Civil War

Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated.

1861

January 23

Elected major general, Mississippi militia

February 1

Arrives in Vicksburg; leaves for Brierfield

February 9

Elected president of the Confederate States

February 11

Speaks at Vicksburg and Jackson

February 12

Resigns general's commission

February 13

Leaves Jackson

February 16

Arrives at Montgomery, Alabama

February 18

Inaugurated as president of the Confederacy; sworn in on front portico of the Alabama capitol

March 1

Varina Davis and children arrive at Montgomery, settle in First White House of the Confederacy

March 4

Abraham Lincoln inaugurated

March 11

Congress ratifies Confederate Constitution

April 12

P. G. T. Beauregard fires on Fort Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina

May 26

Leaves Montgomery for Richmond, Virginia

May 29

Arrives in Richmond

May 31

Meets with Governor John Letcher, Beauregard, and Robert E. Lee

June 1

Meets Varina Davis and family at station; visits city defenses; confers with Letcher; speaks

June 16

Visits Manassas Junction, Virginia

June 27

With Lee, visits Virginia convention

July 21

Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run), Virginia; Davis takes train to Manassas, arriving after the battle; tours grounds, addresses troops, and telegraphs news to Richmond; Joseph E. Davis and family arrive in Richmond for visit

July 22

Confers with J. E. Johnston and Beauregard

July 23

Returns to Richmond

August 1

Moves into executive mansion

August 10

Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri

August 26-September 6

Confined to home by illness

September 30

Leaves for Fairfax Court House, Virginia

October 2

Confers with Beauregard, Johnston, and Gustavus W. Smith

October 3

Reviews troops; leaves for Richmond; Varina Davis and children have carriage accident

October 4

Arrives in Richmond

October 21

Battle of Ball's Bluff (Leesburg), Virginia

[October 30]

Writes reply to Beauregard's Manassas report

November 6

Election day

November 18

Sends address on the nation to Congress

December 6

Son William Howell Davis born

1862

January 19

Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky

January 21

Attends funeral of John Tyler

February 6

Fort Henry, Tennessee, surrenders

February 16

Fort Donelson, Tennessee, surrenders

February 20

Meets with J. E. Johnston

February 21

Writes Joseph E. Davis about recent occurrences

February 22

Inaugurated president; hosts reception, 8-11 p.m.

February 25

Sends state of the nation address to Congress

March 7-8

Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas

March 9

USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimack) fight to a draw in Hampton Roads, Virginia

March 21

Travels to army on the Potomac

March 22

Confers with Lee at Gordonsville and with Johnston in Fredericksburg; returns to Richmond

March 31

Meets with Johnston

April 2

Confers with Johnston and Lee

April 6-7

Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, where Davis's close friend Albert Sidney Johnston is killed

April 8

Island No. 10 off of New Madrid, Missouri, surrenders

April 12

With Lee and aides, rides toward York River Railroad station and returns; confers with Johnston

April 14

Meets with Lee, Johnston, G. W. Smith, James Longstreet, and George W. Randolph

April 24

David G. Farragut passes the forts below New Orleans, Louisiana; city taken by end of the month

May 6

Baptized and confirmed in Episcopal faith at St. Paul's Church, Richmond

May 9

Norfolk, Virginia, evacuated

May 10

Varina Davis and children leave for Raleigh, North Carolina

May 12

With Lee, visits Johnston's headquarters

May 13

Returns to Richmond

May 15 & 16

Rides to Drewry's Bluff, Virginia (site of May 15 battle)

May 17

Tours Richmond defensive lines; confers with Johnston

[May 24]

[Confers with Johnston in Richmond]

May [30]

Writes Varina Davis about military situation

May 31

Tours Seven Pines battlefield with W. P. Johnston and Joseph C. Ives; confers with G. W. Smith and Lee

June 1

With Lee, Letcher, Randolph, and W. P. Johnston, meets with generals on battlefield; visits J. E. Johnston

June [4-5]

Visits Rose O. Greenhow

June 15

Travels to Raleigh, North Carolina

June 18

Returns to Richmond

June 19

Writes Varina Davis about trip and about concern for the family

June 24

Visits Lee's headquarters

June 26-July 1

Present near battlefields during Seven Days' campaign

July 2

Visits Lee's headquarters; meets Stonewall Jackson

July [c8-27]

Varina Davis visits from Raleigh

July 13

Meets with Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, and other generals

August [15-20]

Varina Davis returns to Richmond

August 28-30

Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run), Virginia

September 3

Lee writes of his intention to march into Maryland

September 17

Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Maryland

September 22

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation announced

October 3-4

Battle of Corinth, Mississippi

October 8

Battle of Perryville, Kentucky

October 26-27

Confers with Braxton Bragg

November 3

Meets with E. Kirby Smith

December 7

Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas

December 9

Leaves Richmond for western tour

December 11

Speaks at Knoxville; arrives in Chattanooga

December 12

Arrives in Murfreesboro via Bridgeport and Dechard Station

December 13

Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia

December 14

Returns to Chattanooga, Tennessee

December 15

Leaves Chattanooga, accompanied by Joseph E. Johnston

December 17

Arrives in Montgomery, Alabama; meets with Governor John Gill Shorter; leaves for Mississippi

