Events with tag - Civil War

December 29, 1808

Birth of Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was born into a poor family in Raleigh, North Carolina. His humble origins and early life experiences would significantly shape his future political career and presidential policies during the critical period of Reconstruction.

November 19, 1831

Birth of James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Orange Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Born into poverty, he would rise to become a scholar, Civil War general, and ultimately the President of the United States.

March 4, 1853

Franklin Pierce's Inauguration

Franklin Pierce was inaugurated as the 14th President of the United States on March 4, 1853, following his landslide victory in the 1852 election. As the youngest president elected at that time, Pierce's presidency marked a critical period in American history just before the Civil War.

November 4, 1856

Buchanan's Presidential Election

James Buchanan won the 1856 presidential election, becoming the 15th President of the United States during a critical period of sectional tension between the North and South over slavery and states' rights.

February 1, 1857

Mark Twain's Mississippi River Years

Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, spent crucial years from 1857 to 1861 as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River. This period not only gave him his famous pen name but also provided rich material for his future literary masterpieces.

November 6, 1860

Lincoln's Presidential Election Victory

Abraham Lincoln secured a historic victory in the 1860 presidential election, becoming the 16th President of the United States. Despite winning only 39.8% of the popular vote, he gained 180 electoral votes, defeating three other candidates in one of the most consequential elections in American history.

November 6, 1860

Lincoln's Presidential Election

Abraham Lincoln's historic election as the 16th President of the United States on November 6, 1860, marked a pivotal moment that led to the American Civil War. He secured 180 electoral votes and 39.8% of the popular vote in a four-way race, becoming the first Republican president without winning any Southern states.

February 9, 1861

Jefferson Davis Elected Confederate President

Jefferson Davis was unanimously elected as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America by the Confederate Constitutional Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, marking a crucial moment in the American Civil War.

March 4, 1861

Lincoln's Presidential Inauguration

Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office as the 16th President of the United States during a period of intense national crisis, with seven Southern states already seceded from the Union. The inauguration marked the beginning of one of the most consequential presidencies in American history.

March 4, 1861

Lincoln's Haunted Red Room

During Abraham Lincoln's presidency (1861-1865), the White House's Red Room became a focal point of supernatural activity. Multiple witnesses, including Lincoln himself, documented unexplained phenomena such as mysterious footsteps, temperature drops, moving objects, and apparitions.

April 1, 1861

Elizabeth Van Lew's Union Spy Network

Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond socialite turned Union spy, established and operated the most successful Union intelligence network in the Confederate capital from 1861 to 1865. Despite her Confederate family background, she leveraged her social position to gather critical military intelligence while maintaining the deceptive persona of 'Crazy Bet'.

April 12, 1861

Rose O'Neal Greenhow Becomes Confederate Spy

Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a prominent Washington socialite, initiates her espionage activities for the Confederacy following the fall of Fort Sumter, establishing one of the most sophisticated intelligence networks of the Civil War era.

April 17, 1861

Virginia's Secession

Virginia's decision to secede from the Union marked a critical turning point in the American Civil War, coming after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for troops. As the most populous and economically powerful Southern state, Virginia's secession transformed a regional dispute into a full-scale civil war.

June 10, 1861

Dorothea Dix Appointed as Army Nurses Superintendent

Dorothea Dix made history by becoming the first woman to serve in a high-ranking federal position when she was appointed as Superintendent of Army Nurses for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

June 14, 1861

Nathan Bedford Forrest's Military Rise

Nathan Bedford Forrest's unprecedented advancement from private to lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, showcasing exceptional military leadership despite no formal training.

July 27, 1861

McClellan's Appointment as Union Commander

General George B. McClellan, at age 34, was appointed commander of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Following successful campaigns in western Virginia, he took command of the Army of the Potomac on July 27, 1861, and was later promoted to General-in-Chief of all Union armies.

