardin County, Tennessee
Length: 1 Day
Union Victory
Grant had claimed victory over the Confederacy once again. The Confederates kept retreating constantly.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 16, 1862

Washington County, Maryland
Length: 2 Days
Inconclusive (Union Claims Victory)
While the Battle of Antietam is considered a draw, the Union claimed victory. This battle would give Lincoln the victory that he needed to create the Emancipation Proclamation.

Second Battle of Bull Run

Sep 28, 1862

Prince William County, Virginia
Length: 2 Days
Confederate Victory
This was a very important battle for the Northern Virginia Campaign.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

Fredericksburg, Virginia
Length: 4 Days
Confederate Victory
One of the most devastating battles of the Civil War, as there was a total of 17,929 casualties (killed, wounded, missing/captured). No other battle in the Civil War had ever had a larger concentration of soldiers.

The Emancipation Proclamation is Signed

Jan 1, 1863

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate states and allowed those slaves to join the Union army. It ruined the chance to end the civil war through a compromise.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

Spotsylvania, Virginia
Length: 6 Days
Confederate Victory
This may be Robert E. Lee's greatest victory.

Siege of Vicksburg

May 18, 1863

Warren County, Mississippi
Length: 17 Days
When they lost this stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Grant's successes lead to his promotion to General-in-Chief.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Adams County, Pennsylvania
Length: 2 Days
Union Victory
Robert E. Lee put his focus towards George Meade’s Army. The amount of Robert E. Lee's wounded soldiers was large.

Battle of Fort Wagner

Jul 18, 1863

Morris Island, South Carolina
Length: 20 Days
Confederate Victory
This was the fourth time in the war that black troops played an important role, proving themselves.

Battle of Chickamauga

Sep 18, 1863

Catoosa County and Walker County, Georgia
Length: 2 Days
Confederate Victory
After George H. Thomas helped Union troops from Chickamauga, they went to Chattanooga and the Confederates took Chickamauga.

Battle of Chattanooga

Nov 23, 1863

Hamilton County and City of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Length: 2 Days
Union Victory
When the Union took Chattanooga, the Union gained an opening that would allow them to invade the south.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

May 8, 1864

Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Length: 13 Days
Two confederate generals were captured, and two other generals were wounded. Grant then continued his advance on Richmond on May 21.

Battle of Cold Harbor

May 31, 1864

Hanover County, Virginia
Length: 12 Days
Confederate Victory
In order to target Petersburg, Grant sent his army south and abandoned Richmond.

Battle of Sailor's Creek

Apr 6, 1865

Amelia County, Prince Edward County, and Nottoway County, Virginia
Length: 1 Day
Union Victory
After being unable to retreat, many Confederates surrendered, and the Union considered it as "the death knell of the Confederate Army."

The Surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse

Apr 9, 1865

Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant met to discuss the surrender of the Confederacy of the United States.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Apr 14, 1865

On this day, John Wilkes Booth killed Abraham Lincoln. It was the first time a USA president had ever been killed.