Civil War Timeline

American Civil War Timeline

This History Timeline has been developed to provide a 'snapshot' of the famous people and
events during this historical time period. Important dates in a fast, comprehensive,
chronological, or date order providing an actual sequence of important
past events which were of considerable significance to the
famous people involved in this time period.
A full History Timeline...
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1861	January	The South Secedes January 9 - Mississippi seceded from the Union. January 10 - Florida seceded from the Union. January 11 Alabama seceded from the Union January 19 Georgia seceded from the Union. January 26 Louisiana seceded from the Union. January 29 Kansas admitted to the Union.
1861	February	February 1 Texas seceded from the Union The South Creates a Government - the Confederate Constitution Jefferson Davis was named provisional president President Buchanan refuses to surrender southern federal forts so they are seized by Southern troops
1861	March	March 4 Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as 16th President March 11 Confederate Constitution
1861	April	April 12 Attack on Fort Sumter - Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire marking the start of the Civil War April 15 President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen April 17 Virginia seceded from the Union April 20 Robert E. Lee declines command of the Union Army
1861	May	Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina seceded from the Union 11 Southern slave states that declared their secession and formed the Confederate States of America
1861	June	June 20 - West Virginia is born
1861	July	July 2 Union victory Hoke's Run July 5, 1861 Confederate victory Carthage July 11, 1861 Union victory Rich Mountain July 18, 1861 Confederate victory Bull Run / Blackburn's Ford July 21, 1861 Confederate victory First Manassas / First Bull Run The coast of the Confederacy is subject to a blockade July 22 U.S. Congress pass resolution declaring that the war is being fought to "preserve the Union," not to destroy slavery
1861	August	August 10 Confederate victory Wilson's Creek / Oak Hills
1861	September	Confederate troops enter Kentucky, ending the state's neutrality September 2 Confederate victory Dry Wood Creek / Battle at of the Mules September 10 Union victory Carnifex Ferry September 12-15 Union victory Cheat Mountain Summit September 13-20 Confederate victory Lexington / Battle at of the Hemp Bales September 17 Confederate victory Liberty / Blue Mills Landing September 19 Confederate victory Barbourville
1861	October	October 3 Inconclusive battle Greenbrier River / Camp Bartow October 9 Union victory Santa Rosa Island October 21 Union victory Camp Wildcat October 21 Union victory Fredericktown October 21 Confederate victory Ball's Bluff October 25 Union victory 1861 Springfield / Zagonyi's Charge
1861	November	November 7 Jefferson Davis elected regular president of the Confederacy November 7 Union victory Belmont November 7 Union victory warships fire on Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard. November 8-9 Union victory Ivy Mountain November 8 England threatens war if two Confederate officials sailing toward England are not released. Lincoln agrees. November 19 Confederate Round Mountain
1861	December	December 9 Confederate victory Chusto-Talasah / Caving Banks December 13 Inconclusive Battle at Camp Allegheny December 17 Inconclusive Battle at Rowlett's Station December 20 Union victory Dranesville December 26 Confederate victory Chustenahlah December 28 Union victory Mount Zion Church December 28 Missouri admitted to Confederacy despite not having seceded.
