The Civil War in Tennessee

This is a timeline for the major events surrounding the Civil War in

Tennessee:

1860

November: Abraham Lincoln elected President

1861

February: A referendum on secession show East TN against,

Middle TN against, West TN for secession

April: TN refuses to answer Lincoln's call for volunteers

June: By more than two to one, TN votes for secession

1862

February: For Donelson surrenders unconditionally to US General Ulysses S.

Grant. A critical Federal victory that pierces the heart of the South. A

relatively obscure Union general, Ulysses S. Grant, earns the nom de guerre

"Unconditional Surrender" and is promoted to major general.

April: Battle of Shiloh- An equivocal victory for the Union with enormous

losses on both sides including that of Confederate General Johnston. Timely

Union reinforcements from generals Crittenden, Nelson, and Wallace, and the

lack of same from Confederate General Van Dorn, help turn the tide in Grant's

favor. The death of Johnston is deeply mourned by Confederate President

Jefferson Davis, as it is throughout the South. Beauregard's retreat to

Corinth, MS further cements the Union's dominance in TN.

June: Naval Battle at Memphis:

December: Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro)- A crucial Federal victory

after the crushing defeat at Fredericksburg, VA. Technically considered a

military draw, Bragg's order to retreat is roundly criticized by his

military advisors.

1863

September: Battle of Chickamauga

November: Battle of Chattanooga

Having regrouped from the Battle of Murfreesboro, Bragg's army lures

Rosecrans on September 19 into a trap at Chickamauga Creek just south of

Chattanooga. Longstreet, finding a hole in Rosecrans's line, routs the

Federals until General George H. Thomas stands firm on Snodgrass Hill,

earning him the sobriquet "Rock of Chickamauga."

Nevertheless, the defeated Federals retreat into Chattanooga. There,

blockaded by Bragg, Rosecrans's army faces either surrender or starvation.

Alarmed, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant joins Rosecrans's (whom he removes from

command), bringing with him 36,000 men under Generals Sherman and Hooker.

Foiling the blockade with a pontoon "Cracker Line" across the TN River at

Brown's Ferry, Grant is able to ferry Hooker's forces (and rations) into

Chattanooga.

Bragg (at Davis' order) sends Longstreet and Wheeler to Knoxville, a

dangerous decision, but one based on the impregnability of the Confederate

positions on the high ground - Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and

Orchard Knob, Grant decides to attack immediately.

On November 23, Thomas's men rout the Confederates from Orchard Knob. On the

24th Hooker's soldiers push the Confederates off Lookout Mtn, the fabled

"Battle Above the Clouds." With Bragg's forces now concentrated on

Missionary Ridge, Grant orders Thomas to attack. His men, disobeying orders,

pursue the Confederates up the mountainside, straying so close to the

fleeing enemy that the riflemen above shoot high in order to avoid hitting

their own men. That night the Confederates retreat into Georgia; the result

leaves the Union in control of nearly all of Tennessee.

1864

November-December: Battles of Franklin & Nashville- On November 29, 1864,

General Hood outflanks Schofield's Federals and has them trapped. But that

night, while the Confederates sleep, the entire Union army sneaks past the

Confederate lines. Having escaped the trap, Schofield deploys his troops on

a long arc in a bend of the Harpeth River at Franklin.

1865

April 9: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to

Union General Ulysses S. Grant

April 15: President Lincoln assassinated

April 16: TN war-governor Andrew Johnson becomes President