Civil War Events by Person

February 4, 1862

En route to Fort Heiman and Fort Henry down the Tennessee River, Union General Grant arrives at Camp Halleck with his forces. General McClernand's division disembarks along the eastern shore out of range of Fort Henry's guns.

February 5, 1862

General Grant has General Charles F. Smith's division disembark along the western shore of the Tennessee River in preparation for the assaults on Fort Heiman and Fort Henry dowriver.

February 6, 1862

Union General McClernand is ordered by General Grant to begin his march towards Fort Henry at 11:00AM.

February 6, 1862

At 11:00AM, General Smith's forces begin their march against Fort Heiman along the Tennessee River.

February 6, 1862

Union Flag Officer Foote leads his gunboat flotilla against Fort Henry. The action takes place from 11:00AM until about 1:55PM and is in concert with land movements of General McClernand and General Smith under General Grant.

February 6, 1862

At 6:00PM on this date, General Grant's troops finally claim (through occupation) Fort Henry on the Tennessee River.

February 6, 1862

Fort Henry, along the Tennessee River in Tennessee, falls to forces under the combine efforts of land and naval forces under the direction of General Grant. He then turns his attention eastward towards enemy-held Fort Donelson along the Cumberland River.

February 11, 1862

General Grant orders an advanced force to begin their march towards Fort Donelson.

February 12, 1862

Despite the combined strength of General McClernand and Smith's divisions, General Grant is forced to stop within twelve miles of Fort Donelson as he remains outnumbered.

February 13, 1862

Without order from General Grant, both General McClernand and General Smith launch unsuccessful attacks against Fort Donelson.

February 14, 1862

Union forces under Lew Wallace arrive at Fort Donelson from Fort Heiman and are further reinforced by fresh troops transport via the river Cumberland. With three divisions now formed under General Grant, he holds numerical superiority against the defenders at Fort Donelson.

December 17, 1862

General Grant forces out all merchant Jews under his district control due to Treasury violations (black market dealings involving cotton). This is known as General order No.11 and includes Jews in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky.

December 20, 1862

Confederate forces destroy General Grant's base at Holly Springs in Mississippi.

January 4, 1863

President Lincoln is at odds with General Grant on the topic of expelling Jewish merchants operating within Grant's military district. He calls on Grant to repeal the earlier expulsion order.

January 30, 1863

General Ulysses S. Grant assumes command of Union forces near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

March 14, 1863

Steele's Bayou Expedition is begun. The operation sees a combined Union force directed by General Grant and Rear Admiral Porter attempt to reach the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The expedition would last until March 27th.

March 17, 1863

Confederate forces at Fort Pemberton block General Grant's passage along the Yazoo River in Mississippi.

March 27, 1863

Union forces attempting to reach Vickerburg's rear are repulsed as part of Steele's Bayou Expedition. Union leaders included General Grant and Admiral Porter.

May 1, 1863

Union troops are victorious at Port Gibson in Mississippi.

May 3, 1863

Grand Gulf, Mississippi is evacuated.

May 3, 1863

General Grant arrives at Grand Gulf, Mississippi near Vicksburg.

May 7, 1863

General Grant departs the Grand Gulf, Mississippi region.

May 17, 1863

Confederate forces are pushed back over Big Black River in Mississippi.

May 19, 1863

The Confederate defenders at Vicksburg (Mississippi) repel a Union push.

May 22, 1863

General Grant attempts, and fails, to take Vicksburg in a second offensive.

May 23, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi is besieged by Union forces.

July 4, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi finally surrenders to General Grant and his Union forces. Some 30,000 prisoners are granted release with the promise not to engage the Union militarily again.

September 4, 1863

Union General Ulysses S. Grant is injured after being thrown by his horse. The incident takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

October 16, 1863

Command of the armies of the West are handed to General Ulysses S. Grant by order of President Lincoln.

October 19, 1863

General Grant writes from Louisville, Kentucky "Hold Chattanooga at all hazards, I will be there as soon as possible." He would arrive in southeast Tennessee four days later.

October 21, 1863

The attack on Chattanooga is planned by Union authorities including General Grand and General Rosecrans.

