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Abraham Lincoln is elected as president. He is the first republican to take office ever. He has 180 of 303 possible electoral votes and 40% of popular vote. He wasn't even on the voting papers in 10 different states.
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South Carolina secedes from the Union. In the next two months Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas follow South Carolina's footsteps
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Abraham Lincoln is finally sworn in as the 16th President of the United States of America
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At 4:30 AM Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons at Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina. This is the start of the Civil War
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President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen and a special session of congress for July 4.
Robert E. Lee, son of a revolutionary war hero, is offered command of the Union Army. Lee declines -
Virginia secedes from the union causing Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina to also secede. There are now 11 states in the confederacy. 9 million population and 4 million slaves. But, the Union still has 21 states and has a population of over 20 million
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President Lincoln Issues Proclamation of Blockade against southern ports. Blockade limits the ability of rural south stay well supported. It's the rural south VS the industrialized North
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Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the U.S Army. When Lee goes to Richmond, Virginia he is offered command of military and naval forces of Virginia. Lee accepts their offer
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Lincoln gives speech to congress. "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...". Congress then authorizes a call for 500,000 men.
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Union Army under General Irvin McDowell suffers a great defeat at Bull Run. 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall" for resisting Union attacks so well. Union troops soon retreat back to Washington. This is where President Lincoln realizes that the war will be long.
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President Lincoln appoints George B McClellan as Commander of Department of Potomac. Replacing McDowell for his loss at the first real battle of the Civil War
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President Lincoln revokes General John C Frémonts unauthorized military Proclamation of Emancipation in Missouri. President relieves General Frémonts of his command and replaces him with General David Hunter
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President Lincoln appoints McClellan as general-in-chief of all union forces. Since Winfield Scott, the old holder of the position, resigned because of old age.
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When two confederate officials sailing toward England are seized by the U.S Navy. This is the start of an international diplomatic crisis. England demands their release threatening war. Lincoln eventually gives in and orders their release in December.
"One war at a time" - Lincoln -
President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 which calls for all United States naval and land forces to begin a general advance starting by February 22
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General Ulysses S. Grant wins a victory in Tennessee. He captures Fort Henry and ten days later Fort Donelson. Gains the nickname "Unconditional Surrender"
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The Confederate ironclad "Merrimac" sinks two wooden Union ships. The "Merrimac" then battles the Union ironclad "Monitor" to a draw. Because of this battle Naval warfare is changed forever and wooden ships are now obsolete
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The Peninsular Campaign begins. McClellan's Army of the Potomac advances from Washington down the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay to Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia
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The confederate surprise attacks on General Ulysses S. Grant unprepared troops in Shiloh, Tennessee. This attack results in bitter struggle. 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,00 confederates. More men than in all previous America wars combined. Lincoln is pressured to relieve Grant but Lincoln resists
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17 ships under command of Flag Officer David Farragut moves up the Mississippi River. Then take New Orleans, which is the South's greatest seaports
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General Robert E. Lee assumes Command replacing wounded Johnston. Lee renames his force Army of Northern Virginia and McClellan is not impressed.
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During the Seven Days Battles, Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond. There was very heavy losses for both armies. McClellan then begins a withdrawal back to Washington
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After 4 months as being his own general-in-chief, President Lincoln, finally hands over the task to General Henry W (Cold Brains) Halleck
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75,000 federals are defeated under General John Pope after 55,000 Confederates under General Stonewall Jackson and General James Longstreet defeat them. The Union Army retreats back to Washington. President Lincoln relieves John Pope of his duties
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Robert E. Lee and his troops are stopped by McClellan at Antietam, Maryland. The Union outnumbers the Confederates. by Nightfall, 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. Lee withdrawals back to Virginia
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the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation is issued by President Lincoln freeing slaves.
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President replaces McClellan with General Ambrose E. Burnside. Lincoln grew impatient with McClellan's slowness and the fact that he never followed up on the success at Antietam. Lincoln tells McClellan that if he isn't gonna use his army he would like it back.
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The Union Army suffers a great defeat at Fredericksburg under General Burnside. Losing 12,653 men and with 14 frontal assaults. the well defended Rebels on Marye's Heights had a lose of 5,309.
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President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation. This frees all slaves in territories held by Confederates. This also emphasizes the enlisting to Black soldiers in the Union Army. The war is now even worse and will be even harder to fight than ever before.
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The President appoints General Joseph (Fighting Joe) Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Fighting Joe replaces Burnside because of his lose at Fredericksburg.
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The U.S Congress enacts a draft. This affects male citizens between the ages of 20 to 45. Those this exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. This causes poor Northeners to complain.
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The Union is defeated once again under General Hooker. The Battle at Chancellorsville results in Confederate victory because of General Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Sadly though, General "Stonewall" Jackson is wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats of course losing 17,000 soldiers out of 130,000 while the Confederates only lost 13,000 out of 60,000
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The South suffers a huge blow. "Stonewall" Jackson dies from his wounds leaving General Lee devastated.
