-
-
Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy. HIm favoring sucession was a huge part of the war. He favored this before Lincoln was even elected, so when Lincoln was he had many people to join his side.
-
The Republican Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois were the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. Lincoln won on the third ballot. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, an outspoken, long-time abolitionist was chosen for vice-president.
-
The Southern Democrats held a convention in Richmond where they select John C. Breckinridge as their nominee for President.
-
Governor William Henry Gist notified other Deep South states that South Carolina was considering secession as an option.
-
The 1860 election was won by Abe Lincoln. He won despite recieving no electoral votes by the South. This was a majot factor in the Souths sucession.
-
South Carolina called for a convention on December 17 to decide if the state should secede from the Union.
-
James Chesnut becomes the first Southerner to resign from the Senate. He is quickly followed by James H. Hammond. This is a major starting point for the Souths secesion.
-
Governor Isham Harris calls for a special session of the Tennessee legislature to consider secession.
-
South Carolina Secessionist Convention is called to order. The convention decides unanimously to secede from the United States and appoints a committee to draw up the needed documents.
-
The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession. However, their names remain on the roll because the Union still does not agknowledge secession.
-
Federal arsenal at Charleston falls into the hands of the Rebels. This is big as it increses the Souths already low odds of wining the war.
-
Artillery fires on the Star of the West from Morris Island as it crosses into the main entrance channel to Charleston Harbor. As the ship comes about, Fort Moultrie opens fire, also with cannon shot. A mile and a half from Fort Sumter, the ship withdraws.
-
After supposedly being admited as a slave state, Kansas became the 34th state, and a free state.
-
Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama.
-
Lincolns inaguation was a key factor in the start of the civil war. After only recieving 40% of the popular vote the south felt they had lost their power. With Lincoln taking over as president and him being an abolitionist they felt their way for life was threatened.
-
The first battle of the Civil War happens at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle lasted two days and was a victory for the Confederate forces.
-
Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were. Technically this is against the constitution but during a time of war it was necessary.
-
About 25 miles southwest of Washington the first major battle of the Civil War pits Irvin McDowell [US] against P. G. T. Beauregard [CS] and Joe Johnston [CS].
-
Winfield Scott relieved from duty as Supreme Comander of the United States.
-
Lincoln issues first war order, but General George McClellan ignores it.
-
General Ulysses S. Grant demands the unconditional surrender of the garrison from an old friend, Simon Bolivar Buckner
-
Lincoln issues a new form of paper money for the Union to use.
-
After a duel with Confederate ships at English Turn, Commadore Farragut's fleet weighs anchor at New Orleans and demands the surrender of the largest city and most important port in the South. By the time Farragut arrives the city was partially on fire.
-
Jefferson Davis replaces wounded Army of Northern Virginia commander Joseph E. Johnston with Robert E. Lee
-
General Robert E. Lee [CS] advances into Pennsylvania where he meets George Meade [US]. First battling north of the city, by the second day Union forces had retreated south, forming a strong line as men arrived almost continuously. On the third day, the infamous Pickett's Charge marked the end of the Confederates hope for a victory
-
Abraham Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside [US} from command of the Army of the Potomac, replacing him with General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker.
-
The conscription act is signed, meaning men ages 18-35 can be drafted into the army. This quickly starts riots.
-
General "Fighting Joe" Hooker's Army of the Potomac is defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it crosses the Rappahannock on the way to Richmond
-
Three Union armies attacked the Army of Tennessee atop Missionary Ridge, east of downtown Chattanooga. Patrick Cleburne stopped William Tecumseh Sherman from the north, although outnumbered 10 to 1. Joe Hooker was seriously delayed by burnt bridges and failed to hit the southern end of Bragg's line near Rossville, Georgia. Thomas' Army of the Cumberland struck the center, breaking Bragg's line and forcing a retreat. Sheridan, ordered to pursue, was stopped dead in his tracks by William Hardee's
-
109 Union officers led by Colonel Thomas Rose escape from Libby Prison on the banks of the James River in Richmond. 59 reach Union lines
-
Ulysses S. Grant [US] is badly beaten on the field by Robert E. Lee [CS] but rather than retreat, Grant advances to Spotsylvania Court House.
-
In an inconclusive battle, General Ulysses S. Grant [US] and Robert E. Lee [CS] battle for days southwest of Fredericksburg
-
18 Union ships sail past the entrance to Mobile Bay. The C. S. S. Tennessee, prize ironclad of the Confederate Navy awaited the attack. As the U. S. S. Tecumseh sinks Admiral David Farragut orders "Damn the torpedoes, go ahead." His flag vessel Hartford took the lead. The ships destroyed the Confederate fleet
-
On the River Queen five men, US President Abraham Lincoln, US Secretary of State William Seward, CS Vice-president Alexander Stephens, along with John Campbell and RMT Hunter discuss peace terms at the Hampton Roads Conference near Fort Monroe. The conference was a failure.
-
Lincoln outlines his second term talking directly to the Confederate people "...with malice toward none; with charity for all..." Andrew Johnson, replacing Henry Hamlin as Vice-president gives a rambling, drunk speech. He had been given too much whiskey as medicine by a doctor.
-
George Pickett [CS] could not withstand the federal envelopment move around Petersburg that began here.
-
The Confederates Surrender
-
President Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Boothe.
-
One day after being shot Lincoln is pronounced dead in a building across from the theater.
-
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention
-
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 President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act
-
Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill
-
North Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. Georgia and Texas have already done so.
-
Blacks in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto
-
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan
-
A fire in the Philadelphia ship-yard accidently destroys a number of ships used during the Civil
-
On the 6th anniversary of secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment
