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President Lincoln in 1864 Library of Congress Lincoln Presidential Timeline Abraham Lincoln's career as America's 16th president spanned about four years, from March 4, 1861 to his murder on April 15, 1865, by a Confederate sympathizer. Long before entering Washington, Lincoln's life was in danger; his entire presidency was marked by civil war and contentious conditions. A prodigious worker, President Lincoln wrote his own masterful speeches, managed a vast military conflict, and conducted domestic and foreign matters with a miniscule staff. He often walked unguarded through Washington to meet with officials and traveled periodically to see armies and commanders in the field. Despite his lack of executive experience, he maintained the Union and Constitution while helping to destroy slavery. Little wonder, then, that he casts a long shadow which still dwarfs his successors. This timeline offers some highlights of Lincoln's presidency. For a comprehensive list, consult the Lincoln Log, a daily chronology of Lincoln's life. Timeline MARCH 4, 1861 Inaugurated as first Republican president and gives his inaugural address APRIL 15, 1861 Calls for 75,000 state militia after Fort Sumter falls to Southern secessionists APRIL 19, 1861 Proclaims a blockade of ports in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas MAY 25, 1861 Holds a White House funeral for Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, who was assassinated in Virginia JUNE 3, 1861 Orders a 30-day mourning period for political rival Stephen A. Douglas who died at age 48 JULY 4, 1861 His message to Congress about the war is read in the US Capitol JULY 21, 1861 Hears about the Union army defeat at the battle of Bull Run (Mansassas) AUGUST 3, 1861 Hosts a White House dinner for Prince Napoleon of France OCTOBER 21, 1861 Learns of the death of close friend Colonel Edward Baker, killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff NOVEMBER 1, 1861 Places General George B. McClellan in command of Union troops, succeeding General Winfield Scott DECEMBER 3, 1861 His Annual Message is read before both houses of Congress DECEMBER 25, 1861 Reaches agreement on "Trent" affair, an international naval incident JANUARY 13, 1862 Nominates Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War, replacing Simon Cameron JANUARY 21, 1862 Nominates Noah H. Swayne of Ohio as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice FEBRUARY 20, 1862 His third-born son, William Wallace Lincoln, dies at age 11 in the White House MAY 5-12, 1862 Visits Fort Monroe and participates in attack on Norfolk, Virginia MAY 15, 1862 Approves the establishment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture MAY 20, 1862 Approves the Homestead Act, giving homesteads to settlers on government lands MAY 22-23, 1862 Visits Fredericksburg, Virginia to meet with General McDowell and Colonel Haupt JUNE 24, 1862 Visits West Point, New York, to meet with General Winfield Scott JULY 2, 1862 Signs the Pacific Railroad Act and Morrill Land Act JULY 11, 1862 Appoints General Henry W. Halleck as commander-in-chief of the Union armies JULY 16, 1862 Nominates Samuel F. Miller of Iowa as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice JULY 22, 1862 Reads the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet AUGUST 22, 1862 Writes a famous letter about emancipation to Horace Greeley AUGUST 29, 1862 Learns of the Union loss at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) SEPTEMBER 17, 1862 Briefed on the Battle of Antietam Creek, which stopped General Lee's invading army SEPTEMBER 22, 1862 Reads the second draft of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet OCTOBER 1-4, 1862 Visits Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and the Antietam battlefield OCTOBER 17, 1862 Nominates David Davis of Illinois as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice NOVEMBER 5, 1862 Replaces General McClellan with Major General Ambrose Burnside DECEMBER 1, 1862 His Annual Message is read before both houses of Congress DECEMBER 12, 1862 Hears of disastrous Union loss at Fredericksburg, Virginia DECEMBER 31, 1862 Approves the Congressional act admitting West Virginia to the Union JANUARY 1, 1863 Signs the Emancipation Proclamation, which frees slaves in certain Southern jurisdictions JANUARY 8, 1863 Appoints John Usher as Secretary of the Interior, replacing the ailing Caleb Smith JANUARY 25, 1863 Replaces General Burnside with Major General Joseph Hooker FEBRUARY 21, 1863 Nominates