January 1 1st homestead under the Homestead Act claimed, near Beatrice, Nebr January 1 Battle of Galveston, Texas-Confederates recapture the city January 1 Battle of Helena, AK January 1 Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln January 1 Franz Schuberts "Missa Solemnis," premieres in Leipzig January 1 President Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful January 2 Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River) ends January 4 4 wheeled roller skates patented by James Plimpton of NY January 10 1st underground railway opens in London January 10 General McClernand's Union troops surround Fort Hindman Ark January 10 January-uprising begins in Poland January 10 London's 1st subway opens January 11 Naval engagement near Galveston between CSS Alabama and USS Hatteras January 11 Union forces capture Arkansas Post, or Ft. Hindman, Arkansas January 12 President Davis delivers his "State of Confederacy" address January 13 Chenille manufacturing machine patented by William Canter, New York City January 13 Thomas Crapper pioneers one-piece pedestal flushing toilet January 14 Battle between gunboats at Bayou Teche Louisiana January 15 1st U.S. newspaper printed on wood-pulp paper, Boston Morning Journal January 17 Civil War skirmish near Newtown, Virginia January 19 General Mieroslawski appointed dictator of Poland January 21 City of Dublin leases part of Cattle Market for 100,000 years January 22 Union General Burnside's "Mud March" January 25 Battle of Kinston, NC January 25 General Joseph Hooker replaces Burnside as head of Army of Potomac January 26 54th Regiment (Black) infantry forms January 26 War Department authorizes Mass governor to recruit black troops January 29 Battle at Bear River, Washington: U.S. Army vs indians January 31 1st black Civil War regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, mustered into U.S. army February 2 Samuel Clemens becomes Mark Twain for 1st time February 9 Fire extinguisher patented by Alanson Crane February 10 1st U.S. fire extinguisher patent granted to Alanson Crane, Virginia February 10 P. T. Barnum stages wedding of Tom Thumb and Mercy Lavinia Warren (New York City) February 24 Arizona Territory created February 24 Forrest's raid on Brentwood, Tennessee February 25 Congress creates national banking system, comptroller of currency February 26 Lincoln signs National Currency Act February 28 Confederate raider "Nashville" sinks near Fort McAllister Georgia March 2 Congress authorizes track width of 4'8" for Union Pacific Railroad March 3 1st U.S. wartime military conscription bill enacted March 3 Abraham Lincoln approves charter for National Academy of Sciences March 3 Congress authorizes a U.S. mint at Carson City, Nevada March 3 Federal ironclad ships bomb Fort McAllister Georgia March 3 Free city delivery replaces zone postage; 449 letter carriers hired March 3 Gold certificates (currency) authorized by Congress March 3 Idaho Territory forms March 3 Lincoln approves charter for National Academy of Sciences March 4 Battle of Thompson's Station, Tennessee March 4 Territory of Idaho established March 17 Battle of Kelly's Ford, Virginia (211 casualities) March 20 Battle of Pensacola Florida - evacuated by Federals March 21 Naval Engagement at Havana Cuba-USS Henrick Hudson vs BR Wild Pigeon March 25 1st Army Medal of Honor awarded March 25 Skirmish at Brentwood Tennessee March 26 Voters in West Virginia approve gradual emancipation of slaves March 27 President Davis calls for this to be a day of fasting and prayer March 30 Danish prince Wilhelm Georg of Sleeswok-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg chosen as king George of Greece March 31 Battle of Grand Gulf MS and Dinwiddie Court House VA April 1 1st wartime conscription law in U.S. goes into effect April 2 Bread revolt in Richmond Virginia April 7 Battle of Charleston, South Carolina, failed Federal fleet attack on Fort Sumter April 10 Rebel General Earl Van Dorn attacks at Franklin, Tennessee April 11 Battle of Suffolk, Virginia (Norfleet House) April 13 Battle of Irish Bend, Louisiana (Ft. Bisland) April 13 Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled in New York is 1st orthopedic hospital April 14 William Bullock patents continuous-roll printing press April 17 R Grierson's: La Grange, Tennessee to Baton Rouge, Louisiana April 19 Union troops/fleet occupy For Huger, Virginia April 21 Declaration of Baha'u'llah; Baha'i Feast of Ridvan (Jalal 13, 20) April 24 Skirmish at Okolona/Birmingham, Mississippi (Grierson's Raid) April 27 Battle of Streight's raid: Tuscumbia to Cedar Bluff, AL May 1 Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia (29,000 injured or died) May 1 Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi May 1 Confederate "National Flag" replaces "Stars and Bars" May 1 Confederate congress passed resolution to kill black soldiers May 2 South defeats North in Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia May 2 Stonewall Jackson attacks Chancellorsville, wounded by his own men May 3 Battle of Chancellorsville - Beaten Union army withdraws May 3 Battle of Fredricksburg, Virginia (Marye's Heights) May 3 Battle of Salem Church, Virginia May 4 Battle of Chancellorsville - action at Salem Church May 4 End of Chancellorsville - Beaten Union army withdraws May 5 Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi May 5 Joe Coburn KOs Mike McCoole for U.S. boxing title in 63rd round May 8 Confederacion Granadina becomes Estados Unidos de Colombia May 12 Battle of Raymond, Mississippi May 14 Battle of Jackson, Mississippi May 16 Battle of Champion's Hill, MS-bloodiest action of Vicksburg Campaign May 17 Battle of Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi May 18 Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi May 19 Siege of Vicksburg, investment of city complete May 21 Siege on Port Hudson, Louisiana begins May 22 General Grant begins siege on Vicksburg May 22 War Department establishes Bureau of Colored Troops May 27 CSS Chattahoochie explodes on Chattahoochie River GA, 18 die May 27 Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana May 28 1st black regiment (54 Mass) leaves Boston to fight in Civil War June 2 Harriet Tubman leads Union guerrillas into Maryland, freeing slaves June 5 Battle of Franklin's Crossing, Virginia, Deep Run June 5 CSS "Alabama" captures "Tailsman" in Mid Atlantic June 6 Battle of Milliken's Bend, LA and Williamsport, MD June 7 Battle of Milliken's Bend, Louisiana - Jefferson Davis' home burnt June 7 Mexico City captured by French troops June 9 Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, Fleetwood, Beverly Ford June 10 Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Miss; Forrest w/3500 defeats 8000 Feds June 13 Battle of Winchester, Virginia June 13 Samuel Butler publishes 1st part of "Erewhon," Christchurch, New Zealand June 13 Skirmish at Berryville Virginia June 14 Battle of 2nd Winchester, Virginia June 15 2nd battle at Winchester Va, ends in Federal defeat; 1350 casualities June 17 Battle at Middleburg, Virginia June 17 Battle of Aldie, Confederates fail to drive back Union in Virginia June 17 Naval Engagement at Warsaw Sound GA-USS Weehawken vs CSS Atlanta June 17 Travelers Insurance Co of Hartford chartered, 1st accident insurer June 18 After long neglect, Confederates hurriedly fortify Vicksburg June 19 Battle at Middleburg Virginia, 100+ casualties June 20 1st bank chartered in U.S., National Bank of Davenport, Iowa June 20 Skirmish at Greencastle Pennsylvania June 20 West Virginia admitted as 35th U.S. state June 21 Battle at Upperville Virginia, 389 casualities June 23 Tullahoma campaign, Tennessee June 24 Planning an invasion of Pennsylvania, Lee's army crosses Potomac June 25 U.S. General George Meade replaces General Hooker to be more aggressive June 27 Skirmish at Fairfax (Courthouse) Virginia June 29 Battle at Westminster Maryland: Federal assault June 29 George A. Custer (23) appointed Union Brigadier-General June 29 Lee orders his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania June 29 Very 1st First National Bank opens in Davenport, Iowa June 30 Battles in Hanover Pennsylvania: 80 casualties June 30 Dutch colony Suriname counts population of 33,000 slaves June 30 Skirmish at Sporting Hill, Pennsylvania July 1 Battle at Baltimore: Crump's Crossroads Virginia July 1 Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Lee's northward advance halted July 1 Free city delivery of mail begins in 49 U.S. cities; postage 3 cents per oz July 1 Slavery abolished in Suriname and Netherlands Antilles July 2 Battle of Gettysburg (2nd day) July 3 Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania ends, major victory for North July 4 Boise, Idaho founded (now capital of Idaho) July 4 Failed Confederate assault on Helena Arkansas (640 casualties) July 4 General Lee's army withdraws from Gettysburg July 4 Skirmish at Smithburg, Tennessee July 4 Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Union forces July 5 Battle of Jackson, Mississippi and Battle of Birdsong Ferry, Mississippi July 6 Northern Territory passes from New South Wales to South Australia July 7 1st military draft by U.S., exemptions cost $100 July 7 Orders barring Jews from serving under U.S. Grant are revoked July 9 Union troops enter Port Hudson July 11 Japanese battle cruiser shoots at Dutch warship Medusa, kills 4 July 13 Anti-draft mobs lynch blacks in New York City; about 1,000 die July 13 Battle of Bayou La Fourche, Louisiana July 14 Battle of Falling Waters, MD (Beaver Creek) July 14 Jews of Holstein Germany granted equality July 15 President Davis orders service duty for confederate army July 16 Utrecht-Swells railway opens July 17 Battle of Honey Springs - largest battle in Indian Territory July 18 Battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina - Second assault US1500 CS174 July 19 Battle of Buffington's Island (St. George Creek), Ohio July 23 Alexandra Park opens in North London July 24 Battle at Battle Mountain, Virginia July 25 Skirmish at Barbee's Crossroads, Virginia July 26 Battle of Salineville OH, John Hunt Morgan