American Civil War Timeline 1861 January 1861 -- The South Secedes. When Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president, the South Carolina legislature perceived a threat. Calling a state convention, the delegates voted to remove the state of South Carolina from the union known as the United States of America. The secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of six more states -- Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas -- and the threat of secession by four more -- Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. January 9 - Mississippi seceded from the Union. January 10 - Florida seceded from the Union. January 11 Alabama seceded from the Union. January 19 Georgia seceded from the Union. January 26 Louisiana seceded from the Union. January 29 Kansas admitted to the Union. February 1 Texas seceded from the Union. February 1861-- The South Creates a Government. At a convention in Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceding states created the Confederate Constitution, a document similar to the United States Constitution, but with greater stress on the autonomy of each state. Jefferson Davis was named provisional president of the Confederacy until elections could be held. February 1861-- The South Seizes Federal Forts. When President Buchanan -- Lincoln's predecessor -- refused to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states, southern state troops seized them. At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered. March 4 1861-- Lincoln's Inauguration. At Lincoln's inauguration the new president said he had no plans to end slavery in those states where it already existed, but he also said he would not accept secession. He hoped to resolve the national crisis without warfare. April 1861 -- Attack on Fort Sumter. When President Lincoln planned to send supplies to Fort Sumter, he alerted the state in advance, in an attempt to avoid hostilities. South Carolina, however, feared a trick. On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The Garrison commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 p.m., April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely when firing a salute during the evacuation. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22 month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble. Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948. April 17 Virginia seceded from the Union. April 1861-- Four More States Join the Confederacy. The attack on Fort Sumter prompted four more states to join the Confederacy. With Virginia's secession, Richmond was named the Confederate capitol. May 6 Arkansas seceded from the Union. May 18-19, 1861 Sewell's Point May 20 North Carolina seceded from the Union. May 29-June 1, 1861 Aquia Creek June 1861-- West Virginia Is Born. Residents of the western counties of Virginia did not wish to secede along with the rest of the state. This section of Virginia was admitted into the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. June 1861-- Four Slave States Stay in the Union. Despite their acceptance of slavery, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri did not join the Confederacy. Although divided in their loyalties, a combination of political maneuvering and Union military pressure kept these states from seceding. June 3, 1861 Philippi / Philippi Races June 10, 1861 Big Bethel / Bethel Church June 17, 1861 Boonville July 2, 1861 Hoke's Run / Falling Waters / Hainesville July 5, 1861 Carthage July 11, 1861 Rich Mountain July 18, 1861 Bull Run / Blackburn's Ford July 21, 1861 First Manassas / First Bull Run July -- First Battle of Bull Run. Public demand pushed General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to advance on the South before adequately training his untried troops. Scott ordered General Irvin McDowell to advance on Confederate troops stationed at Manassas Junction, Virginia. McDowell attacked on July 21, and was initially successful, but the introduction of Confederate reinforcements resulted in a Southern victory and a chaotic retreat toward Washington by federal troops. July 1861-- General McDowell Is Replaced. Suddenly aware of the threat of a protracted war and the army's need for organization and training, Lincoln replaced McDowell with General George B. McClellan. July - November -- A Blockade of the South. To blockade the coast of the Confederacy effectively, the federal navy had to be improved. By July, the effort at improvement had made a difference and an effective blockade had begun. The South responded by building small, fast ships that could outmaneuver Union vessels. On November 7, 1861, Captain Samuel F. Dupont's warships silenced Confederate guns in Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard. This victory enabled General Thomas W. Sherman's troops to occupy first Port Royal and then all the famous Sea Islands of South Carolina. August 10, 1861 Wilson's Creek / Oak Hills August 26, 1861 Kessler's Cross Lanes August 28-29, 1861 Hatteras Inlet Batteries / Fort Clark / Fort Hatteras September 2, 1861 Dry Wood Creek / Battle of the Mules September 10, 1861 Carnifex Ferry September 12-15 1861 Cheat Mountain Summit September 13-20, 1861 Lexington / Battle of the Hemp Bales September 17, 1861 Liberty / Blue Mills Landing September 19, 1861 Barbourville October 3, 1861 Greenbrier River / Camp Bartow October 9, 1861 Santa Rosa Island October 21, 1861 Camp Wildcat / Wildcat Mountain October 21, 1861 Fredericktown October 21, 1861 Ball's Bluff / Leesburg October 25, 1861 Springfield / Zagonyi's Charge November 7, 1861 Belmont November 8-9, 1861 Ivy Mountain / Ivy Creek / Ivy Narrows November 19, 1861 Round Mountain December 9, 1861 Chusto-Talasah / Caving Banks December 13, 1861 Camp Allegheny / Allegheny Mountain December 20, 1861 Dranesville December 26, 1861 Chustenahlah December 17, 1861 Rowlett's Station / Woodsonville / Green River December 28, 1861 Mount Zion Church American Civil War Timeline 1862 January 1862 -- Abraham Lincoln Takes Action. On January 27, President Lincoln issued a war order authorizing the Union to launch a unified aggressive action against the Confederacy. General McClellan ignored the order. January 3, 1862 Cockpit Point / Freestone Point January 5-6, 1862 Hancock / Romney Campaign January 8, 1862 Roan's Tan Yard / Silver Creek January 10, 1862 Middle Creek January 19, 1862 Mill Springs / Logan's Cross-Roads / Fishing Creek February 6, 1862 Fort Henry February 11-16, 1862 Fort Donelson February 20-21, 1862 Valverde February 25: Nashville is first Confederate state capital to fall to Union forces February 28-April 8, 1862 New Madrid March 1862 -- McClellan Loses Command. On March 8, President Lincoln -- impatient with General McClellan's inactivity -- issued an order reorganizing the Army of Virginia and relieving McClellan of supreme command. McClellan was given command of the Army of the Potomac, and ordered to attack Richmond. This marked the beginning of the Peninsular Campaign. February 7-8, 1862 Roanoke Island / Fort Huger March 6-8-- Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn set out to outflank the Union position near Pea Ridge, on the night of March 6, dividing his army into two columns. Learning of Van Dorn's approach, the Federals marched north to meet his advance on March 7. This movement—compounded by the killing of two generals, Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch and Brig. Gen. James McQueen McIntosh, and the capture of their ranking colonel—halted the Rebel attack. Van Dorn led a second column to meet the Federals in the Elkhorn Tavern and Tanyard area. By nightfall, the Confederates controlled Elkhorn Tavern and Telegraph Road. The next day, Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, having regrouped and consolidated his army, counterattacked near the tavern and, by successfully employing his artillery, slowly forced the Rebels back. Running short of ammunition, Van Dorn abandoned the battlefield. The Union controlled Missouri for the next two years. March 6-8, 1862 Pea Ridge / Elkhorn Tavern March 8-9, 1862 Hampton Roads / Battle of the Ironclads March 1862 -- The "Monitor" and the "Merrimac." In an attempt to reduce the North's great naval advantage, Confederate engineers converted a scuttled Union frigate, the U.S.S. Merrimac, into an iron-sided vessel rechristened the C.S.S. Virginia. On March 9, in the first naval engagement between ironclad ships, the Monitor fought the Virginia to a draw, but not before the Virginia had sunk two wooden Union warships off Norfolk, Virginia. March 14, 1862 New Berne March 23, 1862 Kernstown March 23-April 26, 1862 Fort Macon March 26-28, 1862 Glorieta Pass April 5-May 4, 1862 Yorktown April 6-7, 1862 Shiloh / Pittsburg Landing April 10-11, 1862 Fort Pulaski April 16-28, 1862 Fort Jackson / Fort St. Philip April 19, 1862 South Mills / Camden April 25–May 1, 1862 New Orleans April 29-June 10, 1862 Corinth April 16: Confederates enact conscription. April 1861 -- The Battle of Shiloh. On April 6, Confederate forces attacked Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. By the end of the day, the federal troops were almost defeated. Yet, during the night, reinforcements arrived, and by the next morning the Union commanded the field. When Confederate forces retreated, the exhausted federal forces did not follow. Casualties were heavy -- 13,000 out of 63,000 Union soldiers died, and 