Stephen J. Field of California as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice FEBRUARY 25, 1863 Approves the National Currency Act, creating a national banking system APRIL 4-10; 19, 1862 Visits General Hooker and Union army near Fredericksburg and Aquia Creek, Virginia MAY 5, 1862 Learns of the Union army loss under General Hooker at Chancellorsville, Virginia JUNE 27, 1863 Replaces General Hooker with Major General George Meade JULY 4, 1863 Announces the battlefield victory at Gettysburg; Vicksburg surrenders to General Grant JULY 13, 1863 Responds to mob violence in New York City where draft riots rage for several days AUGUST 26, 1863 Sends a now-famous letter to James Conkling to read at a Union rally OCTOBER 3, 1863 Issues proclamation for a national day of thanksgiving OCTOBER 17, 1863 Calls for 300,000 Union volunteers, inspiring a song in the process NOVEMBER 19, 1863 Gives the Gettysburg Address at the cemetery dedication in Pennsylvania DECEMBER 9, 1863 His Annual Message is read before both houses of Congress MARCH 9, 1864 Commissions General Ulysses Grant as Lieutenant General; appoints him commander-in-chief on March 10 APRIL 18, 1864 Speaks at the Baltimore, Maryland Sanitary Commission Fair to benefit soldiers JUNE 8, 1864 The National Union Party renominates him for the presidency with Andrew Johnson as his running mate JUNE 16, 1864 Speaks at the U.S. Sanitary Commission Fair in Philadelphia to benefit soldiers JUNE 21-22, 1864 Meets with General Grant at his headquarters in City Point, Virginia JUNE 30, 1864 Accepts resignation of Salmon Chase, Secretary of the Treasury; appoints William Fessenden on July 1 JULY 11-12, 1864 Visits Ft. Stevens and narrowly misses sniper fire in a Confederate raid on Washington JULY 18, 1864 Issues a call for 500,000 Union army volunteers AUGUST 18, 1864 Speaks at Sanitary Commission Fair in Baltimore to benefit soldiers AUGUST 29, 1864 Lincoln's former Union commander, George McClellan, receives the Democrat party presidential nomination SEPTEMBER 3, 1864 Orders celebration for victories at Atlanta, Georgia and Mobile, Alabama SEPTEMBER 4, 1864 Appoints William Dennison, Jr. as Postmaster General, replacing Montgomery Blair OCTOBER 15, 1864 Attends the Washington funeral of Roger B. Taney, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice OCTOBER 22, 1864 Telegraphs congratulations to General Philip Sheridan on his Shenandoah Valley campaign OCTOBER 31, 1864 Approves admittance of Nevada into the Union NOVEMBER 8, 1864 Easily wins re-election over Democrat George McClellan DECEMBER 2, 1864 Appoints James Speed as Attorney General, replacing Edwin Bates DECEMBER 6, 1864 His Annual Message is read before both houses of Congress DECEMBER 6, 1864 Nominates Salmon P. Chase of Ohio as U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice FEBRUARY 1, 1865 Approves the resolution submitting the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery FEBRUARY 3, 1865 Meets with Confederate peace commissioners at Hampton Roads, Virginia MARCH 4, 1865 Inaugurated for a second term and gives his inaugural address MARCH 6, 1865 Appoints Hugh McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury, replacing William Dennison, Jr. MARCH 24-APRIL 8, 1865 Visits General Grant at City Point; enters Richmond, Virginia, after Union forces take possession APRIL 11, 1865 Gives his last public address to a crowd on the White House lawn APRIL 15, 1865 Dies at age 56 after being shot by John Wilkes Booth during a play at Ford's Theatre Timeline Sources: The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler and others; Lincoln Day by Day edited by Earl Miers

Document Resources Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (ALA) Guide to Lincoln Research Collections (USC) Lincoln Collection (LOC) Lincoln Historical Digitization Project (NIU) Commentary/Context Abraham Lincoln and Agriculture (NAL) Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime (Heritage Foundation) Abraham Lincoln and the Politics of the Civil War (ExplorePA) Abraham Lincoln and the Triumph of an Antislavery Nationalism (JALA) "Abraham Lincoln's Invention of Presidential War Powers" (YouTube) A House Divided: America in the Age of Lincoln (CHM/GLI) Domestic Affairs in the Lincoln Administration (UVa) "For a Vast Future Also: Lincoln and the Millenium" (NEH) Foreign Affairs in the Lincoln Administration (UVa) His Loyal Opposition: Lincoln's Border States' Critics (JALA) Key Events in Lincoln's Presidency (UVa) Learning from Lincoln (GLI) Lincoln and Abolitionism (History