Category Archives: Union

The Confederate States of America

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Free and Salve States

Free and Salve States

The eleven states of the Confederacy listed in the order of their secession from the Union:

  • 1. South Carolina – December 20, 1860
  • 2. Mississippi – January 9, 1861
  • 3. Florida – January 10, 1861
  • 4. Alabama – January 11, 1861
  • 5. Georgia– January 19, 1861
  • 6. Louisiana – January 26, 1861
  • 7. Texas – February 1, 1861
  • 8. Virginia – April 17, 1861
  • 9. Arkansas – May 6, 1861
  • 10. North Carolina – May 20, 1861
  • 11. Tennessee – June 8, 1861

“I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice anything but honor for its preservation.”
… Robert E. Lee, from a letter of January 23, 1861. Despite these words from Robert E. Lee, his military leadership in the Civil War was not performed in the interest of preserving the Union.

“If the Union is dissolved, and the government disrupted, I shall return to my native state and share the miseries of my people, and save in defense will draw my sword no more.”
… Robert E. Lee, from a letter of January 23, 1861. Lee chose to draw his sword, he would lead the Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War. Lee would take the Army of Northern Virginia on two offensive invasions into the North, first at Antietam in 1862, and then Gettysburg in 1863.

The states of the Confederacy listed alphabetically with their dates of secession:

  • 1. Alabama – January 11, 1861
  • 2. Arkansas – May 6, 1861
  • 3. Florida – January 10, 1861
  • 4. Georgia – January 19, 1861
  • 5. Louisiana – January 26, 1861
  • 6. Mississippi – January 9, 1861
  • 7. North Carolina – May 20, 1861
  • 8. South Carolina – December 20, 1860
  • 9. Tennessee – June 8, 1861
  • 10. Texas – February 1, 1861
  • 11. Virginia – April 17, 1861

“I, Robert E. Lee of Lexington, Virginia do solemn, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Union of the States thereafter, and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithful support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves, so help me God.”
… Former Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s amnesty oath to the United States, October 2, 1865.

 

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Lee Surrenders to Grant

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April 9, 1865

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant

On April 9, in the parlor of Wilmer McLean’s house at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederacy was defeated, and the Union preserved.

Wilmer McClean had moved to Appomattox Court House from Manassas, Virginia. During the battle of First Manassas (First Bull Run), McClean had an artillery shell come down his chimney and wind up in a stew cooking for Confederate General Beauregard. After this, McClean moved to Appomattox Court House in hopes of finding a more peaceful place to live. You could say that Wilmer McClean had the Civil War begin in the kitchen of his home at Manassas, and then end in the parlor of his home at Appomattox Court House.
 

 

 

 

Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee

With General Lee’s historic surrender at Appomattox Court House, not all activities and bloodshed of the Civil War immediately ended. War, and Confederate surrenders, continued on for a bit.

At New Orleans on May 26, Confederate General Simon Boliver Buckner’s army is the last Rebel army to surrender. On May 13, in Texas at a place called Palmito Ranch (also called Palmito Hill) near the Rio Grande, there is a skirmish between Confederate and Union troops. This skirmish is recognized as the last military action of the Civil War. It was a Confederate victory, but it was too little too late.