December 19

Arrives in Jackson; leaves for Vicksburg

December 20-22

Surveys Vicksburg defenses

December 25

Travels to Jackson with Johnston and John C. Pemberton

December 26

Addresses legislature in Jackson

December 29

Leaves Jackson

December 30

Arrives in Mobile, Alabama; reviews troops; speaks

December 31-January 2

Battle of Stones River, Tennessee

1863

January 1

Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect; Galveston, Texas, retaken by Confederates

January 4

Arrives in Richmond

January 16

Confers with Robert E. Lee

February [8-22]

Ill at home

March [5-8]

Ill at home

March [11-18]

Confers with Lee in Richmond

March [13-14]

Varina Davis leaves for Montgomery, Alabama

April 2

Makes impromptu speech during Richmond bread riot

April [7-22]

Ill at home

April 14

Varina Davis returns to Richmond

May 1-4

Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia

May 6

Confers with James Longstreet

May [7-11]

Ill at home

May 10

Stonewall Jackson dies

May 11-12

Attends Jackson's funeral ceremonies

May [14-17]

Confers with Lee in Richmond

May 16

Battle of Champion Hill, Mississippi; Pemberton retreats into Vicksburg and is invested by the 18th

May 18-19

Ill at home

June 19

Meets with Rose O. Greenhow before her departure for Europe (see Greenhow's letter to Davis, July 16)

July [1-8]

Ill at home

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

July 4

Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, ends in surrender

July 9

Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, ends in surrender

August [24]-September [7]

Consults with Lee in Richmond

September 19-20

Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia

October-November

Inspects Braxton Bragg's army near Chattanooga, then makes tour with numerous public appearances through Alabama, eastern Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, returning to Richmond on November 7 (see speeches at Missionary Ridge and Wilmington)

November 19

Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address

November 21-24

Consults with Lee at Orange Court House, Virginia

November 21-24

Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee

December 14-15

Meets with Lee in Richmond

1864

January 20

Family discovers fire, apparently intentionally set, in basement of the White House

February 20

Battle of Olustee, Florida

February 24-25

Confers with Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia

March 14

Meets with Lee, Braxton Bragg, and James A. Seddon in the morning; group joined by James Longstreet in the afternoon

April 8

Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana

April 30

Son Joseph Evan Davis killed by fall from White House balcony

May 2

Sends major message to Congress

May 5-6

Battle of the Wilderness

May 7

William T. Sherman begins march toward Atlanta, Georgia

May 8-21

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia

May 14, 16

Consults with P. G. T. Beauregard at Drewry's Bluff

May 23-26

Battle of North Anna, Virginia

May 29

Visits Lee at Atlee Station, Virginia

June 1-3

Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia

June 3, 5

Tours Confederate lines near Gaines's Mill

June 8

Inspects defenses at Bottom's Bridge

June 18

Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, begins

June 19

USS Kearsarge sinks CSS Alabama off of Cherbourg, France

June 27

Daughter Varina Anne Davis (Winnie) born

July 17

Replaces Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood in command of the Army of Tennessee

July 22

Battle of Atlanta, Georgia

August 5

Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama

August 6

Consults with Lee

August [16 or 17]

Nearly led into Union lines while visiting army near Petersburg

September 1

Atlanta evacuated

September 3

Meets with Lee and Bragg in Richmond

September 14

Confers with Lee, though "quite unwell"

September 20

Departs Richmond; consults with Beauregard at Burkeville

September 21

Speaks at Greensboro, Salisbury, and Charlotte

September 22

Arrives at Augusta; speaks twice

September 23

Arrives Macon; speaks; visits Howell Cobb

September 25

Arrives headquarters, Army of Tennessee, near Palmetto, Georgia

September 26

Reviews troops with Hood; speaks; meets with Ben Lane Posey; meets with William J. Hardee

September 27

Confers with S. D. Lee and A. P. Stewart; departs for Montgomery

September 28

Arrives Montgomery

September 29

Addresses Alabama legislature; converses with Richard Taylor

September 30

Leaves Montgomery; speaks in Columbus

October 2

Arrives in Augusta

October 3

Speaks in Augusta; confers with Beauregard

October 4

Speaks in Columbia

October 5

Speaks in Salisbury and Greensboro

October 6

Returns to Richmond; confers with Lee at Chaffin's Bluff

October 9

Attends funeral services for John Gregg

October 16

Meets with Lee at Chaffin's Bluff; travels back to Richmond with Walter H. Taylor

October 18

Meets with John S. Preston and Samuel Cooper

November [1-10]

Confers with William H. Thomas

November 8

Confers with James A. Seddon; later meets with Virginia delegation

November [10]

Meets with Hugh L. Clay

November 10

Meets with David Clopton and Francis S. Lyon

November [13]

