Civil War Events by State

January 3, 1861

Georgian forces claim Fort Pulaski critical to the defense of Savannah, Georgia.

January 19, 1861

The state of Georgia officially secedes from the Union, joining its southern sister states in the new Confederacy.

March 21, 1861

In a speech given during a stop in Savannah, Georgia, Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens reaffirms the southern stance on slavery.

Icon signifying notable person or persons

July 19, 1861

Robert Toombs, the acting Secretary of State for the Confederacy, resigns his post to lead forces in Georgia as a brigadier general.

November 12, 1861

A Scottish-built merchant ship, the "Fingal", acquired in England by Confederate agents, successfully runs the Union blockade at Savannah to deliver much-needed supplies.

March 15, 1862

To better handle the ongoing war situation covering Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, Union authorities establish the Department of the South.

March 31, 1862

The Department of the South falls under the charge of Union General David Hunter.

April 11, 1862

Fort Pulaski in Georgia falls to Union forces. The forts strategic placement at the mouth of the Savannah River made it important for both sides.

April 12, 1862

In one of the more bizarre operations of the war, Union operatives steal the locomotive named "General" in Northern Georgia running between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event is known as the "Great Locomotive Chase". James J. Andrews is head of the Union effort consisting of volunteers. The locomotive is eventually recaptured and the thieves executed.

February 28, 1863

CSS Rattlesnake (fmr CSS Nashville) is destroyed by Union warships at Fort McAllister near Savannah, Georgia.

March 3, 1863

After being denied a promotion, General Robert Toombs resigns his commission in the Confederate Army and turns on President Davis and his government.

April 1, 1863

CSS Georgia is commissioned for service into the Confederate Navy near Brest, France. The vessel was constructed in Scottish shipyards.

June 17, 1863

CSS Atlanta is captured by Union warships at Wassaw Sound, Georgia.

September 20, 1863

Confederate forces, in one of the rare meetings where they outnumbered Union forces, claim the victory at the Battle of Chickamauga. Union elements collapse and are pushed away in the stunning defeat.

September 18, 1863

The Battle of Chickamauga begins pitting Northern forces led by General Rosecrans against Southern forces led by General Bragg. The North commits about 60,000 souls to the South's 65,000. The battle lasts two days and covers the counties of Catoosa and Walker in Georgia.

September 20, 1863

The Battle of Chickamauga ends as a Confederate victory. General Rosecrans forces are pushed out of Georgia and retreat to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Losses are 16,170 for the Union and 18,454 for the Confederacy.

December 13, 1863

The Georgia State Line militia is arranged.

February 27, 1864

Georgia is home to a new war prison for Union troops. The facility is located in Andersonville, Georgia.

April 10, 1864

Mary Edwards Walker, the lone female surgeon in the Union Army, is taken prisoner by Southern elements. This occurs at the Tennessee-Georgia border.

April 20, 1864

Macon, Georgia falls to Union cavalry forces under the leadership of General Wilson.

May 4, 1864

Union General William Sherman begins his move towards Atlanta, Georgia.

May 12, 1864

Union forces break through Confederate defensive lines at Snake Creek Gap. The action takes place near Dalton, Georgia and Union elements are directed by General Sheridan.

May 15, 1864

Confederate General Johnston withdraws his forces near Dalton, Georgia, under growing pressure from General Sherman.

May 26, 1864

The Battle of New Hope Church in Georgia sees the Military Division of the Mississippi, under the leadership of Generals Sherman and Hooker, lose to the Army of Tennessee led by General Johnston.

June 14, 1864

A former planter in Tennessee, Confederate General Leonidas Polk is killed by artillery fire at Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign.

June 27, 1864

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountin results in a Confederate victory. General Joseph Johnston faces off against Union General William Sherman in the clash. Numbers are 17,733 to 16,225 respectively and losses include 1,000 to 3,000, respectively.

July 9, 1864

Union cavalry raids begin at Decatur, Alabama under the leadership of General Lovell Rousseau. The raids will head into Marietta, Georgia and span to July 22nd.

July 20, 1864

The Battle of Peachtree Creek takes place in Fulton County, Georgia. 21,655 Union troops under George H. Thomas claim the victory over the 20,250 Confederate army led by General John Hood (Army of Tennessee). Losses are 1,900 to 2,500, respectively.

July 22, 1864

Confederate forces attempt another attack on General Sherman's army outside of Atlanta. The attack fails.

July 26, 1864

General George Stoneman directs several cavalry raids across Georgia over the period spanning five days. He begins in Decatur and ends at Macon.