11,000 of 40,000 Confederate troops were killed. April 1862 Fort Pulaski, Georgia -- General Quincy A. Gillmore battered Fort Pulaski, the imposing masonry structure near the mouth of the Savannah River, into submission in less than two days, (April 10-11, 1862). April 1862 -- New Orleans. Flag Officer David Farragut led an assault up the Mississippi River. By April 25, he was in command of New Orleans. April 1862 -- The Peninsular Campaign. In April, General McClellan's troops left northern Virginia to begin the Peninsular Campaign. By May 4, they occupied Yorktown, Virginia. At Williamsburg, Confederate forces prevented McClellan from meeting the main part of the Confederate army, and McClellan halted his troops, awaiting reinforcements. May 1862 -- "Stonewall" Jackson Defeats Union Forces. Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, commanding forces in the Shenandoah Valley, attacked Union forces in late March, forcing them to retreat across the Potomac. As a result, Union troops were rushed to protect Washington, D.C. May 5, 1862 Williamsburg / Fort Magruder May 7, 1862 Eltham's Landing Barhamsville / West Point May 8, 1862 McDowell / Sitlington's Hill May 15, 1862 Drewry's Bluff / Fort Darling / Fort Drewry May 15-17, 1862 Princeton Courthouse / Actions at Wolf Creek May 23, 1862 Front Royal / Guard Hill / Cedarville May 25, 1862 Winchester / Bowers Hill May 27, 1862 Hanover Court House / Slash Church May 31-June 1, 1862 Seven Pines / Fair Oaks Station May 31 -- The Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). The Confederate army attacked federal forces at Seven Pines, almost defeating them; last-minute reinforcements saved the Union from a serious defeat. Confederate commander Joseph E. Johnston was severely wounded, and command of the Army of Northern Virginia fell to Robert E. Lee. June 5, 1862 Tranter's Creek June 6, 1862 Memphis June 7-8, 1862 Chattanooga June 8, 1862 Cross Keys June 9, 1862 Port Republic June 16 -- Secessionville South Carolina On June 16, contrary to Hunter's orders, Benham launched an unsuccessful frontal assault against Fort Lamar at Secessionville. Because Benham was said to have disobeyed orders, Hunter relieved him of command. Early June 1862, Maj. Gen. David Hunter had transported Horatio Wright's and Isaac Stevens's Union divisions under immediate direction of Brig. Gen. Henry Benham to James Island where they entrenched at Grimball's Landing near the southern flank of the Confederate defenses. June 16, 1862 Secessionville / Ft. Lamar / James Island June 17, 1862 Saint Charles June 21, 1862 Simmon's Bluff June 21 -- Simmon's Bluff South Carolina On June 21, troops of the 55th Pennsylvania landed from the gunboat Crusader and transport Planter near Simmon's Bluff on Wadmelaw Sound, surprising and burning an encampment of the 16th South Carolina Infantry. The Confederates scattered, and the Federals returned to their ships. Despite this minor victory, the Federals abandoned their raid on the railroad. June 25, 1862 Oak Grove French's Field / King's School House June 26, 1862 Beaver Dam Creek / Mechanicsville / Ellerson's Mill June 27, 1862 Gaines' Mill / First Cold Harbor June 27-28, 1862 Garnett's Farm / Golding's Farm June 29, 1862 Savage's Station June 30, 1862 White Oak Swamp June 30, 1862 Glendale / Frayser's Farm / Riddell's Shop June 30-July 1, 1862 Tampa June 30 City of Tampa. A Union gunboat came into Tampa Bay, turned her broadside on the town, and opened her ports. The gunboat then dispatched a launch carrying 20 men and a lieutenant under a flag of truce demanding the surrender of Tampa. The Confederates refused, and the gunboat opened fire. The officer then informed the Confederates that shelling would commence at 6:00 pm after allowing time to evacuate non-combatants from the city. Firing continued sporadically into the afternoon of July 1, when the Federal gunboat withdrew. July The Seven Days' Battles. Between June 26 and July 2, Union and Confederate forces fought a series of battles: Mechanicsville (June 26-27), Gaines's Mill (June 27), Savage's Station (June 29), Frayser's Farm (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1). On July 2, the Confederates withdrew to Richmond, ending the Peninsular Campaign July 1862 -- A New Commander of the Union Army. On July 11, Major-General Henry Halleck was named general-in-chief of the Union army. July 1, 1862 Malvern Hill / Poindexter's Farm July 13, 1862 Murfreesboro August 5, 1862 Baton Rouge / Magnolia Cemetery August 6-9, 1862 Kirksville August 9, 1862 Cedar Mountain / Slaughter's Mountain / Cedar Run August 11, 1862 Independence August 15-16, 1862 Lone Jack August 20-22, 1862 Fort Ridgely August 22-25, 1862 Rappahannock Station / Waterloo Bridge August 25-27,1862 Manassas Station Operations August 28, 1862 Thoroughfare Gap / Chapman's Mill August 28-30, 1862 Manassas Second / Second Bull Run August 1862 -- Pope's Campaign. Union General John Pope suffered defeated at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 29- 30. General Fitz-John Porter was held responsible for the defeat because he had failed to commit his troops to battle quickly enough; he was forced out of the army by 1863. August 29-30, 1862 Richmond September 4: Army of northern Virginia crosses Potomac river to invade Maryland September 1862 -- Harper's Ferry. Union General McClellan defeated Confederate General Lee at South Mountain and Crampton's Gap in September, but did not move quickly enough to save Harper's Ferry, which fell to Confederate General Jackson on September 15, along with a great number of men and a large body of supplies. September 1, 1862 Chantilly / Ox Hill September 14-17, 1862 Munfordville / Green River Bridge September 14 Crampton's Gap. September 12-15, 1862 Harpers Ferry Sept 14, 1862 South Mountain / Crampton Gap / Turner Gap / Fox Gap September 16-18, 1862 Antietam / Sharpsburg September 19, 1862 Iuka September 19-20, 1862 Shepherdstown / Boteler's Ford September 1862 -- Antietam. On September 17, Confederate forces under General Lee were caught by General McClellan near Sharpsburg, Maryland. This battle proved to be the bloodiest day of the war; 2,108 Union soldiers were killed and 9,549 wounded -- 2,700 Confederates were killed and 9,029 wounded. The battle had no clear winner, but because General Lee withdrew to Virginia, McClellan was considered the victor. The battle convinced the British and French -- who were contemplating official recognition of the Confederacy -- to reserve action, and gave Lincoln the opportunity to announce his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (September 22), which would free all slaves in areas rebelling against the United States, effective January 1, 1863. September 23, 1862 Wood Lake September 23 -- Sabine Pass. On September 23, 1862, the Union Steamer Kensington, Schooner Rachel Seaman, and Mortar Schooner Henry James appeared off the bar at Sabine Pass. The next morning, the two schooners crossed the bar, took position, and began firing on the Confederate shore battery. The shots from both land and shore fell far short of the targets. The ships then moved nearer until their projectiles began to fall amongst the Confederate guns. The Confederate cannons, however, still could not hit the ships. After dark, the Confederates evacuated, taking as much property as possible with them and spiking the four guns left behind. On the morning of the 25th, the schooners moved up to the battery and destroyed it while Acting Master Frederick Crocker, commander of the expedition, received the surrender of the town. Union control of Sabine Pass made later incursions into the interior possible. September 24-25, 1862 Sabine Pass September 30, 1862 Newtonia October 1-3, 1862 St. John's Bluff October 1-3 --St. John's Bluff Brig. Gen. John Finegan established a battery on St. John' s Bluff near Jacksonville to stop the movement of Federal ships up the St. Johns River. Brig. Gen. John M. Brannan embarked with about 1,500 infantry aboard the transports Boston, Ben DeFord, Cosmopolitan, and Neptune at Hilton Head, South Carolina, on September 30. The flotilla arrived at the mouth of the St. John's River on October 1, where Cdr. Charles Steedman' s gunboats—Paul Jones, Cimarron, Uncas, Patroon, Hale, and Water Witch—joined them. By midday, the gunboats approached the bluff, while Brannan began landing troops at Mayport Mills. Another infantry force landed at Mount Pleasant Creek, about five miles in the rear of the Confederate battery, and began marching overland on the 2nd. Outmaneuvered, Lt. Col. Charles F. Hopkins abandoned the position after dark. When the gunboats approached the bluff the next day, its guns were silent. October 3-4, 1862 Corinth http://www.civilwarhistory.com/timeline.htm

The Battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond, Florida, was fought on February 20, 1864. Federal Casualties were 203 killed, 1152 wounded, and 506 missing. The Confederates suffered 93 killed and 841 wounded. The battle of Ocean Pond is considered to have been the major battle of the Civil War in Florida. The initial engagement saw Federal forces of 5500 commanded by Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour facing a Confederate force of approximately 5000 commanded by Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan. This information was found in my trusty almanac of Civil War history - "The Civil Way: Day by Day" by E.B. Long.