and 364 troops surrender July 30 President Lincoln issues "eye-for-eye" order to shoot a rebel prisoner for every black prisoner shot August 1 Battle of Little Rock AK and Start of Chattanooga campaign August 1 Cavalry action near Brandy Station-End of Gettysburg Campaign August 3 Governor Seymour asks Lincoln to suspend draft in New York August 3 Saratoga Racetrack, New York, opens August 11 Cambodia becomes French protectorate August 12 1st cargo of lumber leaves Burrard Inlet (Vancouver, BC area) August 15 Submarine "HL Hunley" arrives in Charleston on railroad cars August 16 Chickamauga campaign GA August 16 Emancipation Proclamation signed August 17 Federal batteries and ships attacked Fort Sumter in SC August 17 Skirmish at Calfkiller Creek (Sparta), Tennessee August 21 Raid at Lawrence KS by William Quantrill August 26 Battle of Rocky Gap WV (White Sulphur Springs) September 1 6th Ohio Cavalry ambush at Barbees Crossroads Virginia September 1 Federal troops reconquer Fort Smith Arkansas September 1 RR and ferry connection between San Francisco and Oakland inaugurated September 5 Bread revolt in Mobile Alabama September 6 After 59 day siege, confederates evacuate Ft. Wagner, SC September 6 Confederate troops vacate Fort Wagner South Carolina (1700 casualties) September 7 Federal naval expedition arrives off Sabine Pass September 8 Battle of Sabine Pass TX: 47 Texas volunteers repel Federal forces September 8 Federal troops reconquer the Cumperland Gap, Tennessee September 9 Battle of Cumberland Gap, TN September 10 George Bizets opera "Les Pacheurs de Perles," premieres in Paris September 17 Pope Pius IX encyclical On persecution in New Grenada September 19 Battle of Chickamauga Georgia (near Chattanooga) begins; Union retreat September 20 Civil War Battle of Chickamauga, near Chattanooga Tennessee, ends September 21 Union forces retreat to Chattanooga after defeat at Chickamauga September 23 Confederate siege of Chattanooga begins September 27 Jo Shelby's cavalry in action at Moffat's Station, Arkansas September 29 Opera "Pescatori di Perle" is produced (Paris) October 1 5 Russian warships welcomed in New York City October 1 Dutch Breda-Tilburg railway opens October 3 Lincoln designates last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day October 5 Confederate sub David damages Union ship Ironsides October 6 Battle at Baxter Springs Kansas October 6 Dr. Charles H Sheppard opens 1st public bath, in Brooklyn October 9 Battle of Brady Station, Virginia (Culpeper Court House, Bristoe Station) October 10 Skirmish at Blue Springs, Tennessee (166 casualties) October 11 Skirmish at Rheatown/Henderson's Mill, Tennessee October 13 Skirmish at Blountsville, Tennessee (50 casualties) October 14 Battle at Bristoe Station Virginia (about 2000 casualties) October 14 Skirmish at Catlett's Station, Virginia (Bristoe Campaign) October 15 Cliff House opens in San Francisco (1st of many on site) October 16 Grant is given command of Union forces in West October 18 Battle of Charlestown, West Virginia October 19 Battle of Buckland Mills, VA October 26 Football Association forms in England, standardizing soccer October 26 Soccer rules standardized; rugby starts as a separate game October 26 Worldwide Red Cross organized in Geneva October 27 Dutch railway to Harlingen opens October 28 Battle at Wauhatchie Georgia: 865 killed or injured October 29 International Comm of Red Cross forms (Nobel 1917, 1944, 1963) November 1 Averell's Raid (on)to Lewisburg, West Virginia November 1 Fortifications built on Angel Island (SF Bay) by troops November 3 Battle of Grand Coteau, Louisiana November 7 Battle of Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, VA November 14 Bedford Forrest is assigned to command of West Tennessee November 14 Skirmish at Danville, Mississippi November 16 Battle of Campbell's Station TN, 492 casualities November 17 Lincoln begins 1st draft of his Gettysburg Address November 19 Lincoln delivers his address in Gettysburg; "4 score and 7 years..." November 23 Battle of Chattanooga and Orchard Knob, Tennessee begins November 23 Patent granted for a process of making color photographs November 24 Battle of Chattanooga, Columbia and Lookout Mountain begins in Tennessee November 25 Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee November 27 Battle at Fort Esperanza Texas November 27 Battle of Payne's Farm, VA November 29 Battle of Ft. Sanders, Tennessee (Ft. Loudon), 8-900 casualities November 30 Confederate troops vacate Fort Esperanza, Texas December 3 Longstreet abandons his siege at Knoxville, TN December 4 Storm flood ravages Netherlands coastal provinces December 8 2,500 reported killed at Church of La Compana, Santiago Chile December 8 Abraham Lincoln announces plan for Reconstruction of South December 8 Jesuit church in Chile catches fire, 2,500 die in panic December 8 President Lincoln offers amnesty for confederate deserters December 14 Battle of Bean's Station-Confederacy repulses Union in Tennessee December 15 Skirmish at Bean's Station, Tennessee (Knoxville Campaign)
