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Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of secession for the first time.
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The Democratic National Convention, meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, cannot agree on a nominee. The only thing they can agree on is to continue the debate in Baltimore the next month.
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The Constitution Union Party, meeting in Baltimore, creates a platform taken heavily from the U. S. Constitution and selects John Bell of Tennessee for President and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for Vice-President.
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Southern Democrats hold a convention in Richmond where they select John C. Breckinridge as their nominee for President.
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Lieutenant Colonel William Hardee is replaced by Major John F. Reynolds as commander of cadets at West Point
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Governor William Henry Gist notifies other Deep South states that South Carolina is considering secession as an option.
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Abraham Lincoln is elected sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln is the first president to represent a party that opposes the spread of slavery the United States.
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South Carolina calls for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union.
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The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina.
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South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union.
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The southern states that seceded create a government at Montgomery, Alabama, and the Confederate States of America are formed.
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Jefferson Davis is appointed the first President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama, a position he will hold until elections can be arranged.
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Southern forces fire upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina. This is the formal beginning of the Civil War
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President Lincoln issues proclamation, preventing rural Southern states from the ability to be well supplied during the war.
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The Union army is defeated at Bull Run, the first official battle of the Civil War
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The Union Army attack Confederate troops and state militia southwest of Springfield, Missouri, and are thrown back. The Confederate victory shows the strong southern presence west of the Mississippi River.
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Fort Hatteras at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, falls to Union naval forces. This begins the first Union efforts to close southern ports along the Carolina coast.
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Lexington, Missouri falls to Confederate forces under Sterling Price.
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One of the early battles of the American Civil War, fought in Loudoun County, Virginia, and ended in a Confederate victory.
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Two Confederate officials sailing to England are captured; however, England demands their release and threatening war. Lincoln eventually gives in come December.
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Gen. Ulysses S. grant is victorious in capturing Forty Henry, in Tennessee, and ten days later Fort Donelson. He earns the name, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
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Confederate's ironclad ship, "Merrimac", sinks two Union ships, changing naval warfare forever. Wooden ships become outdated.
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The Battle of Shiloh was the first major battle in Tennessee. The Union victory further secures the career of Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
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General "Stonewall" Jackson attacks Union forces at Winchester and successfully drives them from the city. It is a Confederate victory.
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General Joseph Johnston, commander of the Confederate army in Virginia is wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee who renames his command the "Army of Northern Virginia".
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General Lee's army attacks the "Army of the Potomac" under General George McClellan in a succession of battles beginning at Mechanicsville on June 26 and ending at Malvern Hill on July 1.
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This battle was fought on the same ground where one year before, where the Union army was defeated. Similarly, the result of this battle is a Union defeat.
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General E. Lee and army are stopped at Antietam, Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union Forces. Lee withdraws to Virginia at nightfall after 26,000 men are left dead or wounded.
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Lincoln creates a preliminary proclamation of emancipation creating possibility of freeing slaves.
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The Army of the Potomac, under General Ambrose Burnside, is soundly defeated by Lee's forces after a risky river crossing and sacking of the city.
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Lincoln issues final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in terrotories held by Confederates and encourage the enlistment of African-American soldiers.
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Gen. Hooker, replacement for Burnside, is defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Hooker retreats, with both sides suffering great losses.
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After being mortally wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville, General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died on May 10, 1863
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Gen. E. Lee launches his second invasion in North, (75000 Confederates) which will lead to Gettsyburg.
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The bloodiest battle of the Civil War dashes Robert E. Lee's hopes for a successful invasion of the North. This battle is well known as the turning point of the Civil War
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The Confederates surrender 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. At Gettysburg, Lee begins his retreat to Virginia.
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The Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans is defeated and nearly routed by the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by General Braxton Bragg. Rosecrans' army retreats to the supply base at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Lincoln makes a two minute speech at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield. The speech is not appreciated at the time but it later becomes one of the most popular speeches in all American History.
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Union forces break the Confederate siege of the city in successive attacks. The Union victory sends the Confederate Army south into Georgia where General Bragg reorganizes his forces before resigning from command on November 30.
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Lincoln Issues his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which would pardon those who participated in the "existing rebellion" if they take an oath to the Union.
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Escape from Libby Prison, Richmond. After weeks of digging, 109 Union officers made their escape from the notorious Libby Prison, the largest and most sensational escape of the war.
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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.
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General Ulysses S. Grant, accompanying the Army of the Potomac under General Meade, 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.
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After withdrawing from the lines at Cold Harbor, the Army of the Potomac crossed the James River and with troops from the Army of the James attacked the outer defenses of Petersburg, the primary junction for several southern railroads.
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Sherman's Army of the Cumberland and Army of the Tennessee smash headlong into Johnston's carefully planned defenses at Big and Little Kennesaw.
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Though this battle was a Union defeat, it was also called "the battle that saved Washington" because it helped hold back Confederate General Early's march until troops could be sent to the capital's defense.
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Democrats nominate McClellan to run for president against Lincoln.
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Lincoln is re-elected president, after two Union victories in September and October, with 55% of the popular vote.
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General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the "March to the Sea".
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The Confederate Army under John Bell Hood is thoroughly defeated and the threat to Tennessee ends.
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Union Assault and capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
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U.S congress approves the thirteenth amendment to abolish slavery.
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Sherman's Army captures Columbia, South Carolina while Confederate defenders evacuate Charleston, South Carolina.
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Named, "Lee's last offensive", Confederate troops under General John B. Gordon attack and briefly capture the Union fort in the Petersburg siege lines in an attempt to thwart Union plans for a late March assault.
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Union troops occupy Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia.
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Lee signs the document of surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. The Army of Northern Virginia formally surrenders and is disbanded.
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Lincoln and his Mary attend the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 pm, Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth.
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General Joseph Johnston signs the surrender document for the Confederate Army of the Tennessee and miscellaneous southern troops attached to his command at Bennett's Place near Durham, North Carolina.
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General Richard Taylor surrenders Confederate forces in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana.
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General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters into terms for surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which are agreed to on June 2, 1865.The Civil War officially ends.
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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.
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President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional
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The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
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American Equal Rights Association forms.
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Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill.
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Tennessee ratifies the 14th Amendment. This quick ratification meant Tennessee would not suffer under 2nd Reconstruction
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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.
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Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank.
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A proclamation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson.
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A fire in the Philadelphia ship-yard accidentally destroys a number of ships used during the Civil War.
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Blacks in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto.
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Nebraska becomes 37th US state.
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1st Reconstruction act passed by US Congress.
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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.
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General Philip Sheridan commands the 5th Military district of Louisiana and Texas. He chooses New Orleans as his headquarters.
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Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto.
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Congress approves building of Lincoln Memorial.
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William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre.
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Blacks stage ride-in to protest segregation in New Orleans.
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President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War.
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Rutgers plays the first ever college football game against the College of New Jersey, and wins by a score of 6-4.
