Events with tag - Union

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the United States to provide military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II. This pivotal legislation effectively ended American neutrality and transformed the U.S. into the 'Arsenal of Democracy.'

April 13, 1943

Discovery of Katyn graves

On April 13, 1943, German radio announced the discovery of mass graves of Polish officers in the Katyn Forest. This event revealed the NKVD crimes against Polish prisoners of war and state officials who were murdered by decision of the highest Soviet authorities in 1940. The discovery led to the severance of diplomatic relations between the Polish government-in-exile and the USSR.

November 28, 1943

Tehran Conference

Historic World War II meeting in Tehran between Allied leaders Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill that shaped military strategy and post-war world order through crucial agreements including D-Day planning.

April 25, 1945

Elbe Day

American and Soviet forces met at the Elbe River near Torgau, Germany, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in half and symbolizing Allied victory in World War II. The historic handshake between American Lt. Albert Kotzebue and Soviet Lt. Alexander Silvashko became an iconic symbol of Allied unity.

May 7, 1945

Nazi Germany Surrender

The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces in May 1945 marked the end of World War II in Europe, with ceremonies taking place in Reims on May 7 and Berlin on May 8, following Hitler's suicide and the collapse of the Third Reich.

April 4, 1949

NATO Foundation

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in Washington D.C. with twelve founding members, creating a military alliance based on collective defense principles to counter Soviet influence in Europe.

July 29, 1958

NASA Establishment

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA as a civilian space agency in response to the Space Race with the Soviet Union. The agency officially began operations on October 1, 1958.

April 12, 1961

First Human in Space

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space, completing a 108-minute orbital flight aboard Vostok 1 spacecraft and marking a pivotal moment in human spaceflight history.