Listing of all day-by-day events of the American Civil War related to the state of Alabama.
The American Civil War crossed borders throughout many states as the nation was plunged into turmoil. Key battles were fought throughout the land with the most being recorded in the state of Virginia followed by the state of Tennessee. The war stretched into loosely established territories in the West as well and involved actions in international waters and support from foreign powers. In the end, the fractured country required decades of healing and its scars can still be seen today.
There are a total of (29)Civil War Events by State - Alabama events in the CivilWarTimeline.net database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective.
Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
January 11, 1861
Alabama moves to secede from the Union, following Mississippi and Florida just days ago.
February 4, 1861
A provisional government arranged to head the affairs of the new south meet in Montgomery, Alabama.
April 29, 1861
The Confederate Congress convenes in Montgomery (Alabama) to tackle several issues. The group will gather until May 21st.
April 29, 1862
Bridgeport, Alabama falls to Union forces.
August 24, 1862
CSS Alabama, arriving from England, is commissioned for service.
September 5, 1862
CSS Alabama captures the Ocmulgee in the Azores. This marks the Confederate vessel's first claim of a commercial vessel. The enemy ship is burned while its crew is taken prisoner.
December 7, 1862
CSS Alabama is forced to release a captured steamer carrying 640 persons, including 140 Union troops, as it lacks the facilities to take them on.
January 11, 1863
USS Hatteras is sunk by CSS Alabama near Galveston, Texas.
January 15, 1863
CSS Florida conducts various raids down the East Coast of the United States and beyond, her journey beginning in the port-city of Mobile, Alabama.
May 3, 1863
A much smaller force of Confederate cavalry, led by General Forrest, captures Union cavalry raiders in Alabama.
August 5, 1863
CSS Alabama docks near Cape Town, South Africa.
April 2, 1864
Cavalry units, under the leadership of Union General James H. Wilson, capture Selma, Alabama.
April 9, 1865
The Battle of Fort Blakely comes to a close. It is a Union victory for Army of West Mississippi commander Edward Canby.
April 27, 1864
Tycoon is captured by the sloop-of-war CSS Alabama. This marks the final ship taken by the Confederate vessel.
June 19, 1864
CSS Alabama is targeted and sunk by USS Kearsarge off the coast of Cherbourg, France.
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 17, 1864
The railworks running between Montgomery, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia is destroyed by a Confederate force. This action occurs at Opelika, Alabama and is directed by General Rousseau.
August 2, 1864
The Battle of Mobile Bay begins pitting a Union force of 12 wooden ships, 4 ironclads and 2 gunboats against a Confederate force of 3 gunboats and one ironclad. Additionally, 5,500 Union troops make up a land contingent while the Confederates field 1,500 men. The battle would last until August 23rd. David Farragut and Gordon Granger are the Union leaders. The Confederates are led by Franklin Buchanan and Richard Page.
August 8, 1864
The Union Army, directed by Gordon Granger, takes Fort Gaines (Dauphin Island) during the Battle of Mobile Bay. 900 prisoners are taken.
August 23, 1864
The Battle of Mobile Bay comes to a close on this date. It is a Union victory with 151 killed and 177 wounded for the Union and 13 killed and 22 wounded for the Confederate. One Union ironclad is sunk. 1,587 Confederate troops are captured in the fighting and one gunboat destroyed.
August 23, 1864
Union General Gordon Granger claims Fort Morgan during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Confederate General Richard Page surrenders the fort.
September 24, 1864
The Union Defenders at Athens, Alabama are removed by a Confederate cavalry force led by General Forrest.
March 27, 1865
The Battle of Spanish Fort (Alabama) begins.
April 2, 1865
The Battle of Fort Blakely begins in Baldwin County, Alabama. It is part of the Mobile Campaign and pits 45,000 Union attackers against 4,000 Confederate defenders. This battle marks the last combined-force engagement of the Civil War.
April 2, 1865
The Battle of Selma takes place in Selma, Alabama. It is a Union victory for General James Wilson and a defeat for Confederate General Nathan Forrest. Strength is 9,000 to 4,000, respectively. Confederate forces suffer mightily as some 2,700 are taken prisoner (General Forrest manages to escape capture).
April 4, 1865
Union forces take Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the Battle of Tuscaloosa. It is captured by General John Croxton.
April 8, 1865
The Battle of Spanish Fort concludes as a Union victory.
April 12, 1865
Union forces take Mobile, Alabama.
May 4, 1865
Citronelle, Alabama is the site of a Confederate Army surrender to Union forces. General Richard Taylor directs the Confederates. Union General Edward Canby presides over the event.