1862	January	January 3 Inconclusive Battle at Cockpit Point January 5-6 Inconclusive Battle at Hancock / Romney Campaign January 8 Union victory Roan's Tan Yard / Silver Creek January 10 Union victory Middle Creek January 19 Union victory Mill Springs January 31 President Lincoln issues war order authorizing the Union to launch a unified aggressive action against the Confederacy
1862	February	February 6 Union victory Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Fort Henry February 11-16 Union victory Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Fort Donelson February 7-8 Union victory Roanoke Island / Fort Huger February 20-21 Confederate victory Valverde, New Mexico February 20 Willie, the eleven-year-old son of Abraham Lincoln, dies from fever February 22 Jefferson Davis inaugurated as regular president of the Confederacy February 25: Nashville is first Confederate state capital to fall to Union troops
1862	March	President Lincoln relieves McClellan, on a temporary basis, as general-in-chief and takes direct command of the Union Armies The Peninsular Campaign begins March 6-8 Union victory Pea Ridge March 8-9 Monitor vs. Virginia (Merrimack), Inconclusive Battle at of the Ironclads March 14 Union victory New Berne March 23 Union victory Kernstown March 23-April 26 Union victory Fort Macon March 26-28 Union victory Glorieta Pass
1862	April	April 5-May 4 Inconclusive Battle at Yorktown April 6-7 Union victory Shiloh - Massive casualties on both sides April 8 Union victory New Madrid April 10-11 Union victory Fort Pulaski April 16-28 Union victory Fort Jackson April 19 Inconclusive Battle at South Mills April 25–May 1 Union victory New Orleans (the South's greatest seaport) April 29-June 10 Union victory Corinth General McClellan's troops left northern Virginia to begin the Peninsular Campaign
1862	May	May 20 Homestead Act becomes law. May 5 Inconclusive Battle at Williamsburg May 7 Inconclusive Battle at Eltham's Landing Barhamsville May 8 Confederate Victory at McDowell May 15 Confederate Victory at Drewry's Bluff May 15-17 Confederate Victory at Princeton Courthouse May 23 Confederate Victory at Front Royal May 25 Confederate Victory at Winchester May 27 Union Victory at Hanover Court House May 31-June 1 Inconclusive Battle at Seven Pines - Joseph E. Johnston is badly wounded
1862	June	June 1 Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston June 5 Union Victory at Tranter's Creek June 6 Union Victory at Memphis June 7-8 Union Victory at Chattanooga June 8 Confederate victory Cross Keys June 9 Confederate victory Port Republic June 16 Confederate victory Secessionville June 17 Union victory Saint Charles June 21 Union victory Simmon's Bluff June 25 Inconclusive Battle at Oak Grove French's Field June 26 Union Victory at Beaver Dam Creek June 27 Confederate Victory at Gaines' Mill / First Cold Harbor June 27-28 Inconclusive Battle at Garnett's Farm June 29 Inconclusive Battle at Savage's Station June 30 Inconclusive Battle at White Oak Swamp June 30 Inconclusive Battle at Glendale June 30-July 1 Confederate Victory at Tampa
1862	July	July: Congress passes the Militia Act authorizing Lincoln to use black soldiers but they are paid only half of what the white soldiers are paid July 11: President Lincoln hands over the task of general-in-chief to Gen. Henry W. (Old Brains) Halleck. July 1 Union Victory at Malvern Hill July 7 Union Victory at Hill's Plantation July 13 Confederate Victory at Murfreesboro
1862	August	August 22 Abraham Lincoln issues the "Greeley Letter" in response to Horace Greeley's editorial "A Prayer of Twenty Millions." Aug 29/30: 75,000 Federals under General John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederate troops under Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia August 5 Union Victory at Baton Rouge August 6-9 Union Victory at Kirksville August 9 Confederate Victory at Cedar Mountain August 11 Confederate Victory at Independence August 15-16 Confederate Victory at Lone Jack August 20-22 Union Victory at Fort Ridgely August 22-25 Inconclusive Battle at Rappahannock Station August 25-27 Confederate Victory at Manassas Station Operations August 28 Confederate Victory at Thoroughfare Gap August 28-30 Confederate Victory at Manassas Second / Second Bull Run August 29-30 Confederate Victory at Richmond
