American Civil War Timeline of Events

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American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25 states supported the federal government...

Timeline of Events

1861

1.9.1861

American Civil War: The "Star of the West" incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina. It is considered by some historians to be the "First Shots of the American Civil War".

1.10.1861

American Civil War: Florida secedes from the Union.

1.18.1861

American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in seceding from the United States.

1.21.1861

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis resigns from the United States Senate.

1.26.1861

American Civil War: The state of Louisiana secedes from the Union.

2.1.1861

American Civil War: Texas secedes from the United States.

2.4.1861

American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six break-away U.S. states meet and form the Confederate States of America.

2.9.1861

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Confederate convention at Montgomery, Alabama.

2.11.1861

American Civil War: United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state.

3.11.1861

American Civil War: The Constitution of the Confederate States of America is adopted.

4.12.1861

American Civil War: The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.

4.13.1861

American Civil War: Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces.

4.17.1861

American Civil War: Virginia secedes from the United States.

4.19.1861

American Civil War: Baltimore riot of 1861, a pro-Secession mob in Baltimore, Maryland, attacks United States Army troops marching through the city.

4.20.1861

American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.

4.25.1861

American Civil War: The Union Army arrives in Washington, D.C.

4.29.1861

American Civil War: Maryland's House of Delegates votes not to secede from the Union.

5.6.1861

American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union.

5.8.1861

American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.

5.13.1861

American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights.

5.20.1861

American Civil War: The state of Kentucky proclaims its neutrality, which will last until September 3 when Confederate forces enter the state.

5.24.1861

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia.

6.3.1861

American Civil War: Battle of Philippi (also called the Philippi Races) – Union forces rout Confederate troops in Barbour County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in first land battle of the War.

6.8.1861

American Civil War: Tennessee secedes from the Union.

7.16.1861

American Civil War: at the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25 mile march into Virginia for what will become The First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the war.

7.21.1861

American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run

7.25.1861

American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution, stating that the war is being fought to preserve the Union and not to end slavery.

7.26.1861

American Civil War: George B. McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac following a disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run.

8.5.1861

American Civil War: in order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levies the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US $800; rescinded in 1872).

8.10.1861

American Civil War: Battle of Wilson's Creek

8.29.1861

American Civil War: US Navy squadron captures forts at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina.

9.3.1861

American Civil War: Confederate General Leonidas Polk invades neutral Kentucky, prompting the state legislature to ask for Union assistance.

9.6.1861

American Civil War: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, which gives the Union control of the mouth of the Tennessee River.

10.9.1861

American Civil War: Battle of Santa Rosa Island

10.21.1861

American Civil War: Battle of Ball's Bluff

10.31.1861

American Civil War: Citing failing health, Union General Winfield Scott resigns as Commander of the United States Army.

11.1.1861

American Civil War: US President Abraham Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as the commander of the Union Army, replacing the aged General Winfield Scott.

11.2.1861

American Civil War: Western Department Union General John C. Fremont is relieved of command and replaced by David Hunter.

11.6.1861

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederate States of America.

11.7.1861

American Civil War: Battle of Belmont: In Belmont, Missouri, Union forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant overrun a Confederate camp but are forced to retreat when Confederate reinforcements arrive.

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