Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Saturday, April 29, 1865 : On the Cumberland River near Eddyville, Kentucky the U.S.S. Moose captured a Confederate raiding party numbering about 200 Confederates under the command of Brig. General Abram Burford. Sunday, April 30, 1865 : President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train arrives in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the eight suspects in the Lincoln’s assassination plot U.S. Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton favors a quick military trial and execution. According to U.S. Secretary of Navy, Gideon Welles, he favors a trial in a civilian court, Stanton “said it was intention that the criminals should be tried and executed, before President Lincoln was buried.” They will get a military trial. Suspects Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, are first jailed at the Old Capitol Prison, located in the compound of what is today, Fort McNair. This will also be the site, of their trial by a military tribunal, which will not return its verdict until June 30, 1865. The other six were imprisoned on the ironclad vessels U.S.S. Montauk and U.S.S. Saugus , but soon will also be moved to Old Capitol Prison. Major General, Edward R. S. Canby (U.S.) meets with Lieut. General Richard Taylor (CSA) near Mobile, Alabama to agree upon an end to hostilities, and the surrender of the remaining Confederate forces in Alabama and Mississippi. Monday, May 1, 1865 : The first widely-publicized observance of a Memorial Day-type observance after the Civil War, was in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 1, 1865. During the war, Union soldiers who were prisoners of war, had been held at the Hampton Park Race Course in Charleston; at least 257 Union prisoners died there, and were hastily buried in unmarked graves. Together with teachers and missionaries, black residents of Charleston organized a May Day ceremony in 1865, which was covered by the New York Tribune and other national papers. The freedmen, cleaned up and landscaped the burial ground, building an enclosure and an arch labeled “Martyrs of the Race Course.” Nearly 10,000 people, mostly freedmen, gathered on May 1 to commemorate the war dead. President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train arrives in Chicago, Illinois, where his body lies in state at the courthouse. General Assembly of the State of Tennessee places a $5,000 reward on former Governor Isham G. Harris for treason. (It is a little late as Ex-Governor Isham Harris by this time has made his way to Mexico and will end up in Liverpool, England, until this reward was rescinded and charges of treason dropped before, he would return to Tennessee. When he did return in 1867, he took up the practice of law in Memphis, and served as U.S. Senator from 1877 to his death in 1897). Tuesday, May 2, 1865 : President Jefferson Davis and his entourage, arrives at Abbeville, South Carolina, headed for Washington, Georgia. President Andrew Johnston puts a $100,000 reward out for the capture of Davis. The Confederate Navy turns over their cargo of bullion (The Confederate Treasury) and archives to Davis Escort commander, Brig. General Basil Duke, and disbands. Confederate Secretary of the Navy, Stephen R. Mallory, officially resigns and leaves for La Grange, Georgia. In Tennessee, Major General Rousseau (U.S.) offers “flags of truce to all bands of guerrillas, horse thieves, and other armed outlaws that may be within reach of my command” Rousseau also tells General Milroy (U.S.) “The men already in your stockade are not included.” Wednesday, May 3, 1865 : President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train reaches its final destination of Springfield, Illinois. Joseph “Joe” Brown, Governor of Georgia, calls a meeting of the state legislature, when word reaches him of General Joe Johnston’s (CSA) surrender.