Ulysses S. Grant

Grant launched a surprise attack against the Confederate camp at Belmont on November 7, 1861, to disrupt Confederate troop movements into Missouri.

Grant advanced on Paducah, Kentucky, taking the city without a fight on September 6, 1861, after Confederates moved into western Kentucky.

General Johnston moved forces to Nashville after deeming Fort Donelson untenable.

Union forces invested Fort Donelson, leading to its capture and the Confederate surrender in February 1862.

Johnston launched a surprise attack on Grant's unaware forces at Shiloh on April 6, 1862.

Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed early in the battle on April 6, 1862.

Union forces under Sherman disembarked at Johnson's Plantation on the Yazoo River to approach Vicksburg defenses from the northeast.

The battle resulted in a lopsided Confederate victory with significant Union casualties, despite Union numerical superiority.

Grant issued General Order No. 11 on December 17, 1862, expelling Jews as a class from his military district to curb corruption and illicit trade.

The order was fully implemented in Paducah, Kentucky, where thirty Jewish families were forcibly expelled from the city.

Confederate troops led by Major General Earl Van Dorn raided Holly Springs, preventing the potential expulsion of more Jews.

President Lincoln responded by countermanding the order on January 4, 1863, after receiving a delegation from expelled Jewish merchants.

Union gunboats bombarded Fort Henry, leading to its surrender on February 6, 1862, before Grant's infantry arrived.

Union forces captured Jackson, Mississippi, on May 14, 1863, defeating Confederate troops and forcing a withdrawal.

Union forces defended Brown's Ferry against Confederate attacks on October 28–29, 1863, securing the supply line.

Joseph Hooker assaulted Lookout Mountain on November 24, 1863, defeating Confederate forces and preparing to move east toward Bragg's left flank.

Union forces routed Bragg's army on November 25, 1863, ending the siege of Chattanooga and securing Union control of Tennessee.

The siege officially began on May 18, 1863, following Grant's maneuvers and the withdrawal of Confederate forces from Jackson.

Two major Union assaults on Confederate fortifications on May 19 and 22 were repulsed with heavy casualties.

Confederate forces surrendered on July 4, 1863, ending the 47-day siege and granting Union control of the Mississippi River.

Fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864, near Mechanicsville, Virginia, with significant fighting on June 3. The battle occurred on ground previously contested during the Seven Days Battles of 1862.

Union forces under Warren destroyed miles of track and withstood strong Confederate attacks under Beauregard.

Union forces launched an unsuccessful assault against the Dimmock Line earthworks protecting Petersburg, Virginia, on June 9, 1864.

Lincoln promoted Grant to lieutenant general on March 2, 1864, granting him command of all Union armies.

Grant arrived in Washington on March 8 and was formally commissioned by Lincoln the next day at a Cabinet meeting.

Grant crossed the Rapidan River on May 4, 1864, to place forces between Lee and Richmond, initiating the Overland Campaign.

Fighting occurred from May 8 through May 21, 1864, as Grant attempted to break the Confederate line.

Union Major General John Sedgwick was killed by a long-range shot on May 9, 1864.

Sheridan's cavalry engaged Confederate forces, resulting in the mortal wounding of J.E.B. Stuart on May 11, 1864.

A Confederate victory occurred in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign on May 20, 1864.

Union troops compelled Confederate forces to retreat from Four Oaks, North Carolina, during the Battle of Bentonville.

Confederate forces briefly captured Fort Stedman before being repulsed, weakening their positions.

Union victory at Five Forks forced the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond.

Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.

Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to William Tecumseh Sherman at Bennett Place.

The steamboat Sultana exploded and sank in the Mississippi River, killing 1,164 people.

On May 23, 1865, Major General George Gordon Meade led an estimated 80,000 men of the Army of the Potomac down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

The 1866 rank was nominally four-star but held authority over the entire Army, distinct from later five-star ranks.

Congress promoted Grant to the newly created rank of General of the Army on July 25, 1866, following the Civil War.

A constitutional convention met in Richmond from December 1867 to April 1868, producing a document guaranteeing civil and voting rights.

The Underwood Constitution was ratified by a popular vote in 1870, expanding suffrage and establishing new state governance structures.

Virginia was formally restored to the United States in 1870, facilitated by the Committee of Nine and federal pressure.

