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Civil War Timeline
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Jefferson Davis Supports Secession
Jefferson Davis, who went on to become the President of the Confederacy, comes out in favor of secession for the first time. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected sixteenth president of the United States, becoming the first Republican president and bringing with him the party's opposition to the spread of slavery in U.S. territories. He received only 40% of the popular vote, but greatly defeated the other 3 candidates. His win deeply divided the Democratic party and played a very big part in the stirrings of the Civil War. -
First Southerners Resign from the Senate
James Chesnut becomes the first Southerner to resign from the Senate. He is soon followed by James H. Hammond. -
First Threats on Fort Sumter
Months before the Southern military took over Fort Sumter, beginning the war, Major Robert Anderson reports that Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston. -
James Buchanen Makes A Last, Panicked State of the Union Address
President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to continue having slaves as property. -
First Secession Convention
The first Secession Convention met in Columbia, South Carolina. It was here the Convention passed a unanimous resolution to secede from the union. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina sent a letter to the House of Representatives in December of 1860, announcing that they were seceding from the Union. They could not support their president-elect Abraham Lincoln and his ideas for the future of the country, especially those involving slavery. In their society and economy, slavery was an essential thing, and they saw nothing wrong with it. Their secession from the Union soon led to many states around them deciding to secede too. -
Secretary of War Orders Weapons to Mississippi and Texas
Secretary of War John Floyd orders 113 columbiad cannons and 11 32-pounders from the Pittsburgh arsenal to Ship Island, Mississippi, and Galveston. -
Buchanan Requests Resignation for Secretary of War
President Buchanan requests the resignation of Secretary of War John Floyd after sensing upcoming problems. -
Southerners Capture Charleston Federal Arsenal
The federal arsenal at Charleston falls into the hands of the Rebels. -
More Southern States Secede
On January 26th, Louisiana seceded from the Union. At this point, 6 states had seceded, in order of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and now Louisiana. Up until November of 1861, another 7 states secede. -
Jefferson Davis is Elected President of Confederacy
He is appointed in Montgomery, Alabama, following the succession of many Southern states and the creation of the Confederate States of America. It was a position Davis would hold until elections could be arranged, however he ended up holding it throughout the war. -
Lincoln is Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as 16th President of the United States in Washington, D.C. -
First Shots at Fort Sumter
Southern forces fire upon the Union fort, Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, officially beginning The Civil War. -
Lincoln Calls for Militiamen
Following the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln issues a proclamation calling for 75,000 men to fight for the Union in what is turning into the Civil War. He also summons for a special session of Congress on July 4. -
Battle of Big Bethel
The first land battle between the Union and Confederate armies is fought in Virginia, on the Virginia Peninsula. -
Battle of Bull Run
The first official battle of the Civil War takes place in Manassas, Virginia. It is a victory for the Confederacy. It is in this battle that the Southern general Thomas Jackson earns the nickname and his fame as "Stonewall Jackson". -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Union Army under General Nathaniel Lyon, attacked Confederate troops and state militia southwest of Springfield, Missouri. After a disastrous day including the death of Lyon, they beaten by the Confederates, this win emphasizing the strong southern presence west of the Mississippi River. -
Battle of Ball's Bluff
Colonel Edward D. Baker, an Oregon senator and a friend of Lincoln, led troops across the Potomac River in Virginia only to be forced to the river's edge and killed. It ended with the Union retreating where many soldiers drowned while trying to re-cross the icy waters of the Potomac River. -
Lincoln Appoints McClellan as General-in-Chief
President Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as the general-in-chief of all Union forces following the resignation of Winfield Scott. -
Grant Captures Fort Henry & Fort Donelson
Union General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson in Tennessee. It is during these fights he earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender". The loss of these southern forts on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river, cutting off Confederate access to two important waterways for the rest of the war. -
Battle of Roanoke Island
One of the first major Union victories of the war and for the first time in the war, the North had reason for optimism. It resulted in Union occupation of eastern North Carolina and control of the Pamlico Sound, a large lagoon, which would be used as Northern base for further operations against the southern coast. -
Jefferson Davis is Inaugarated
On this date, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the first major battle in Tennessee and a win for the Union. It took place from April 6th to 7th and began when the Confederates launched a surprise attack on Union forces under General Grant. After initial success, the Confederates were unable to hold their positions and were forced back. Both sides suffered heavy losses, with more than 23,000 total casualties, and the level of violence were a shock to both sides. -
Union Gains the Mississippi River
On April 24, a Union fleet of gunships under Admiral David Farragut passed Confederate forts guarding the opening of the Mississippi River. On April 25, the fleet arrived at New Orleans where they demanded the surrender of the city. Within two days the forts fall into Union hands and the great river was now under Union control. -
The Seven Days' Battles
General Lee's army attacks the "Army of the Potomac" under General George McClellan in a succession of six different battles in seven straight days, beginning at Mechanicsville on June 26 and ending at Malvern Hill on July 1. This set of battles was thought to be a Confederate victory. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
The second battle of Bull Run was fought on the same ground where one year before, but was a much larger scale battle and had more causalities. It began on August 28, when Southern General Stonewall Jackson’s troops fired upon an oblivious column of Union soldiers passing by Brawner Farm, and continued on until August 30th. It was considered to be a win for the Confederacy. -
