US History

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    Civil War Timeline

  • Abraham Lincoln Elected President

    Abraham Lincoln Elected President

    The presidential election of 1860 was won by Republican Abraham Lincoln who was against Douglas.
  • Secession Convention

    Secession Convention

    The first Secession Convention meets in Columbia, South Carolina.
  • South Carolina Seceds

    South Carolina Seceds

    South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.
  • The Confederacy Grows

    The Confederacy Grows

    The Confederacy had 4 more states join them during April of 1861.
  • Virginia Splits

    Virginia Splits

    Virginia created West Virginia during this time because only some of the state wanted to secede from the Union.
  • The South Creates a Government

    The South Creates a Government

    Soon after Seceding from the Union, the South creates the Confederacy.
  • Confederate President

    Confederate President

    Jefferson Davis is appointed the first President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama
  • Abraham Lincoln is Inaugurated

    Abraham Lincoln is Inaugurated

    President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated into office this day.
  • Fort Sumter

    Fort Sumter

    This was the opening scene of the Civil War, no one died.
  • Battle of Philippi

    Battle of Philippi

    30 People died in total in this battle, 4 Union and 26 Confederate.
  • Battle of Bull Run

    Battle of Bull Run

    The first official battle of the Civil War, 2,950 Union died and 1,750 confederates died.
  • Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries

    Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries

    773 People died in total.
  • Battle of Balls Bluff

    Battle of Balls Bluff

    921 Union died and 149 confederates died.
  • Battle of Belmont

    Battle of Belmont

    1464 People died in this battle.
  • Battle of Mill Springs

    Battle of Mill Springs

    The Union victory weakened the Confederate hold on the state.
  • Surrender of Fort Henry

    Surrender of Fort Henry

    The loss of this southern fort on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river.
  • Battle of Roanoke Island

    Battle of Roanoke Island

    A Confederate defeat, the battle resulted in Union occupation of eastern North Carolina and control of Pamlico Sound.
  • The Battle of Shiloh

    The Battle of Shiloh

    The first major battle in Tennessee and the confederate General Johnston, considered to be one of the finest officers the South has, is killed on the first day of fighting. The Union victory further secures the career of Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
  • Battle of Winchester

    Battle of Winchester

    General "Stonewall" Jackson attacks Union forces at Winchester and successfully drives them from the city.5
  • Battle of Memphis

    Battle of Memphis

    The Mississippi River is now in Union control except for its course west of Mississippi where the city of Vicksburg stands as the last southern stronghold on the great river.
  • The Seven Days' Battles before Richmond

    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.
  • The Battle of Second Bull Run

    The Battle of Second Bull Run

    Fought on the same ground where one year before, the Union army was defeated and sent reeling in retreat to Washington. Likewise, the result of this battle is a Union defeat.
  • The Battle of Antietam

    The Battle of Antietam

    The bloodiest single day of the Civil War.
  • The Battle of Fredericksburg

    The Battle of Fredericksburg

    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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    Battle of Stones River

    Union victory frees middle Tennessee from Confederate control and boosts northern morale.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation

    The Emancipation Proclamation went into affect this day, and the U.S. was one step closer to abolishing slavery.
  • Conscription

    Conscription

    Drafting men into the military, in the North, starts.
  • The Battle of Chancellorsville

    The Battle of Chancellorsville

    General Lee's greatest victory is marred by the mortal wounding of "Stonewall" Jackson, which happened in this battle.
  • Siege of Vicksburg

    Siege of Vicksburg

    Union General Ulysses S. Grant sends to attack Confederate defenses outside the city on May 19-22.
  • The Battle of Brandy Station

    The Battle of Brandy Station

    The largest cavalry battle of the Civil War, it also marks the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign.
  • The Battle of Gettysburg

    The Battle of Gettysburg

    The bloodiest battle of the Civil War gets rid of Lees hopes for a successful invasion of the North.
  • Vicksburg, Mississippi

    Vicksburg, Mississippi

    The capture of Vicksburg gives the Union complete control of the Mississippi River, a vital supply line for the Confederate states in the west.
  • African Americans Fight in the War

    African Americans Fight in the War

    For the first time in the civil war, african americans were allowed to fight alongside white people.
  • Sacking of Lawrence

    Sacking of Lawrence

    Confederate and Missouri guerillas under William Clarke Quantrill storm into Lawrence and destroy most of the town.
  • Escape from Libby Prison, Richmond

    Escape from Libby Prison, Richmond

    109 Union officers made their escape by digging for weeks, from Libby Prison, the largest escape of the war.
  • Submarine

    Submarine

    The First successful submarine attack of the Civil War.
  • Ulysses S. Grant is Lieutenant General

    Ulysses S. Grant is Lieutenant General

    Grant assumes command of all Union Armies in the field the following day.
  • The Red River Campaign

    The Red River Campaign

    As part of an overall Union strategy to strike deep into various parts of the Confederacy, a force of army and navy commands begins a campaign on the river in LA.
  • Battle of Sabine Crossroads

    Battle of Sabine Crossroads

    The first major battle of the Red River Campaign in Louisiana.
  • Fall of Atlanta

    Fall of Atlanta

    Confederate troops under General Hood evacuate the city of Atlanta. General Sherman's army occupies the city and its defenses the following day.
  • The Battle of Cedar Creek

    The Battle of Cedar Creek

    Despite several attempts to disrupt the Union advance in the coming weeks, the battle for control of the Shenandoah Valley is over.
  • Presidential Elections

    Presidential Elections

    Abraham Lincoln is reelected president of the United States.
  • March to Sea

    March to Sea

    General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the "March to the Sea"
  • The Battle of Nashville

    The Battle of Nashville

    The Confederate Army is thoroughly defeated and the threat to Tennessee ends.
  • Assault and capture of Fort Fisher

    Assault and capture of Fort Fisher

    Union occupation of this fort at the mouth of the Cape Fear River closes access to Wilmington, the last southern seaport
  • Carolina

    Carolina

    Sherman's Army leaves Savannah to march through the Carolinas.
  • 2/17/1865

    2/17/1865

    The Union captures Columbia, SC while Confederates evacuate Charleston.
  • Inauguration

    Inauguration

    President Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his second term as president.
  • Sherman

    Sherman

    Sherman's Army occupies Fayetteville, North Carolina.
  • Lincolns Assasination

    Lincolns Assasination

    Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Boothe on this day in Fords Theatre.
  • Abraham Lincoln Dies

    Abraham Lincoln Dies

    He died at 7:22 am, Mary Lincoln was not in the same room as him when he died.
  • John Wilkes Booth Dies

    John Wilkes Booth Dies

    11 days after shooting Lincoln, he is cornered in a burning shed by Union supporters and is fatally shot.
  • Confederate President

    Confederate President

    Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia.
  • Confederate Pres Captured

    Confederate Pres Captured

    On May 10th, 1865 Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by the union.
  • Civil Rights

    Civil Rights

    Civil Rights act passed during this year to guarantee the rights of African-Americans.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment

    The 14th amendment ot the United States Constitution assures equal rights to every citizen in the U.S.