A constitutional convention met in Richmond from December 1867 to April 1868, producing a document guaranteeing civil and voting rights.

The Underwood Constitution was ratified by a popular vote in 1870, expanding suffrage and establishing new state governance structures.

Virginia was formally restored to the United States in 1870, facilitated by the Committee of Nine and federal pressure.

Grant was unanimously nominated on the first ballot at the Republican convention in Chicago, held May 20–21, 1868.

Seymour was nominated after several ballots at the Democratic convention in New York City, July 4–9, 1868.

Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 3, 1868.

Gould, Fisk, and Corbin formed the Gold Ring to corner the gold market on the New York Gold Exchange, leveraging Grant's influence.

The gold price crashed on September 24, 1869, causing brokerage failures and a mild recession due to the failed corner attempt.

Ulysses S. Grant was sworn in as the 18th President on March 4, 1869, at the Capitol, marking the start of his term and Colfax's vice presidency.

The 1869 inaugural parade was grander than previous ones, featuring eight divisions of soldiers and high-priced viewing windows.

At his 1869 inauguration, Grant stated his intention to favor policies promoting Native American civilization, Christianization, and ultimate citizenship.

Mississippi was restored to the Union on February 23, 1870, ending military control. This followed the 1868 constitutional convention and was part of Grant's efforts to ensure voting rights.

Congress resumed allowing elected Texas representatives into the federal government in 1870, despite the state not meeting all Reconstruction requirements.

Congress established the first official U.S. weather service via joint resolution, placing it under the Secretary of War to ensure accurate observations.

Congress established the first official US weather service in February 1870, placing it under the War Department to ensure accurate storm notifications.

Cleveland Abbe joined the service in January 1871 and began developing a national forecast system, issuing forecasts the following month.

Congress created the Justice Department in 1870, with the bill signed into law by President Grant on June 22, 1870.

The office of the Solicitor General was created on June 22, 1870, to supervise government litigation in the Supreme Court.

The bill was introduced in 1871, died, was reintroduced in 1871, and reported back to the Senate in 1873.

President Grant signed the bill on February 12, 1873, with an effective date of April 1, 1873, ending bimetallism.

The Act established a unified territorial government for the District, repealing individual charters.

Grant appointed Alexander Robey Shepherd as governor in 1873, an influential figure in the new government.

Congress replaced the territorial government with an appointed Board of Commissioners in 1874.

On March 3, 1871, President Grant signed the first U.S. civil service reform legislation, creating the United States Civil Service Commission, which was funded for two years.

Grant invoked the Insurrection Act to station troops in nine South Carolina counties after the Klan refused to dissolve following the act's passage.

John Maynard Woodworth was appointed as the first Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service in 1871, beginning service on March 29.

In 1873, Woodworth's title was changed to Supervising Surgeon General, reflecting the evolution of the office.

Grant won the 1872 presidential election with 286 electoral votes, defeating Greeley who won 66. Greeley lost in a landslide.

Greeley died on November 29, 1872, twenty-four days after the election, before his pledged electors could cast their votes.

The San Carlos Apache Reservation was established in southeastern Arizona in 1872 for Chiricahua Apache and other bands.

The 42nd Congress passed the Amnesty Act on May 22, 1872, removing most Fourteenth Amendment penalties on former Confederates.

Grant directed district attorneys to dismiss proceedings against disqualified persons except those named in the act's exceptions.

Grant was sworn in for his second term at the Capitol, marking the start of his final term and Wilson's vice presidency.

Despite extreme cold, an inaugural ball was held, featuring social integration and a brief presidential appearance.

A masquerade ball was held the following day, though the president did not attend.

Democrats gained control of the House for the first time since the prewar era, signaling the imminent end of Reconstruction and a realignment of the Republican coalition.

Republicans lost their House majority and almost half their seats to the Democratic Party, ending Republican control of the chamber held since 1861.

The 43rd Congress passed the bill in February 1875 as a memorial to Senator Charles Sumner, who had died in 1874.

In 1883, the Supreme Court declared the public accommodation sections of the act unconstitutional in the Civil Rights Cases.

Belknap resigned and was impeached simultaneously on March 2, 1876, following the House investigation into tradership kickbacks.

The Senate voted to try Belknap as a private citizen, leading to his acquittal in August 1876.