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TimelineDateWarfareUnionConfederacy1860November6th.Election of Abraham Lincoln 13th.Special Convention of South Carolina (Republican) legislature 18th.Crittenden Compromise comes 20th.South Carolina votes for secession beforeHouse of Representatives December24th.Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union: “We, therefore, the People of South Carolina, by our delegates in Convention assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, have solemnly declared that the Union heretofore existing between this State and the other States of North America, is dissolved, and that the State of South Carolina has resumed her position among the nations of the world, as a separate and independent State; with full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do”
1861January9thStaroftheWestattempts to 9th–February2nd.Secession of Mississippi relieve Fort Sumter (Charleston (9th), Florida (10th), Alabama (11th), harbor) Georgia (19th), Louisiana (26th), Texas (1st and 2nd February). Texas Ordinance of Secession adopted by Secession Convention) February4th–27th.Peace Convention (Washington) 4th.Montgomery (Alabama) Convention; establishment of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis nominated as President March4th.Abraham Lincoln inauguration and 11th.Approval of draft Confederate first passion constitution by Montgomery Convention may have strained, it must not break our bond of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature”
Timeline on and surrender 15th.Lincoln calls for 75,000 militia 17th.Secession of Virginia of Fort Sumter “to cause the laws to be duly executed” 20th.Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in 19th.Lincoln announces blockade of US Army; writes to his sister, Mrs. Anne Southern ports Marshall: “With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to makeup my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home” 29th.Jefferson Davis delivers Message to Confederate Congress: “We feel that our cause is just and holy; we protest solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honor and independence; we seek no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States with which we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms. This we will, this we must, resist to the direst extremity. The moment that this pretension is abandoned the sword will drop from our grasp, and we shall be ready to enter into treaties of
amity and commerce that cannot but be mutually beneficial. So long as this pretension is maintained, with a firm reliance on that Divine Power which covers with its protection the just cause, we will continue to struggle for our inherent right to freedom, independence, and self-government” May24th.Benjamin Butler, commanding at 20th.Kentucky declares neutrality Fortress Monroe (James peninsula) 29th.Confederate capital moves to Richmond, declares runaway slaves to be “contraband Virginia of war,” thereby preventing their return6th.Secession of Arkansas to slaveowners 6th.Ordinance of Secession of Tennessee adopted by State Legislature; confirmed 8th June 20th.Secession of North Carolina June9th.US Sanitary Commission created. “As a general rule four soldiers die of diseases incident to camp life for one that falls in battle. Such is the average mortality among regular troops. Among volunteers it will be found much larger.” (USSC, “Address to the Citizens of the United States,” NewYorkTimes, June 25th, 1861)
Timeline victory (defeat of 4th.Lincoln’s message to Congress in Union under Irvin N. McDowell) special session: “This is essentially a at Manassas/First Bull Run People’s contest. On the side of the 27th.George B. McClellan takes Union it is a struggle for maintaining in command of Union forces in the world, that form, and substance of Washington government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men .” Congress authorizes raising of 500,000 men August10th.Confederate victory at6th.First Confiscation Act: frees slaves Wilson’s Creek (Missouri) who were being used in a military/ 29th.Union victory at Hatteras Inlet supportive capacity against the Union (North Carolina) 30th.John C. Frémont declares martial law in Missouri and frees slaves there November'>September11th.Lincoln revokes Frémont’s emancipation orders OctoberNovember1st.McClellan appointed Henry W. Halleck expels African- general-in-chief of Union armies Americans from Union lines (replacing General Winfield Scott) 7th.Port Royal (South Carolina)
falls toUnion 19th.John C. Frémont replaced by Henry W. Halleck as Union commander in the west December20th.Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War established 1862January15th.Stanton appointed Secretary of War February6th.Union takes Fort Henry 20th.Lincoln’s eleven-year-old son, 22nd.Jefferson Davis inaugurated as (Tennessee river) Willie, dies President of the Confederate states 8th.Union victory at Roanoke Island 27th.Confederate Congress enacts martial law (North Carolina) and suspends habeascorpus16th.Union takes Fort Donelson 25th.Confederates evacuate Nashville March7th–8th.Union victory at Pea Ridge/ 6th.Lincoln puts gradual emancipation Elkhorn Tavern (Arkansas) plan before Congress 8th–9th. Virginiav. Monitorat Hampton Roads (battle of the ironclads) 17th–April2nd.McClellan moves Army of the Potomac to the James peninsula
Timeline lays siege 3rd .Senate votes to abolish slavery in 16th .Confederate Congress passes to Yorktown the District of Columbia Conscription Act 6th–7th .Union victory under 11th .House votes to abolish slavery in DC Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh (Tennessee) 16th .Lincoln’s Message to Congress: 24th–25th .New Orleans falls to “I have never doubted the constitutional Union authority of congress to abolish slavery in this District; and I have ever desired to seethe national capital freed from the institution in some satisfactory way” May 8th–9th .“Stonewall” Jackson’s 9th .General David Hunter frees slaves Shenandoah Valley campaign. in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 31st–June 1st .Battle of Seven Pines/ (revoked by Lincoln) Fair Oaks (Richmond). 20th .Congress passes Homestead Act Joseph E. Johnston (Confederate) attacks McClellan outside Richmond; Johnston wounded. Robert E. Lee put in charge of the Army of Northern Virginia June 6th .Confederates evacuate Memphis 1st .Robert E. Lee replaces Joseph E. Johnston. (Tennessee) Lee renames forces Army of Northern Virginia 26th .Army of Virginia created; commanded by John Pope
26th–July2nd.Seven Days battles: McClellan driven back from Richmond July11th.Halleck becomes 17th.Second Confiscation Act general-in-chief of Union armies 17th.Militia Act: “And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to receive into the service of the United States, for the purpose of constructing entrenchments, or performing camp service or any other labor, or any military or naval service for which they maybe found competent, persons of African descent, and such persons shall be enrolled and organized under such regulations, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws, as the President may prescribe” 22nd.Draft Emancipation Proclamation presented to Cabinet August3rd.Army of the Potomac starts to 20th–22nd.Horace Greeley (editor, withdraw from James peninsula New York Tribune) and Lincoln exchange 27th–28th.Confederate invasion letters on emancipation of Kentucky 29th–30th.Confederate victory at Second Manassas/Bull Run
Timeline assumes command 22nd.Preliminary Emancipation of defense of Washington Proclamation 4th–6th.Lee invades Maryland 24thHabeascorpussuspended 17th.Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg; Union victory; Lee retreats into Virginia 19th.Union victory at Iuka (Mississippi) October3rd–4th.Union victory at Corinth October–November.Mid-term elections(Mississippi) see swing away from the Republicans 8th.Battle of Perryville (Kentucky); Braxton Bragg (Confederate) retreats November7th.Ambrose Burnside replaces McClellan as commander, Army of the Potomac December13th.Burnside defeated by Lee at Fredericksburg 27th–29th.William T. Sherman defeated at Chickasaw Bluffs (Vicksburg) 31st–January3rd.Battle of Stones River/Murfreesboro; Bragg retreats
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