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General Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches his second invasion in the North. He heads to Pennsylvania in a campaign. This soon leads to Gettysburg.
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President Lincoln appoints General George G. Meade commander of Army of the Potomac, replacing Hooker. Meade is the 5th man to command the Army in less than a year
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South gets a surprise. They're defeated at Battle of Gettysburg.
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Anti-draft riots in New York City have broken out. There is arson and the murdering of blacks by poor immigrant whites. 120 people, including children are killed and $2 million in damaged caused. This goes on until soldiers return from Gettysburg to restore order.
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'Negro Troops' of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Robert G shaw assault fortified Rebels at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Col. Shaw and half of his 600 men are killed
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The President meets with Fredrick Douglass. Douglass pushes for full equality for Union 'Negro Troops'.
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In Lawrence, Kansas, Pro-confederate William C. Quantril and 450 pro-slavery followers raid the town. They butcher 182 boys and men
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Decisive Confederate victory by General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee at Chickamanga. This leaves General Willian S. Rosecrans' union Army of the Cumberland trapped in Chattanooga with Tennessee under siege.
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President Lincoln appoints General Grant to command all operations and western theater
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President Lincoln delivers two minute Gettysburg Address at the ceremony dedicating the Battle field at National Ceremony
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Rebel siege of Chattanooga ends and Union forces under Grant defeat the siege army of General Braxton Bragg. This is when the most dramatic movement of the war occurs. Union troops avenge their previous defeat at Chickamauga, storming up face of Missionary Ridge without orders, sweeping Rebels from what they thought an undefeatable position
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President Lincoln appoints General Grant to command all armies in the U.S. General William T. Sherman succeeds Grant as Commander in the West
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Beginning of massive, coordinated campaign involving all the Union Armies. In Virginia, Grant with Army of 120,000 begins advancing toward Richmond which engages Lee's Army of Northern Virginia with is now numbering at 64,000. This is the beginning of a War of Attrition, which will include major battles at Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania (May 8-12), and Cold Harbor (June 1-3)
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A costly mistake made by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in 20 minutes during an offensive against fortified Rebels. This all happens in Cold Harbor, Virginia
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The Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg while cutting off the Confederate rail lines but as a result, nine month siege of Petersburg which all begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee
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Sherman's forces battle the Rebels in Atlanta. The Rebels commander Johnston is replaced by John B. Hood
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The Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president while Abraham Lincoln runs for his second term
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Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. Sherman then telegraphs Lincoln. This victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for the re-election.
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Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president defeating Democratic George B. McClellan. Lincoln in this election carnes all by three states with 55% of the popular vote and 212 out of 233 electoral votes
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Sherman destroys Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, President Lincoln approves idea after following Grant's advice
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Sherman reaches Savannah, Georgia and leaves behind mile long path of destruction that is 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta. Sherman then telegraphs Lincoln and offers him Savannah as a Christmas Present
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U.S Congress Approves 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. The amendment is then sent to the states for ratification.
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A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephans in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Sadly, the meeting ends in failure and the war continues
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Grant's forces begin a general advance and breaks through Lee's lines at petersburg. The Confederate General Ambrose P Hill is killed and Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond, is evacuated, fires and looting break out. Next day, April 13, Union troops raise the Stars and Stripes
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President Lincoln tours Richmond and enters the Confederate White House
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General Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S Grant at Village of Appromattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep their horses and mules.
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Celebrations breakout all over Washington
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Stars and Stripes is ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. Lincoln and his wife see the play "Our American Cousin" at the Ford's Theater. During the Third Act of the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln in the head. Doctors attend to him but he does not regain consciousness
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President Abraham Lincoln dies and Vice President Andrew Jackson assumes the presidency
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Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman in Durham, North Caroline
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John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in Virginia for murdering President Lincoln
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Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest at Oak Ridge Ceremony, outside of Springfield, Illinois
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The remaining Confederate forces surrender and the Nation is reunited at the end of the Civil War. OVer 620,000 Americans died, diseases killing twice as many those in battle. 50,000 survivors return home as amputees
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The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.
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During the Battle of Seven Pines, General Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops right in front of Richmond. Johnston nearly defeats them but he is badly wounded.
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Vicksburg is the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. General Lee surrenders to General Grant and the Army of the West causing a six week siege. The Union is now in control of Mississippi. The Confederacy is now effectively split in to two and cut off from it's western allies
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When General Robert E. Lee invades North he has 50,000 confederates with him and heads for Harper's Ferry, while the Union Army is 90,000 men strong under McClellan's command. McClellan pursues Lee
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Lee's last offensive battle for his Army of Northern Virginia. It begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces in Petersburg Four hours later the attack is broken