1862	September	September 4-9: Robert E Lee invades the North with 50,000 Confederate troops and heads for Harpers Ferry, fifty miles from Washington September 22: President Lincoln issues Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves September 1 Inconclusive Battle at Chantilly September 14-17 Confederate Victory at Munfordville September 12-15 Confederate Victory at Harpers Ferry Sept 14 Union Victory at South Mountain / Crampton Gap September 16-18 Inconclusive Battle at Antietam September 19 Union Victory at Iuka September 19-20 Confederate Victory at Shepherdstown September 23 Union Victory at Wood Lake September 24-25 Union Victory at Sabine Pass September 30 Confederate Victory at Newtonia
1862	October	October 1-3 Union Victory at St. John's Bluff October 3-4 Union Victory at Corinth October 4 Union Victory at Galveston October 5 Union Victory at Hatchie's Bridge October 8 Union Victory at Perryville October 22 Union Victory at Old Fort Wayne October 27 Union Victory at Georgia Landing
1862	November	November 7: President Lincoln replaces McClellan with Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac November 7 Confederate Victory at Clark's Mill November 28 Confederate Victory at Cane Hill
1862	December	December 7 Confederate Victory at Hartsville December 7 Union Victory at Prairie Grove / Fayetteville December 11-15 Confederate Victory at Fredericksburg December 14 Union Victory at Kinston December 16 Inconclusive Battle at White Hall December 17 Union Victory at Goldsborough Bridge December 19 Confederate Victory at Jackson December 26-29 Confederate Victory at Chickasaw Bayou December 31 Confederate Victory at Parker's Cross Roads Dec 31, 1862-Jan 2, 1863 Union Victory at Stones River
1863	January	January 1: The Emancipation Proclamation - The war to preserve the Union now becomes a revolutionary struggle for the abolition of slavery. January 1 Confederate Victory at Galveston January 8 Union Victory at Springfield January 9-11 Confederate Victory at Hartville January 9-11 Union Victory at Arkansas Post January 29 Union Victory at Bear River / Massacre at Boa Ogoi
1863	February	February 3 Union Victory at Dover / Fort Donelson February 28 Union USS Montauk destroys Confederate Privateer Rattlesnake
1863	March	March 3, The Conscription Act (Enrolment Act) is passed March 3 Confederate Victory at Fort McAllister I March 5 Confederate Victory at Thompson's Station March 13-15 Union Victory at Fort Anderson March 17 Inconclusive Battle at Kelly's Ford / Kellysville March 20 Union Victory at Vaught's Hill / Milton March 25 Confederate Victory at Brentwood March 30-April 20 Inconclusive Battle at Washington
1863	April	April 7 Confederate Victory at Charleston Harbor / Fort Sumter April 11-May 4 Inconclusive Battle at Suffolk April 10 Union Victory at Franklin April 12-13 Union Victory at Fort Bisland April 13-15 Inconclusive Battle at Suffolk April 14 Union Victory at Irish Bend April 17 Union Victory at Vermillion Bayou April 26 Union Victory at Cape Girardeau April 29 Confederate Victory at Grand Gulf April 29-May 1 Confederate Victory at Snyder's Bluff April 30-May 6 Confederate Victory at Chancellorsville
1863	May	May 10: Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds May 1 Union Victory at Port Gibson May 1-2 Confederate Victory at Chalk Bluff May 3 Union Victory at Fredericksburg II May 3-4 Confederate Victory at Salem Church May 12 Union Victory at Raymond May 14 Union Victory at Jackson May 16 Union Victory at Champion Hill May 17 Union Victory at Big Black River Bridge May 18-July 4 Union Victory at Vicksburg May 21 Union Victory at Plains Store May 21-July 9 Union Victory at Port Hudson