November 23, 1863

The Battles for Chattanooga take place from November 23rd to NOvember 25th. Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Rossville Gap are some of the names associated with the actions. General Grant faces General Bragg and his Army of the Tennessee.

November 25, 1863

The Chattanooga Campaign comes to a close and is recorded as a Union victory, further enhancing General Grant's growing legacy in the war.

December 17, 1863

General Grant, for his services (and successes) in the ongoing war is recognized by the U.S. Congress by way of an official thanks and a gold medal.

March 9, 1864

General Ulysses S. Grant is promoted to the newly-created rank of Lieutenant General.

March 12, 1864

General Henry Halleck is replaced with General Grant by President Lincoln. Grant will now head the Union Army as its General-in-Chief.

April 17, 1864

Prisoner exchanges with the South are stopped under the order of General Grant.

May 3, 1864

Union General Grant advances towards Richmond, Virginia - the Confederate capital - with a force numbering about 100,000.

May 5, 1864

The Battle of the Wilderness takes place across Spotsylvania and Orange counties in Virginia. Generals Ulysses Grant and George Meade face-off against Robert E. Lee. Strength includes 124,232 for the Union and about 65,000 for the Confederacy.

May 7, 1864

The Battle of the Wilderness comes to an end as an inconclusive engagement. Losses and casualties for the Union number 17,666 and the Confederate totals 11,033.

May 8, 1864

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House begins. Union Generals Grant and Meade square off, once again, against Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The action takes place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Union forces number as many as 110,000 against a Confederate army of 63,000.

May 20, 1864

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House concludes as a Confederate tactical victory. General Lee takes the credit over Union leaders General Grant and Meade. Casualties and losses number 12,687 for the victors and 18,399 for the defeated.

May 23, 1864

The Battle of North Anna begins spanning Caroline and Hanover counties in Virginia. Union forces are led by Ulysses Grant and George Meade against Robert E. Lee and the outnumbered Confederate army (Army of Northern Virginia).

May 26, 1864

The Battle of North Anna ends with inconclusive results as neither side gains the advantage.

May 28, 1864

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek begins.

May 30, 1864

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek is inconclusive.

May 31, 1864

The Battle of Cold Harbor begins as part of the Overland Campaign. Union forces number over 100,000 and are led by generals Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. They face a Confederate army numbering around 60,000 and are led by General Robert E. Lee.

June 9, 1864

Failing to unseat General Lee's defenders at Petersburg, Virginia, Union General Grant enacts a siege of the city. The siege will last (officially) until March 25th, 1865 and result in a Union victory.

June 12, 1864

The Battle of Cold Harbor ends as a much-needed Confederate victory for General Robert E. Lee. Frontal assaults against fortified Confederate positions mar the Union advance which leads to thousands of casualties.

June 14, 1864

Petersburg, Virginia is in the crosshairs of General Grant. His forces cross the James River en route to the town.

September 16, 1864

General Grant's HQ in Virginia is raided. Some 2,500 cattle are taken. The Confederate force is led by General Wade Hampton.

December 28, 1864

Fort Harrison is taken by Union troops led by General Grant. This is significant in that the fort guards the route towards Richmond, Virginia - the Confederate capital.

January 24, 1865

A Confederate attempt to assault General Grant's headquarters at City Point (Virginia) is called off.

March 24, 1865

President Lincoln begins a three-week visit to General Grant at his headquarters in City Point, Virginia. Among those in attendance is General Sherman.

March 25, 1865

The Siege of Petersburg ends near Petersburg, Virginia. It is a Union victory.

March 28, 1865

In a meeting with top officers, President Lincoln pushes for surrender of the Confederacy under softer terms.

April 9, 1865

The Battle of Appomattox Court House takes place marking one of the final engagements of the American Civil War. The battle is a decisive Union victory and sees General Lee surrender his Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant. The Union army is made up of 150,000 soldiers against the Confederate's 28,000.

Civil War Events by Person - Ulysses Grant

Listing of all day-by-day events of the American Civil War related to the state of Ulysses Grant.