Meets with Caroline Barton

November 14

Street conversation with several members of Congress

November 15

Sherman leaves Atlanta on his "March to the Sea"

November [19]

With Seddon, talks with six members of Georgia delegation

November 30

Battle of Franklin, Tennessee

December 4

Attends funeral of Angus W. McDonald

December 6

Visits with William N. Pendleton and Seddon

December [5-21]

Ill with neuralgia

December 14

Attends wedding of William B. Tabb and Emily S. Rutherfoord

December 15

Gustavus A. Henry calls on Davis at home

December 15-16

Battle of Nashville, Tennessee

December 25

Attends services and orphans' Christmas party at St. Paul's, and party at neighbor's home

December 26

Confers with Williamson S. Oldham

December 28

Meets with Josiah Gorgas

December [29 or 30]

Confers with Duff Green

1865

January 2

Hosts public reception at White House

January 3

Meets with James G. Martin

[January 4

Meets with William T. Wofford and Warren Akin]

January 5

Confers with Gorgas

January 9

Interview with South Carolina delegation and with Akin

[January 9]

Meets with Georgia delegation; confers with William A. Graham

January 12 and 14

Meets with Francis Preston Blair, Sr.

January 15

Fort Fisher, North Carolina, captured

January [16-18]

Meets with Raphael Semmes

January [17-24]

Conversation with Duncan K. McRae

January 20

Converses with Thomas Bocock

[January 21]

Meets with Blair

January 22

Meets with Blair

January 24

Confers with A. W. Aston

January 25

Meets with Governor William Smith and Michael G. Harman

January 27

Has breakfast with Graham and long interview with Alexander H. Stephens

January 28

Meets with Stephens and with William J. Bromwell

[January 31-February 14]

Suffers from neuralgia

[February 1]

Meets with North Carolina legislative committee

February [1-8]

Confers with Oldham and Waldo P. Johnson

[February 2

Meets with Stephen F. Cameron]

February 6

Speaks at African Church

[February 8

Meets with Roswell S. Ripley]

February 20

Confers with Virginia delegation and with Jeremy F. Gilmer

February 23

Travels with John C. Breckinridge to Camp Lee; addresses returned prisoners of war

February 25

Meets with Virginia legislative committee, with Graham, and with Gorgas

February 26

Confers with Breckinridge, Lee, and James Longstreet

February 27

Inspects Camp Lee with Breckinridge and Lee; speaks

February 28

Converses with Dr. William A. Smith and James A. Duncan

[late February

Meets with Frank Stringfellow]

March [2-3]

Meets with Graham, R. M. T. Hunter, and James L. Orr

[March 8

Conversation with Graham]

March 11

With Varina Davis, visits George A. Trenholm

March 12

Long meeting with Breckinridge and Judah P. Benjamin

March 13

Entertains Thomas Conolly at White House in evening

March 18

Meets with Lee and John Goode and later confers with Virginia representatiaves, cabinet, and Lee

March 19-21

Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina

March 19

Baptism of Varina Anne Davis at St. Paul's

March 20

Visits with Conolly at home of William G. O. Allen and later at White House

[March 24-April 1]

Confers with T. H. Holmes

April 1

Battle of Five Forks, Virginia

April 2

Receives word before and during church service that Lee cannot hold Petersburg and Richmond; leaves Richmond

April 3

Arrives in Danville, guest of William T. Sutherlin

April 10

News reaches Danville of Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia (April 9); departs Danville

April 11

Arrives in Greensboro; confers with Beauregard

April 12-13

Meets with Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston

April 14

Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre

April 15

Leaves Greensboro; spends night at Jamestown

April 16

Spends night at Lexington

April 17

Spends night at Salisbury; [converses with John W. Headley and Robert M. Martin]

April 18

Spends night near Concord, guest of Victor C. Barringer

April 19

Arrives in Charlotte; speaks

[April 23-25

Meets with Zebulon B. Vance]

April 26

Leaves Charlotte; spends night at Fort Mill, South Carolina; Johnston finalizes surrender of Army of Tennessee

[April 27

Spends night at Yorkville]

April 28

Crosses Broad River at Scaife's Ferry; crosses Tyger River

April 29

Crosses Saluda River at Swancey's Ferry

May 1

Spends night at Cokesbury

May 2-3

In Abbeville, South Carolina

May 3

Arrives at Washington, Georgia

May 5

Camps near Sandersville, Georgia

May 6

Reunites with family near Dublin, Georgia

May 7

Camps near Dublin

May 8

Spends night near Abbeville, Georgia

May 9

Reunites with family near Irwinville, Georgia

May 10

Captured

May 13

Caravan of Federal troops escorting prisoner Davis and his family reaches Macon; meets with James H. Wilson

May 14

Travels via Atlanta to Augusta; leaves for Savannah

May 16

Arrives in Savannah; sails for Fort Monroe

May 19

Aboard William P. Clyde near Fort Monroe

May 22

Incarcerated in Fort Monroe