1863	June	June 3: General Robert E Lee marches North towards Pennsylvania (a journey which leads to Gettysburg) June 28: President Lincoln replaces Hooker with George G. Meade as commander of the Army of the Potomac June 7 Union Victory at Milliken's Bend June 9 Inconclusive Battle at of Brandy Station June 17 Inconclusive Battle at Aldie June 17-19 Inconclusive Battle at Middleburg June 13-15 Confederate Victory at Winchester Second June 20-21 Union Victory at LaFourche Crossing June 21 Inconclusive Battle at Upperville June 24-26 Union Victory at Hoover's Gap June 28 Union Victory at Donaldsonville June 29–30 Inconclusive Battle at Goodrich's Landing June 30 Inconclusive Battle at Hanover
1863	July	July 3: Battle of Gettysburg - major Union victory but massive casualties July 4 - Vicksburg surrenders to General Grant after a six week siege, it is the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River which splits the Confederacy troops July 13-16 Anti-draft riots in New York City July 4: Siege of Vicksburg July 1-2 Union Victory at Cabin Creek July 4 Union Victory at Helena July 6-16 Inconclusive Battle at Williamsport July 8 Inconclusive Battle at Boonsboro July 9 Confederate Victory at Corydon July 10-11 Confederate Victory at Fort Wagner July 16 Inconclusive Battle at Grimball's Landing July 12-13 Confederate Victory at Kock's Plantation July 17 Union Victory at Honey Springs July 19 Union Victory at Buffington Island July 23 Inconclusive Battle at Manassas Gap July 24-25 Union Victory at Big Mound July 26 Union Victory at Salineville July 26 Union Victory at Dead Buffalo Lake July 28 Union Victory at Stony Lake
1863	August	Bombardment of Fort Sumter starts and continues on until December August 10: The president meets with abolitionist Frederick Douglass regarding equality for Union 'Negro troops.' August 21: Confederate William C. Quantrill raids Lawrence, Kansas and massacres 182 boys and men. Aug 17-Aug 23 Inconclusive Battle at Fort Sumter August 21 Union Victory at Chattanooga August 21 Confederate Victory at Lawrence
1863	September	September 3-5 Union Victory at Whitestone Hill September 1 Union Victory at Devil's Backbone September 7-8 Confederate Victory at Charleston Harbor September 8 Confederate Victory at Sabine Pass II September 10 Union Victory at Bayou Fourche September 18-20 Confederate Victory at Chickamauga September 22 Union Victory at Blountsville September 29 Confederate Victory at Stirling's Plantation
1863	October	October 6 Confederate Victory at Baxter Springs October 10 Union Victory at Blue Springs October 13 Inconclusive Battle at Auburn October 14 Union Victory at Bristoe Station October 14 Inconclusive Battle at Auburn / Coffee Hill October 16-18 Union Victory at Fort Brooke October 19 Confederate Victory at Buckland Mills October 25 Union Victory at Pine Bluff October 28-29 Union Victory at Wauhatchie
1863	November	November 19: President Abraham Lincoln dedicates a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield as a national cemetery, and delivered the "Gettysburg Address." November 3 Union Victory at Collierville November 6 Union Victory at Droop Mountain November 7 Union Victory at Rappahannock Station November 16 Union Victory at Campbell's Station November 23-25 Union Victory at Chattanooga November 27 Confederate Victory at Ringgold Gap Nov 27-Dec 2 Inconclusive Battle at Mine Run November 29 Union Victory at Fort Sanders
1863	December	December 14 Confederate Victory at Bean's Station December 29 Union Victory at Mossy Creek
1864	January	January 17 Confederate Victory at Dandridge January 26 Union Victory at Athens January 27 Union Victory at Fair Garden
1864	February	February 6-7 Inconclusive Battle at Morton's Ford February 13 Union Victory at Middle Boggy Depot February 14-20 Union Victory at Meridian February 20 Confederate Victory at Olustee February 22 Confederate Victory at Okolona February 22-27 Confederate Victory at Dalton I
1864	March	March 9 - President Lincoln appoints General Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. General William Sherman succeeds Grant as the Western commander March 2 Confederate Victory at Walkerton March 14 Union Victory at Fort DeRussy March 25 Confederate Victory at Paducah