The Battle of Antietam
The first battle of the Civil War to be fought on northern soil and the bloodiest single day battle in not only the Civil War, but also in American history. Generals Robert E. Lee and George McClellan faced off near Antietam creek in Maryland.The results are inconclusive since both sides suffered such a loss and things ended in a draw, however the Confederate retreat gave President Abraham Lincoln the “victory” he wanted before issuing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation a few days later. -
Lincoln Removes McClellan From Command
President Abraham Lincoln removed Gen. George B. McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac, and replaced him with Ambrose Burnside. McClellan built the army in the beginning of the war but was a sluggish and paranoid commander who was unable to muster the courage to aggressively engage with the Confederate army. McClellan also developed extreme disdain for the president, and often dismissed Lincoln’s suggestions. Lincoln decided that was enough and notified the general of his removal. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
The Battle of Fredericksburg involved nearly 200,000 men, the largest amount of troops in any Civil War battle. Ambrose Burnside ordered more than 120,000 troops to make an attack on Robert E. Lee’s 80,000-strong Army of Northern Virginia. However, Lee’s rebel defenders fought back on the assault with many casualties. The results of the battle sent Union morale plummeting and give much-needed energy to the Confederate cause after the failure of Lee’s first invasion of the North at Antietam. -
Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation
On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1st, 1863, slaves in the seceded states would now be free. It was an important turning point in the war, as it transformed the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom. -
Joseph Hooker Appointed Commander of Army of Potomac
Lincoln appoints Gen. Joseph (Fighting Joe) Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Ambrose E. Burnside. -
Conscription Begins in the North
The U.S. Congress enacts a military draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45. However, it exempted those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The first day of the Battle of Chancellorsville, continuing until May 4th. In this battle, General Lee's greatest victory is spoiled by the mortal wounding of "Stonewall" Jackson, who dies on May 10. Soon after this, Lee asks Jefferson Davis for permission to invade the North and take the war out of Virginia. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
The South suffers a huge loss as one of their greatest generals, Stonewall Jackson, dies from his wounds in the Battle of Chancellorsville a couple days earlier. -
Geoge G. Meade Replaces Hooker
President Lincoln appoints Gen. George G. Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Hooker. Meade is the 5th man to command the Army in less than a year. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War takes place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and was fought from July 1-3. On July 3, Lee ordered an attack on the enemy’s center at Cemetery Ridge. The assault, known as “Pickett’s Charge,” managed to pierce the Union lines but eventually failed, at the cost of thousands of rebel casualties, forcing him to withdraw his battered army toward Virginia on July 4 and in the process, destroying his hopes for a successful invasion of the North. -
Union Gains Full Control of Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrenders to the Union Army under Grant. The capture of Vicksburg gives the Union complete control of the Mississippi River, a vital supply line for the Confederate states in the west. The Confederacy was now effectively split in two and cut off from its western allies. -
Draft Riots Begin in NYC
Draft Riots begin in New York City and elsewhere as disgruntled workers and laborers, seething over the draft system that seems to favor the rich, attack the draft office and African American churches. At least 120 people, including children, are killed and $2 million in damage is caused, until Union soldiers return from Gettysburg to restore order. The riots continue through July 16. -
The Gettysburg Address is Delivered
The dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg takes place. President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. It is one of the best-known speeches in American history. -
Ulysses S. Grant Appointed Lieutenant General
Ulysses S. Grant is appointed lieutenant general, a rank revived at the request of President Lincoln. Grant assumes command of all Union armies in the field the following day. -
The Red River Campaign Begins
As part of an overall Union strategy to strike deep into various parts of the Confederacy, a combined force of army and navy commands under General Nathaniel Banks begin a campaign on the Red River in Louisiana. -
Battle of the Wilderness
From May 4-5, the opening battle of the "Overland Campaign" or "Wilderness Campaign". General Ulysses S. Grant issued orders for the campaign to begin on May 3. Lee responded by attacking the Union column in the dense woods and underbrush of an area known as the Wilderness, west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Bloody and chaotic combat ensued, ending in a tactical draw and heavy casualties, especially on the Union side. -
Beginning of the Atlanta Campaign
With three Union armies under his command, General William T. Sherman marched south from Tennessee into Georgia against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Joseph Johnston, Sherman and his armies' objective being the city of Atlanta. -
Assault on Petersburg, Virginia
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. -
Fall of Atlanta
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. Confederate troops under General Hood evacuate the city and General Sherman's army occupies the city and its defenses the following day. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election. -
The Battle of Cedar Creek
Union General Philip Sheridan averts a near disaster in the Shenandoah Valley when he rallies his troops after a surprise attack by Confederate General Jubal Early and scores a major victory that almost destroys Early’s army at the Battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia. -
Lincoln Re-Elected for Second Term
Northern voters endorse the leadership and policies of President Abraham Lincoln and elect him to a second term. With his re-election, any hope for a negotiated settlement with the Confederacy vanished. -
The "March to the Sea" Begins
After destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman, with 62,000 men begins his "March to the Sea", or as it is also known, the Savannah Campain. -
The "March to the Sea" Comes to an End
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 Union Army Captures Fort Fisher, NC
