Chronology of
US Civil War

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about US Civil War. This is a VERY early, quick timeline of the events of the war. The source is a "today in history" that I have had since the 1980s, with updates through the 1990s. Depending on interest, I will be doing some proper research and adding detail.

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 March 25.

1858-1861

1862

1863

1864

1865-end

1858 June 16 Abraham Lincoln says "A house divided against itself cannot stand". [1] 1859 October 16 John Brown leads 20 in raid on federal arsenal, Harper's Ferry, Virginia. [1] December 18 South Carolina declared an "independent commonwealth". [1] 1860 April 23 Democratic convention in Charleston, South Carolina, divided over slavery. [1] April 27 Thomas J Jackson is assigned to command Harpers Ferry. [1] December 20 South Carolina votes 169-0 for Ordinance of Secession, first state to secede. [1] December 26 Major Robert Anderson, under cover of darkness, concentrated his small force at Fort Sumter. [1] 1861 January 1 President Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful. [1] January 2 Colonel Charles Stone is put in charge of organizing District of Columbia militia. [1] South Carolina seizes inactive Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor. [1] January 3 Delaware legislature rejects proposal to join Confederacy. [1] Fort Pulaski and Fort Jackson, Savannah, seized by Georgia. [1] January 4 Fort Morgan, Mobile, seized by Alabama. [1] President Buchanan appoints a fast on account of threatened succession. [1] January 5 250 Federal troops are sent from New York to Fort Sumter. [1] Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan and Gaines at Mobile Bay. [1] January 6 Florida troops seize Federal arsenal at Apalachicola. [1] January 7 Florida troops takeover Fort Marion at Saint Augustine. [1] January 9 First hostile act of Civil War; Star of the West fired on, Sumter, South Carolina. [1] Mississippi becomes second state to secede. [1] January 10 Florida becomes third state to secede from US. [1] Fort Jackson and Fort Philip are taken over by Los Angeles state troops. [1] US forts and property seized by Mississippi. [1] January 11 Alabama becomes fourth state to secede. [1] January 12 Florida state troops demand surrender of Fort Pickens. [1] January 14 Fort Pikens, Florida, falls into state hands. [1] January 19 Georgia becomes fifth state to secede. [1] Mississippi troops take Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island. [1] January 21 Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and four other southern senators resign. [1] January 24 Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, seized by Confederacy. [1] Federal troops from Fort Monroe are sent to Fort Pikens. [1] January 26 Louisiana becomes sixth state to secede. [1] February 1 Texas becomes seventh state to secede. [1] February 4 Confederate constitutional convention meets for first time, in Montgomery, Alabama. Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina elect Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy. [1] February 5 Louisiana delegation except Mr Bouligny withdraws fromUS Congress. [1] February 6 First meeting of Provisional Congress of Confederate States of America. [1] February 8 Confederate States of America organizes in Montgomery, Alabama. [1] February 9 Confederate Provisional Congress declares all laws under the US Constitution were consistent with constitution of Confederate states. [1] Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens elected president and Vice President of CSA. [1] Tennessee votes against secession. [1] February 11 US House unanimously passes resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state. [1] February 12 State troops seize US munitions in Napoleon, Arkansas. [1] February 13 First military action to result in Congressional Medal of Honor, Arizona. [1] February 15 Fort Point completed and garrisoned (but has never fired cannon in anger). [1] February 18 Confederate President Jefferson Davis inaugurated at Montgomery, Alabama. [1] February 20 Department of Navy of Confederacy forms. [1] February 23 By popular referendum, Texas becomes seventh state to secede from US. [1] March 4 Confederate States adopt "Stars and Bars" flag. [1] March 6 Provisionary Confederate Congress establishes Confederate Army. [1] March 8 Saint Augustine, Florida, surrenders to Union armies. [1] March 9 Confederate currency authorized: $50, $100, $500, $1,000. [1] March 11 Confederate convention in Montgomery, Alabama, adopts constitution. [1] March 13 Jefferson Davis signs bill authorizing use of slaves as soldiers. [1] March 16 Arizona Territory votes to leave the Union. [1] Confederate government appoints commissioners to Britain. [1] March 31 Confederacy takes over mint at New Orleans. [1] April 5 Federals abandon Fort Quitman, Texas. [1] April 8 US mint at Dahlonega, Georgia, seized by confederacy. [1] April 12 Fort Sumter, South Carolina, is