Union Army Timeline of Events

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Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

Timeline of Events

1861

4.25.1861

American Civil War: The Union Army arrives in Washington, D.C.

7.26.1861

American Civil War: George B. McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac following a disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run.

11.1.1861

American Civil War: US President Abraham Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as the commander of the Union Army, replacing the aged General Winfield Scott.

1862

4.7.1862

American Civil War: Battle of Shiloh ends – the Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant defeats the Confederates near Shiloh, Tennessee.

7.23.1862

American Civil War: Henry W. Halleck takes command of the Union Army.

8.30.1862

American Civil War - Battle of Richmond: Confederates under Edmund Kirby Smith rout Union forces under General Horatio Wright.

11.5.1862

American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln removes George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army for the second and final time.

12.13.1862

American Civil War: At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeats the Union Major General Ambrose E. Burnside.

1863

4.22.1863

American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins – troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.

9.9.1863

American Civil War: The Union Army enters Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1864

10.28.1864

American Civil War: Second Battle of Fair Oaks ends – Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant withdraw from Fair Oaks, Virginia, after failing to breach the Confederate defenses around Richmond, Virginia.

1865

2.18.1865

Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman set the South Carolina State House on fire during the burning of Columbia.