Union occupation of Fort Fisher at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina closes access to Wilmington, the last southern seaport on the east coast that was open to blockade runners and commercial shipping. -
Thirteenth Amendment is Approved by Congress
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which once ratified will abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. -
The Union Army Captures Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC, falls to Union troops, closing the last important southern port on the east coast. -
The Fall of Petersburg and Richmond
Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. General Lee abandons both cities and moves his army west hoping to join Confederate forces under General Johnston in North Carolina. Fires and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the Stars and Stripes. -
Lee Surrenders
After an early morning attempt to break through Union forces blocking the route west to Danville, Virginia, Lee meets with General Grant to discuss terms. Near Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. -
Lincoln is Shot
The Stars and Stripes are ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. That night, Lincoln and his wife Mary go to see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., during the third act of the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head. Doctors attend to the president in the theater then move him to a house across the street. -
Lincoln Dies and Andrew Johnson Becomes President
President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency. -
Final Battle of the Civil War
The final battle of the Civil War takes place at Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is a Confederate victory. -
The Civil War Officially Ends
General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters into terms for surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which are agreed to on June 2, 1865, officially ending The Civil War. -
The Thirteenth Amendment is Finally Ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified and slavery is abolished. -
U.S. Declares a State of Peace with Confederate States
The United States declares a state of peace with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. -
Congress Buys Ford's Theater
Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy Ford's Theater, the location where Lincoln was shot and later died. It will house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department records until 1893. -
Congress Overrides Andrew Jackson's Veto of Civil Rights Act
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act, which would offer protection to slaves freed in the aftermath of the Civil War. In vetoing the bill, Johnson believed that blacks were not qualified to become U.S. citizens and that the measure would “operate in favor of the colored and against the white race.” -
Congress Approves the Fourteenth Amendment
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” including former slaves recently freed. In addition, it forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” -
Congress Overrides Johnson's Veto of the Freedman's Bureau Bill
Pres. Johnson vetos the Freedman's Bureau bill, which would provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land to displaced Southerners, including newly freed slaves. It would also establish schools, supervised contracts between freedmen and employers, and manage confiscated or abandoned lands. Many were shocked by Johnson's veto, however he felt it gave federal government a new role in providing aid to a specific group of people and not others, amongst other issues. -
Tennessee Ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment
One of the Confederate states, Tennessee, ratifies the 14th Amendment. This quick ratification meant Tennessee would not suffer during the 2nd Reconstruction. -
Grant is Given Title "General of the Armies"
Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star general and put in this position. William Tecumseh Sherman assumes the rank of Lt. General. -
Johnson Issues a Proclamation of Peace with Texas
On this date, President Andrew Johnson, declared that "the insurrection in the State of Texas has been completely and everywhere suppressed and ended," officially ending the Civil War by issuing a proclamation of peace between the United States and Texas. -
Civil War Ships Accidentally Destroyed
A fire in a Philadelphia ship-yard accidentally destroys a number of ships used during the Civil War. -
South Carolina Rejects the 14th Amendment
On the 6th anniversary of thier secession from the Union, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment -
Congress Expands Suffrage in D.C.
Congress, made up mostly of radical Republicans, overrode a veto by President Andrew Johnson, granting voting rights to all adult male citizens of the District of Columbia. It was the first law in U.S. history that extended the ballot to African-American men. -
Nebraska Becomes a State
Nebraska is admitted to the Union as the 37th state on March 1, 1867, two years after the end of the American Civil War, -
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. The law was enacted over the veto of President Andrew Johnson. -
Gen. Philip Sheridan Assumes Command of 5th Military District
General Philip Sheridan assumes command of the 5th Military District made up of Louisiana and Texas. He designates New Orleans to be his headquarters. -
William P. Seward Buys Alaska from Russia
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. Democrats called it "Seward's Folly". It marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America. -
The First Ride-Ins to Protest Segregation
A group of African-Americans tested their right to ride on the Charleston Street Cars, although the rules denied them this right. A few men entered a streetcar on the King Street line, and sat among the white customers.The conductor tried to explain the rules and that his right to forcibly remove them, yet the men stayed. The police came and also failed to remove them. A large group of African-Americans gathered and attempted to push the car forward while threatening the conductor and police. -
Congress Admits and Refuses Admission to Certain States
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 -
House Select Committee on Reconstruction is Appointed
The House Select Committee on Reconstruction was a part of the U.S. Congress that played a major role in Reconstruction after the Civil War. It was created to "inquire into the condition of the States which formed the Confederate States of America, and report whether they, or any of them, are entitled to be represented in either house of Congress." It also drafted the 14th Amendment and required southern states to approve the amendment before being readmitted to representation in Congress. -
Johnson Demands the Resignation of Edwin Stanton
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton as the Secretary of War, after the two clash over plans for Reconstruction. -
Grants Becomes the Ad Interim Secretary of War
Ulysses S. Grant becomes the ad interim Secretary of War, following the removal of Stanton.