Now) Lincoln and Daniel Webster (JISHS) Lincoln and the Declaration of Independence (WSJ) Lincoln and the Union Governors Revisited (ALI) Lincoln and the Will of God (First Things) Lincoln as a Naval War Leader (ALI) Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief (McPherson/LOC Webcast) Lincoln as the Indispensable Man (ALI) Lincoln: Private Man, Public Leader (Drake U.) Lincoln, Race, Equality and the Spirit of '76 (LOC Webcast) Lincoln's Critics: The Copperheads (JALA) Lincoln's Interpretation of the Civil War (History Now) Lincoln's Leadership (LOC Webcast) Lincoln's Legacy (Guelzo/YouTube) Lincoln's Legacy (McPherson/W&LU) Lincoln's Power of the Negative (WSJ) Lincoln's Religion (GLI) Lincoln's Sacred Effort: The Role of Providence in Political Leadership (GLI) Lincoln's Triumph (GC/YouTube) Lincoln's View of Political Persuasion (JALA) Lincoln/Net (NIU) Mr. Lincoln and the Founders (TLI) Mr. Lincoln and Freedom (TLI) Mr. Lincoln and Friends (TLI) President Lincoln's Humor (C-SPAN) Seeking God's Will: President Lincoln and Rev. Dr. Gurley (JALA) The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln (JALA) The Presidential Pardon Records of the Lincoln Administration (JALA) Why Lincoln Appointed Political Generals (ALI) Special Topics Lincoln and Emancipation -- A Summary* Lincoln and Gettysburg Timeline* Lincoln Assassination Links* Lincoln's Inaugurations* Lincoln's Supreme Court* Lincoln's U.S. Capitol Rites* Lincoln's White House Funeral* Lincoln's White House Viewing* 1860 Election 1860 Nomination for President (GAH) Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860 (ALC) Campaigns and Elections/1860 (UVA) Jesse W. Fell and the Lincoln Autobiography (JALA) Lincoln and Hamlin Banners (LOC) Lincoln-Hamlin Campaign Banner* Lincoln Campaign Banner (KSHS) Lincolniana -- Lincoln is Notified of His Nomination (JISHS) Map of the 1860 Presidential Election (APP) Oglesby's Fence Rail Dealings and the 1860 Decatur Convention (JISHS) Presidential Election of 1860: A Resource Guide (LOC) The British Press Reacts to Lincoln's Election (JISHS) The Campaign of the Century (NIU) The Presidential Election of 1860 (NIU) The Wide Awakes and Lincoln's 1860 Presidential Campaign (JAH) Views of the Wigwam Convention (JALA) 1864 Election Campaigns and Elections/1864 (UVa) Lincoln, Grant and the 1864 Election (NPS) "Lincoln's Reelection" by Noah Brooks (Cornell U) Map of the 1864 Presidential Election (APP) McClellan and Seymour in the Chicago Convention of 1864 (JISHS) The Founding Fathers and the Election of 1864 (JALA) The Unwanted Mr. Lincoln (JISHS) Places Ford's Theatre (NPS) Fort Stevens (NPS) Gettysburg* Harpers Ferry (NPS) Lincoln Cottage Mr. Lincoln's White House (LI) New York Avenue Presbyterian Church* St. John's Episcopal Church* U.S. Capitol* U.S. Capitol Photo Tour* White House (NPS) Wills House* Books Behind the Scenes by Elizabeth Keckley (UMich) Books about Lincoln's Presidency* Ernest B. Furgurson on "Freedom Rising" (LOC Webcast) Doris Kearns Goodwin on "Team of Rivals" (LOC Podcast) Lincoln and Seward by Gideon Welles (MOA) Dean Mahin Interview: "One War at a Time"* Ronald C. White, Jr. Interview: Lincoln's Eloquence* Douglas Wilson Interview: "Lincoln's Sword"* Nineteenth Century Lincoln-Related Publications (MOA) Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln (MOA) The Life and Public Services of Abraham Lincoln (MOA) Selected Speeches and Writings First Inaugural Address, 1861* Letter to the Ellsworths, 1861* Meditation on the Divine Will, 1862* Letter to Horace Greeley, 1862* Concluding Remarks/Annual Message to Congress, 1862* Letter to Fanny McCullough, 1862* Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 * Letter to Major General Joseph Hooker, 1863* Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day, 1863* Letter to Erastus Corning and Others, 1863* Response to a Serenade, 1863* Letter to General Grant, 1863* Letter to James C. Conkling, 1863* The Gettysburg Address, 1863* Letter to Edward Everett, 1863* Letter to Albert G. Hodges, 1864* Speeches to Ohio Regiments, 1864* Letter to Mrs. Eliza P. Gurney, 1864* Letter to Mrs. Bixby, 1864* Second Inaugural Address, 1865* Last Public Address, 1865* Other Timelines Lincoln and Gettysburg Timeline* Lincoln Early Life Timeline* Lincoln Family Timeline* Lincoln Legal Career Timeline* Lincoln Pre-Presidential Political Timeline* Lincoln Tomb Timeline* Mary Todd Lincoln Timeline* Robert Todd Lincoln Timeline* *Indicates pages created by Abraham Lincoln Online

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