1864	April	April 3-4 Union Victory at Elkin's Ferry Okolona April 8 Confederate Victory at Mansfield April 9 Union Victory at Pleasant Hill April 9-13 Union Victory at Prairie D'Ane April 12 Confederate Victory at Fort Pillow April 12-13 Union Victory at Blair's Landing April 17-20 Confederate Victory at Plymouth April 18 Confederate Victory at Poison Spring April 23 Union Victory at Monett's Ferry April 25 Confederate Victory at Marks' Mills April 30 Union Victory at Jenkins' Ferry
1864	May	May 4 Union Victory at Day's Gap May 5 Inconclusive Battle at Albemarle Sound May 5-7 Inconclusive Battle at Wilderness May 6-7 Union Victory at Port Walthall Junction May 7-13 Union Victory at Battle at Rocky Face Ridge May 8-21 Inconclusive Battle at Spotsylvania Court House May 9 Union Victory at Cloyd's Mountain May 9 Inconclusive Battle at Swift Creek May 10 Inconclusive Battle at Chester Station May 10 Inconclusive Battle at Cove Mountain May 11 Union Victory at Yellow Tavern May 12-16 Confederate Victory at Proctor's Creek May 13-15 Inconclusive Battle at Resaca May 15 Confederate Victory at New Market May 16 Union Victory at Mansura May 17 Confederate delay tactic at Adairsville May 18 Union Victory at Yellow Bayou May 20 Confederate Victory at Ware Bottom Church May 23-26 Inconclusive Battle at North Anna May 24 Union Victory at Wilson's Wharf May 25-26 Confederate Victory at New Hope Church May 26-June 1 Union Victory at Dallas May 27 Confederate Victory at Pickett's Mills May 28 Inconclusive Battle at Haw's Shop May 28-30 Inconclusive Battle at Totopotomoy Creek May 30 Union Victory at Old Church May 31-June 12 Confederate Victory at Second Cold Harbor
1864	June	June 15: Nine month siege of Petersburg begins June 5-6 Union Victory at Piedmont June 6 Union Victory at Old River Lake June 9-July 3 Union Victory at Marietta June 9 Confederate Victory at Petersburg June 10 Confederate Victory at Brices Cross Roads June 11-12 Confederate Victory at Trevilian Station June 11-12 Union Victory at Cynthiana June 15-18 Confederate Victory at Assault on Petersburg June 17-18 Confederate Victory at Lynchburg June 21-24 Union Victory at Jerusalem Plank Road / First Battle at of Weldon June 22 Union Victory at Kolb's Farm June 24 Inconclusive Battle at Saint Mary's Church June 25 Confederate Victory at Staunton River June 27 Confederate Victory at Kennesaw Mountain June 28 Confederate Victory at Sappony Church June 29 Confederate Victory at Ream's Station
1864	July	July 9 Confederate Victory at Monocacy July 14-15 Union Victory at Tupelo July 17-18 Confederate Victory at Cool Spring July 20 Union Victory at Peachtree Creek July 20 Union Victory at Rutherford's Farm July 22 Union Victory at Atlanta July 24 Confederate Victory at Kernstown Second July 27-29 Confederate Victory at Deep Bottom I July 28 Union Victory at Ezra Church July 28-29 Union Victory at Killdeer Mountain July 30 Confederate Victory at Crater
1864	August	August 1 Inconclusive Battle at Folck's Mill August 5-7 Inconclusive Battle at Utoy Creek August 7 Union Victory at Moorefield August 13-20 Confederate Victory at Deep Bottom II August 14-15 Union Victory at Dalton II August 16 Inconclusive Battle at Guard Hill August 18-21 Union Victory at Globe Tavern August 20 Confederate Victory at Lovejoy's Station August 21 Inconclusive Battle at Summit Point August 21 Confederate Victory at Memphis August 25 Confederate Victory at Ream's Station August 25-29 Inconclusive Battle at Smithfield Crossing August 31–September 1 Union Victory at Jonesborough
1864	September	September 2: Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. September 3-4 Inconclusive Battle at Berryville September 10-11 Union Victory at Davis' Cross Roads September 19 Union Victory at Opequon September 21-22 Union Victory at Fisher's Hill September 27 Union Victory at Fort Davidson September 29-30 Union Victory at Chaffin's Farm September 30 Union Victory at Peebles' Farm