July 28, 1864

Ezra Church, Georgia - outside of Atlanta - is the site of another failed Confederate attack against General Sherman's Union forces.

July 29, 1864

Railworks between Griffin and Jonesboro, Georgia are destroyed by Union forces.

July 30, 1864

During the Atlanta Campaign, Union General Stoneman is captured along with his aide near Macon, Georgia by Confederates. His prison term becomes just three months as he is released, mainly in part by the direct request of Union General Sherman himself.

August 3, 1864

General Horace Capron and his forces near Jug Tavern in Georgia come across a Confederate force.

August 25, 1864

Atlanta falls under siege to forces led by Union General Sherman.

August 31, 1864

The Battle of Jonesborough begins in Clayton County, Georgia. General Sherman leads 70,000 Union troops against 24,000 Confederates under General Hood and General Hardee.

August 31, 1864

A repulsed attack at Jonesborough effectively marks the last attempt by the Confederacy to hold Atlanta.

September 1, 1864

The Battle of Jonesborough ends as a Union victory for General Sherman.

September 1, 1864

With the situation growing hopeless, Confederate General Hood pulls his men out of Atlanta. Any useful structures and materials are burned.

September 2, 1864

General Sherman's force takes the city of Atlanta. This ends the Atlanta Campaign which began back in May of 1964 and is marked as a major Union victory - certainly helping President Lincoln's reelection chances.

September 7, 1864

Civilians are ordered out of the city of Atlanta following its capture by Union forces.

October 3, 1864

Confederate forces under General Bell take Big Shanty and Acworth - both in Georgia.

October 5, 1864

The Battle of Allatoona is fought in Bartow County, Georgia. Union strength numbers 2,025 against a Confederate army of 3,276. The clash is a Union victory, part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, with casualties totaling 706 for the victors and 897 for the South.

October 15, 1864

Camp Lawton, a large Confederate prison outside of Millen in Georgia opens its doors to the first Union troops.

November 15, 1864

Union General Sherman's "March to the Sea" is begin in Georgia. The campaign would last until December 21st and result in a major Union victory. The offensive starts in Atlanta, Georgia which is now under Union control.

November 22, 1864

The Battle of Griswoldville is fought in Jones County, Georgia. It is a Union victory.

November 22, 1864

Union General Sherman makes a stop at the estate of Confederate General Cobb. The home is razed when the force leaves.

November 23, 1864

The city of Milledgeville - the capital of Georgia from 1804 until 1868 - is captured by Union forces numbering 30,000 under General Sherman. Much damage is had to the city but many of its classic homes are spared.

November 26, 1864

General Wheeler and his Confederate cavalry forces are unsuccessful at Griswoldville, Georgia against the forces of General Sherman.

December 13, 1864

Fort McAllister falls to Union guns. The capture is another victory for General Sherman as the Union army inches its way closer to the prize that is Savannah, Georgia.

December 20, 1864

With General Sherman's Union force gaining ground, the Confederates are forced to flee from their positions in Savannah.

December 21, 1864

Sherman's "March to the Sea" campaign ends as a Union victory. It began in captured Atlanta and ended with the fall of Savannah, Georgia.

December 21, 1864

The Confederate Navy's Savannah Squadron fleet is ordered destroyed to keep the vessels from falling into enemy hands.

December 22, 1864

Sherman's 'March to the Sea' comes to a close with the capture of Savannah, Georgia.

December 26, 1864

President Lincoln, by letter, personally thanks General William Sherman for his successful campaign - his 'March to the Sea' - which began on November 15th that finally delivered Savannah, Georgia in time for Christmas.

January 10, 1865

Congress formally congratulates General Sherman on his exploits across Georgia resulting in the capture of Savannah.

February 9, 1865

Andrew Stephens, acting Vice President of the Confederacy, departs from the capital of Richmond, Virginia to Georgia.

April 16, 1865

The Battle of West Point takes place in West Point, Georgia. It is a Union victory for Oscar La Grange over Robert Tyler. This engagement marks the last battle to take place east of the Mississippi River.

April 20, 1865

Macon, Georgia is taken by Union forces directed by General James Wilson.

May 5, 1865

Captain Micajah Clark is announced as the Confederate's treasurer. This is President Jefferson Davis' final act as President of the Confederacy in the war. The act takes place in Washington, Georgia.

May 4, 1865

While attempting to escape, Confederate President Jefferson Davis is taken prisoner by Northern forces near Irwinsville, Georgia.

August 17, 1865

Nurse Clara Barton raises the American flag over the Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia. The site is near the Andersonville prisoner-of-war camp.

Civil War Events by State - Georgia

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