April 25, 1862

Fall of New Orleans

Union forces led by Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, the Confederacy's largest city and most important port, after a successful naval campaign that broke through Confederate defenses at Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

June 1, 1862

Lee Becomes Confederate Commander

Robert E. Lee was appointed commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862, following General Joseph E. Johnston's injury at the Battle of Seven Pines. This appointment marked a pivotal moment in Civil War history.

August 28, 1862

Second Battle of Bull Run

A decisive Confederate victory in the American Civil War where General Robert E. Lee's 50,000 troops outmaneuvered Union forces of 62,000 men near Manassas, Virginia, resulting in over 22,000 total casualties.

September 15, 1862

Capture of Harpers Ferry

Confederate General 'Stonewall' Jackson captured the strategic town of Harpers Ferry, securing the largest Union surrender of the Civil War with over 12,000 prisoners and significant military supplies.

May 10, 1863

Death of Stonewall Jackson

Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson died from pneumonia complications following friendly fire wounds received at the Battle of Chancellorsville. His death marked a crucial turning point in the American Civil War, significantly weakening the Confederate Army's tactical capabilities.

June 20, 1863

West Virginia Becomes 35th U.S. State

West Virginia achieved statehood on June 20, 1863, becoming the only state formed by separating from another state during the Civil War. The region broke away from Confederate Virginia due to strong Union loyalty and distinct economic differences.

June 20, 1863

West Virginia Becomes 35th U.S. State

West Virginia achieved statehood on June 20, 1863, becoming the only state formed by separating from another during the American Civil War. This historic split occurred when western Virginia counties remained loyal to the Union while Virginia voted to secede, leading to the creation of a new state through a series of conventions and legislative processes.

July 4, 1863

Siege of Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg, a 47-day military campaign led by Union General Ulysses S. Grant, concluded with Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863, marking a decisive turning point in the American Civil War by securing Union control of the Mississippi River.

March 18, 1864

Sherman's Appointment as Union Army Commander

General William Tecumseh Sherman was appointed commander of the Military Division of Mississippi, including the Army of Tennessee, marking a crucial turning point in the American Civil War. His appointment led to revolutionary changes in military tactics and strategy.

August 5, 1864

Battle of Mobile Bay

Union Admiral David Farragut led a decisive naval victory against Confederate forces at Mobile Bay, Alabama, famously ordering 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' The battle resulted in Union control of the last major Confederate port on the Gulf Coast.

August 7, 1864

Shenandoah Valley Campaign

A pivotal Civil War campaign where Union General Philip Sheridan led 40,000 troops to destroy Confederate forces and resources in the Shenandoah Valley, effectively eliminating a crucial Confederate supply route and base of operations.

September 2, 1864

Fall of Atlanta

Union General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta, a crucial Confederate stronghold, after a four-month military campaign. This victory proved decisive for the Union cause, boosting Northern morale and helping secure President Lincoln's re-election.

February 3, 1865

Hampton Roads Conference

A historic peace negotiation meeting during the American Civil War between President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate representatives aboard the River Queen steamboat in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Despite four hours of discussions, the conference failed to achieve peace.

April 9, 1865

Surrender at Appomattox

The historic surrender at Appomattox Court House marked the effective end of the American Civil War when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The meeting took place at the McLean House and established terms that would help reunite the divided nation.

April 9, 1865

Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. The historic meeting took place at McLean House, where generous surrender terms were offered to Confederate forces.

April 15, 1865

Andrew Johnson's Presidential Oath

Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States on April 15, 1865, following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The ceremony took place at the Kirkwood House in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase administering the oath of office.

December 6, 1865

13th Amendment Ratification

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, marking the formal abolition of slavery throughout the United States. This historic legislation, championed by President Abraham Lincoln, required intense political maneuvering and transformed the nation's social and legal landscape forever.

March 4, 1881

Garfield's Presidency and Assassination

James A. Garfield was inaugurated as the 20th President of the United States on March 4, 1881. His presidency was tragically cut short when he was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, and died from complications on September 19, 1881.