Chronological History of the American Civil War

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President Jefferson Davis’ (CSA) entourage continues to dwindle, as Confederate Secretary of State, Judah P. Benjamin, resigns and flees, eventually reaching England. When ask about continuing the fight, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest replies, “Any man who is in favor of a further prosecution of this war is a fit subject for a lunatic asylum, and ought to be sent there immediately.” Thursday, May 4, 1965 : President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, is laid to rest after returning to his hometown of Springfield. Illinois. Just 40 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, Lieut. General Richard Taylor (CSA) surrenders 42,000 Confederate forces of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana at Citronelle, Alabama, to Major General Edward Richard Canby (U.S.). Friday, May 5, 1865 : Still on the run President Jefferson Davis and the few remnants of Confederate political authority, arrives at Sandersville, Georgia. Skirmishes continue with guerrillas in the Perche Hills, Missouri and near Summerville, Georgia. In the Nebraska Territory, Indians attack a wagon train, near Mullahla’s Station. Connecticut becomes the 20th state, to ratify the 13th amendment, which will abolish slavery. General Grant (U.S.) establishes May 20th, as a deadline for all guerrilla fighters to surrender and be paroled; afterwards they would be considered outlaws. Saturday, May 6, 1865 : Major General David Hunter (U.S.) is appointed to head the trial commission, of those accused of assassinating President Abraham Lincoln, in Washington, D.C.. In Tennessee by order of Major General C. C. Washburn: “Confederate officers returning to this district paroled from the armies of Lee, Johnston, and Taylor will not be allowed to wear their uniform or any badge reminding of their treason. Paroled enlisted men, or those who have taken the amnesty oath, will be required to divest themselves of their rebel uniforms as soon as they can procure other clothing, and they are given thirty days from the time of their coming into the district to do this.” Sunday, May 7, 1865 : In Kingsville, Missouri at 3:00 a. m., 110 Confederate guerrillas ride into the town. They proceed to sack the town, and burn down 5 houses. Eight citizens, are killed and 2 are wounded. In Kentucky, the most wanted guerrilla leader William Quantrill, is in hiding. Sometimes a man and his horse are inseparable, like two machines that works well together. Quantrill’s horse is injured and unrideable, while being re-shoed. He said, “That means my work is done. My career is ruin. Death is coming, and my end is near.” The terror of Kansas, was now just a cowering murderer, being hunted down in Kentucky. Also still on the run ex-Confederate President, Jefferson Davis is reunited with his wife, Varina, and their children. Together they move on through Abbeville, in Wilcox County, Georgia. Major General William T. Sherman’s (U.S.) army continues their march northward to Washington, D.C.. This time not for battle, but for a victory parade, the final Grand Review of his army. Monday, May 8, 1865 : In Bolivar, Tennessee, seventeen year old Sally Wendel Fentress has reconsidered her earlier harsh comments about the assassination of Lincoln. She writes in her diary: “Papers of a late date give an account of Mr. Lincoln’s funeral. Everything went off in grand style. His death was, as bad, the worst blow the South has ever sustained. Although I am not an admirer of Mr. Lincoln yet, I still deplore his loss to the people of the North. He was always so much more lenient to his fellow countrymen…than any other Northerner. But it may be for the better that this great tragedy has been enacted at the closing scenes of this bloody