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February 9, 1861
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis as president.
April 12, 1861
At 4:30 AM Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins.
April 17, 1861
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed within 5 weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, thus forming aneleven state Confederacy.
April 19, 1861
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation of Blockade against Southern ports. For the duration of the war the blockade limits the ability of the rural South to stay well supplied in its war against the industrialized North.
July 4, 1861
Lincoln, in a speech to Congress, states the war is..."a People's contest... a struggle for maintaining in the world,that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men..." The Congress authorizes a call for 500,000 men.
July 21, 1861
The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell suffers a defeat at Bull Run 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resists Union attacks. Union troops fall back toWashington. President Lincoln realizes the war will be long. "It's damned bad," he comments.
July 27, 1861
July 27 - President Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac, replacing McDowell.
September 11, 1861
President Lincoln revokes Gen. John C. Frémont's unauthorized military proclamation of emancipation in Missouri. Later, the president relieves Gen.Frémont of his command and replaces him with Gen. David Hunter.
November 1, 1861
President Lincoln appoints McClellan as general-in-chief of all Union forces after the resignation of the aged Winfield Scott. Lincoln tells McClellan, "...the supreme command of the Army will entail a vast labor upon you." McClellan responds, "I can do it all."
November 8, 1861
The beginning of an internationaldiplomatic crisis for President Lincoln as two Confederate officials sailing toward England are seized by the U.S. Navy. England, the leading world power, demands their release, threatening war. Lincoln eventually gives in and orders their release in December. "One war at a time," Lincoln remarks.
January 31, 1862
January 31 - President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 calling for allUnited States naval and land forces to begin a general advance by Feb 22, George Washington's birthday.
February 6, 1862
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
February 20, 1862
February 20 - President Lincoln is struck with grief as his beloved eleven year old son, Willie,dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House.
March 8 & 9, 1862
The Confederate Ironclad 'Merrimac' sinks two wooden Union ships then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. Naval warfare is thus changed forever, making wooden ships obsolete. Engraving of the Battle In March - The Peninsular Campaign begins as McClellan's Army of the Potomac advances fromWashington down the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay to the peninsular south of the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia then begins an advance toward Richmond. President Lincoln temporarily relieves McClellan as general-in-chief and takes direct command of the Union Armies.
April 6 & 7, 1862
Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on theTennessee River results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates, more men than in all previous American wars combined. The president is then pressured to relieve Grant but resists. "I can't spare this man; he fights," Lincoln says.
April 24, 1862
17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River then take New...