American Civil War 1861-1865 Key Dates

DECEMBER 1860 - FEBRUARY 1861

SECESSION AND FORMATION OF THE CONFEDERACY

4TH MARCH 1861

LINCOLN'S FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS

12TH APRIL 1861

FORT SUMTER

15TH APRIL 1861

LINCOLN SUMMONS TROOPS ASKING NORTHERN STATES TO SUPPLY 75,000 MILITIA

19TH APRIL

LINCOLN ISSUES A BLOCKADE AGAINST SOUTHERN PORTS

APRIL-MAY 1861

BORDER STATES (VIRGINIA, ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE AND N.CAROLINA) SECEDE

JULY 1861

FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS

LATE JULY 1861

MCLELLAN REPLACES MCDOWELL

AUGUST 1861

GENERAL FREMONT ISSUES A PROCLAMATION FREEING SLAVES IN MISSOURI

AUGUST 1861

THE UNION INTRODUCES THE FIRST CONFISCATION ACT

NOVEMBER 1861

THE TRENT AFFAIR

FEBRUARY 1862

CONGRESS PASSES THE LEGAL TENDER ACT (UNION)

APRIL 1862

BATTLE OF SHILOH

APRIL 1862

DAVIS INTRODUCES THE CONSCRIPTION ACT

APRIL

1862 SLAVERY IS ABOLISHED IN WASHINGTON D.C.

MAY 1862

HOMESTEAD ACT

JUNE 1862

ROBERT E. LEE TAKES OVER COMMAND OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA FROM JOHNSTON

JUNE-JULY 1862

SEVEN DAY BATTLES/PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN

JULY 1862

INTRODUCTION OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE ACT BY THE UNION

JULY 1862

UNION INTRODUCES SECOND TIGHTER CONFISCATION ACT

AUGUST 1862

BATTLE OF SECOND MANASSAS (MCLELLAN)

SEPT 22ND 1862

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM

SEPTEMBER 1862

GOVERNOR BROWN (GEORGIA) REFUSES TO PROVIDE STATE MILITIA

DECEMBER 1862

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG (BURNSIDE)

JANUARY 1863

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION COMES INTO EFFECT

MARCH 1863

UNION ENFORCES CONSCRIPTION ACT

MARCH 1863

CONFEDERACY PASSES IMPRESSMENT ACT

APRIL 1863

CONFEDERACY PASSES THE TAXATION IN KIND ACT (10%)

APRIL 1863

RICHMOND BREAD RIOTS

MAY 1863

BATTLE OF CHANCELORSVILLE (HOOKER)

1-3 JULY 1863

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

4TH JULY 1863

VICKSBURG FALLS

13-16 JULY 1863

NEW YORK CITY DRAFT RIOTS

18TH JULY 1863

FORT WAGNER SEES FIRST ACTIVE SERVICE OF THE 54TH MASSACHUSSETTS

19TH NOVEMBER 1863

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

NOVEMBER 23-25 1863

BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA

DECEMBER 1863

LINCOLN ANNOUNCES 10% PLAN

MARCH 1864

GRANT BECOMES GENERAL IN CHIEF

APRIL 1864

CONFEDERATE VICTORY AT FORT PILLOW, ENSUING MASSACRE

MAY 1864

BEGINNING OF A MASSIVE CO-ORDIANTED CAMPAIGN ON ALL FRONTS

MAY - JUNE 1864

GRANT'S WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN

JULY 1864

WADE DAVIS BILL PASSES BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS

SEPTEMBER 1864

CAPTURE OF ATLANTA

8TH NOVEMBER 1864

LINCOLN IS RE-ELECTED

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER 1864 - SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA

9TH APRIL 1865

LEE SURRENDERS AT APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE

14TH APRIL 1865

LINCOLN ASSASSINATED

DECEMBER 1865

13TH AMENDMENT RATIFIED