The Civil War-1861-1865
1860-1861 Timeline
November 6 1860-Election of Lincoln: The election of Lincoln, was the final straw for secession from the Union. Efforts for compromise failed and Southern leaders, feared that Lincoln would stop the expansion of slavery, as he had mentioned in speech in 1858. Before he took office, seven states, declared secession, including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. By the end of January 1861, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina joined the Confederacy.
February 1861-A Confederate Government: The Confederate states, established their own
Constitution, similar to the U.S. Constitution and named Jefferson Davis provisional president
of the Confederacy, until such time as elections could be held.
Before Lincoln took office, one quarter of the U.S. Army-the entire garrison in Texas, was
surrendered in February, to state forces, by it's commanding general David E. Twiggs, who then
joined the Confederacy
March 1861-Lincoln's Inauguration: Abraham Lincoln announced at his inauguration, that the had no plans to end slavery where it already existed, but refused to accept secession from the Union.
April 1861-Battle of Fort Sumter: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, decided it was impossible to have a foreign fort within the boundaries of the Confederacy and ordered his forces to attack. After heavy bombardment, the fort surrendered. President Lincoln then called on federal troops to retake the fort, which prompted Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee, to join the Confederacy. The Battle of Fort Sumter, was the starting point of the Civil War.
June 1861-A State is Born: The northwest section of Virginia, seceded from Virginia, and joined the Union as the State of West Virginia on June 20, 1863.
The Anaconda Plan-1861:Commanding U.S. Army General Winfield Scott, devised the Anaconda Plan to win the war with little bloodshed as possible. His idea was to make a Union blockade of the main ports in the South and weaken the economy. He then surmised, that the Union forces could capture the Mississippi river and split the South in half.
July 1861-First Battle of Bull Run:The first major land battle occurred at Bull Run. Yielding to public pressure, Union General Irvin McDowell advanced his unorganized and inexperienced Union forces, against inexperienced Confederate forces commanded by Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, near Manassas Junction. The initial attack by the Union was poorly executed, but successful. Confederate reinforcements under Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, arrived. A brigade of Virginians, under command of Colonel Thomas J. Jackson, stood their ground in a determined fight, which gave their leader the famous nickname of “Stonewall Jackson.” The strong confederate counterattack, forced the Union forces to retreat towards Washington, D.C. General McDowell bore the blame for the Union defeat and was replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who was named general-in-chief of all Union forces.
Sources/Credits
Excerpts from Wikipedia.org-Civil War Battles
Civil War Battles
Excerpts from, Time Line of the Civil War-1861
Compiled by Joanne Freeman with a special debt to the Encyclopedia of American History by Richard B. Morris.
Library of Congress
Fort Sumter Image
Wikipedia-PD
