Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Saturday, February 11, 1865 : General Sherman (U.S.) cuts off Augusta from Charleston by cutting the Augusta-Georgia railway. One of the Confederates few remaining armies is based in Charleston, and it is in danger of being surrounded. Sunday, February 12, 1865 : Lincoln is declared president by the electoral college by a margin of 212 to 21. Ex-slave and minister, Henry Highland Garnet becomes the first black person to address the U.S. House of Representatives. He spoke on the ending of slavery. General Sherman’s (U.S.) men push back the Confederate forces at Orangeburg, South Carolina and begin to destroy the railway there and set fire to the town. By the end of the day, nearly half the town, is destroyed by the fire. In North Carolina, Wilmington’s days were also numbered. About 6,600 Confederate troops under Major General Robert Hoke held Fort Anderson (CSA) and a line of works that prevents the Federals from advancing up the Cape Fear River. Major General John Schofield (U.S.) takes command of the Union forces, and now begins a series of maneuvers to try to force, the Confederates to abandon their defenses. About 20 miles north of Lewisburg, Arkansas, a Yankee column of 100 men attack the guerrilla Capt. Jeff Williams (CSA) at his home and terminate his existence on this earth. Monday, February 13, 1865 : General Forrest ordered all the Tennessee troops in his command to report to Brigadier General William Hicks Jackson, for consolidation into six regiments, comprising of two brigades. Sherman’s men are now near the Congaree River, in South Carolina. Richmond Whig newspaper, quotes General Forrest as being in favor of arming 200,000 black soldiers, but he also says, he desires peace and is tired of scenes of blood. The New York Times reports: “A mass meeting takes place in Richmond with much discussion of the question of arming and freeing slaves, the point being that the white population is nearly exhausted, and the South must now make new sacrifices for independence.” Tuesday, February 14, 1865 : Fighting continues at Gunter’s Bridge on the North Edisto River in South Carolina as Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) crosses the Congaree River, and now both wings of Sherman’s troops head towards Columbia, South Carolina. President Jefferson Davis (CSA) urges the defenders of Charleston, to hold on until the last possible moment. Wednesday, February 15, 1865 : There is fighting along the Congaree Creek, Savannah Creek, at Bates Ferry, Red Bank Creek, and Two League Cross Roads in South Carolina, as Sherman’s (U.S.) army approached Columbia. Acting Master, William Earle (U.S.) of the U.S.S. Merrimac , is abandoning his ship in a sinking condition at sea, off the coast of Florida, in the Gulf Stream. The tiller had broken in a gale, and the pumps could not keep the ship free of water, and two boilers had given out. Having fought for 24 hours to save his ship, Earle finally orders her abandon. The mail steamer Morning Star , has been standing by the disabled gunboat for several hours and rescues the crew. Thursday, February 16, 1865 : Union troops begin to shell Columbia with cannon fire, and General Beauregard (CSA) pulls his men out. Meanwhile, General Hardee (CSA) prepares to evacuate Charleston. On the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, Jacob Cox’s (U.S.) division ferries across the river to confront Fort Anderson (CSA), while Porter’s (U.S.) gunboats bombarded the fort. A Confederate Cavalry attacks the Union garrisons at Athens and Sweet Water, Tennessee, 45 miles below Knoxville, with the Rebels capturing both garrisons.