shelled by Confederacy, starting the Civil War. [1] April 13 After 34 hours of bombardment, Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederates. [1] April 14 Formal Union surrender of Fort Sumter. [1] Robert E Lee resigns from Union army. [1] April 15 Federal army (75,000 volunteers) mobilized by President Abraham Lincoln. [1] April 16 US President Abraham Lincoln outlaws business with confederate states. [1] April 17 Indianola Texas-"Star of West" taken by Confederacy. [1] Virginia become eighth state to secede. [1] April 18 Battle of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. [1] Colonel Robert E Lee turns down offer to command Union armies. [1] April 19 Lincoln orders blockade of Confederate ports (Civil War). [1] April 20 Battle of Norfolk, Virginia. [1] Colonel Robert E Lee resigns from Union army. [1] April 22 Robert E Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces. [1] April 23 Arkansas troops seize Fort Smith. [1] Battle of San Antonio, Texas. [1] April 25 Battle of Lavaca, Texas. [1] New York 7th arrives to reinforce Washington, District of Columbia. [1] April 27 President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. [1] West Virginia secedes from Virginia after Virginia secedes from US. [1] April 29 Maryland's House of Delegates votes against seceding from Union. [1] May 1 Lee orders Confederate troops under T J Jackson to Harper's Ferry. [1] May 3 General Winfield Scott presents his Anaconda Plan. [1] President Lincoln asks for 42,000 Army Volunteers and another 18,000 seamen. [1] May 4 At Gretna, Louisiana, one of first guns of Rebel navy is cast. [1] May 5 Confederate troops abandon Alexandria, Virginia. [1] May 6 Arkansas and Tennessee become ninth and tenth states to secede from US. [1] Jefferson Davis approves a bill declaring War between US and Confederacy. [1] May 7 Riot occurs between pro-secessionist and Union supporters in Knoxville, Tennessee. [1] May 8 Richmond, Virginia, is named the capital of the Confederacy. [1] May 10 Union troops march on state militia in Saint Louis, Missouri. [1] May 13 Queen Victoria announces England's position of neutrality. [1] May 16 Confederate Government offers war volunteers $10 premium. [1] Kentucky proclaims its neutrality. [1] May 18 Battle of Sewall's Point, Virginia - first Federal offense against South. [1] May 20 Kentucky proclaims its neutrality in Civil War. [1] North Carolina becomes eleventh and last state to secede from Union. [1] May 21 North Carolina is tenth state to secede from Union. [1] Richmond, Virginia, is designated Confederate Capital. [1] May 23 Virginia citizens vote 3 to 1 in favor of secession. [1] May 24 Alexandria, Virginia, occupied by Federal troops. [1] Major General Benjamin Butler declares slaves "contraband of war". [1] May 26 Postmaster General Blair announces end of postal connection with South. [1] Union blockades New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. [1] May 29 Dorothea Dix offers help in setting up hospitals for Union Army. [1] May 31 General Beauregard is given command of Confederate Alexandria Line. [1] June 1 First skirmish in the Civil War, Fairfax Court House, Virginia. [1] US and Confederacy simultaneously stop mail interchange. [1] June 3 First Civil War land battle - Union defeats Confederacy at Philippi, West Virginia. [1] June 8 People of Tennessee vote to succeed from Union. [1] June 24 Tennessee becomes eleventh (and last) state to secede from US. [1] July 5 Engagement at Carthage, Missouri. [1] July 20 Confederate state's congress began holding sessions in Richmond, Virginia. [1] July 21 First major battle of Civil War ends (Bull Run), Virginia - South wins. [1] July 27 Union General George McClellan takes command of Potamic Army. [1] August 1 Brazil recognizes Confederacy. [1] August 10 Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri. [1] August 16 President Lincoln prohibits Union states from trading with Confederacy. [1] September 3 Confederate forces enter Kentucky, thus ending its neutrality. [1] October 12 Confederate ironclad Manassas attacks Union's Richmond on Mississippi. [1] October 16 Confederacy starts selling postage stamps. [1] October 21 Battle of Balls Bluff, Virginia. [1] November 1 General George B McClellan made general in chief of Union armies. [1] November 6 Jefferson Davis elected to six-year term as Confederate President. sports [1] November 8 US removes Confederate officials from British steamer Trent. [1] November 9 Battle of Piketon, Kentucky. [1] November 28 Confederate congress officially admits Missouri to the CSA. [1] December 9 Battle of Bird Creek, Indian Territory (High Shoal, Chusto-Talasah). [1] December 13 Battle of Alleghany Summit, West Virginia. [1] December 19 Battle of Black Water. [1] December 20 Battle of Dranesville, Virginia. [1]

Last updated: 2008 March 25. Copyright © 2007-2008 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com). URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/uscivwar/ Link to Ken P's home page.