CIVIL WAR TIMELINE Here you'll find a description of the main events of the war along with diary entries, letters, poetry and articles from the period. 1860      1861      1862      1863      1864      1865
	1864 Date Event 9 March Grant made commander of all the Northern armies, with William T. Sherman commander of the Western army 4 May New attempt by the North to take Southern strongholds. Grant in Virginia goes for Richmond - but Lee's army awaits him. Three big battles take place: Battle of the Desert (5 - 6 May) Spotsylvania (8 - 12 May) and Cold Harbour (1 - 3 June). 7,000 Union troops killed in the first 20 minutes at Cold Harbour. Many American Welsh from New York die in the Battle of the Desert - this had been the scene of a battle the previous year, and there were many skulls and skeletons on the battlefield already. By the Battle of Cold Harbour, over 65,000 soldiers had died, but Ulysses S. Grant wasn't prepared to turn back. Trench warfare, like the First World War. Sherman's army goes for Atlanta, Joseph E. Johnston's forces defend the city 15 June Battle of Petersburg: A nine month siege ensues, with Grant's army surrounding Lee's forces 20 July Sherman starts the attack on John B. Hood's army defending Atlanta 29 August General McClellan puts himself forward as the Democratic candidate in the US presidential elections 2 September Sherman takes Atlanta, and after destroying the railroad, makes his way for the coast, his army living off the land as they go 8 November Lincoln re-elected President of the United States of America 15 - 16 December Johnston's army destroyed at Nashville. Many black soldiers under General George H. Thomas took part in this action		William T. Sherman Joseph E. Johnston