1864	October	October 2 Confederate Victory at Saltville October 5 Union Victory at Allatoona October 7 Union Victory at Darbytown October 9 Union Victory at Tom's Brook October 13 Confederate Victory at Darbytown Road October 15 Confederate Victory at Glasgow October 19 Confederate Victory at Lexington October 19 Union Victory at Cedar Creek October 21 Confederate Victory at Little Blue River October 22 Confederate Victory at Independence October 22-23 Union Victory at Byram's Ford October 23 Union Victory at Westport October 25 Union Victory at Marmiton River October 25 Union Victory at Mine Creek October 25 Union Victory at Marais des Cygnes October 26-29 Union Victory at Decatur Alabama October 28 Union Victory at Newtonia October 27-28 Confederate Victory at Fair Oaks
1864	November	November 8: Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. November 4-5 Confederate Victory at Johnsonville November 11-13 Confederate Victory at Bull's Gap November 24-29 Confederate Victory at Columbia November 29 Union Victory at Spring Hill November 30 Union Victory at Franklin November 22 Union Victory at Griswoldville November 28 Inconclusive Battle at Buck Head Creek November 30 Confederate Victory at Honey Hill November 29-30 Union Victory at Sand Creek
1864	December	December 4 Union Victory at Waynesborough December 5-7 Union Victory at Murfreesboro December 7-27 Confederate Victory at Fort Fisher December 13 Union Victory at Fort McAllister II December 15-16 Union Victory at Nashville December 17-18 Union Victory at Marion December 20-21 Union Victory at Saltville
1865	January	January 31: Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. January 13-15 Union Victory at Fort Fisher
1865	February	February 3: Peace conference between President Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens fails February 3 Union Victory at Rivers' Bridge February 5-7 Union Victory at Hatcher's Run February 12-22 Union Victory at Wilmington
1865	March	March 2 Union Victory at Waynesboro March 6 Confederate Victory at Natural Bridge March 7-10 Union Victory at Wyse Fork March 10 Inconclusive Battle at Monroe's Cross Roads March 16 Inconclusive Battle at Averasborough March 19-21 Union Victory at Bentonville March 25 Union Victory at Fort Stedman March 27-April 8 Union Victory at Spanish Fort March 29 Union Victory at Lewis's Farm March 31 Union gained ground White Oak Road
1865	April	April 1 Union Victory at Five Forks April 2 Union Victory at Ebenezer Church April 2 Union Victory at Hill's Plantation April 2 Union Victory at Petersburg April 2 Union Victory at Sutherland's Station April 3 Inconclusive Battle at Namozine Church April 5 Inconclusive Battle at Amelia Springs April 6 Union Victory at Sailor's Creek April 6 Union Victory at Rice's Station April 6-7 Inconclusive Battle at High Bridge April 7 Confederate Victory at Cumberland Church April 8 Union Victory at Appomattox Station April 8 Union Victory at Spanish Fort April 9 Union Victory at Fort Blakely Alabama April 9: General Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia April 14: Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary go to Ford's Theater to see the play "Our American Cousin" . During the third act of the play John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head at approx 10:13 p.m. April 15, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency April 18: General Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to General Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. April 26: John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia.
1865	May	May 4, 1865 Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery, outside Springfield, Illinois. May 12-13 Confederate Victory at Palmito Ranch. This was the last major clash of arms in the American Civil war. John J. Williams of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was the last man killed at the Battle at Palmito Ranch, and probably the last combat casualty of the war. All remaining Confederate forces surrender

American Civil War Timeline

American Civil War Timeline
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