When the lines were cut
174 events, 1861 to 1865.
1861
- April 1861Union Navy burns and abandons the Gosport Navy YardPortsmouth, Virginia
- April 1861Maryland authorities destroy the rail bridges into BaltimoreBaltimore, Maryland
- April 18, 1861Union garrison burns the Harpers Ferry ArmoryHarpers Ferry, West Virginia
- April 19, 1861Lincoln proclaims a blockade of the Southern portsWashington, District of Columbia
- April 25, 1861Butler opens the Annapolis rail route to WashingtonAnnapolis Junction, Maryland
- May 10, 1861Caleb Huse reaches Liverpool to buy arms for the ConfederacyLiverpool, United Kingdom
- May 26, 1861McClellan sends troops to guard the B&O after bridges burnFairmont, West Virginia
- June 14, 1861Confederates blow up the B&O bridge at Harpers FerryHarpers Ferry, West Virginia
- June 20, 1861Jackson wrecks the B&O shops and yards at MartinsburgMartinsburg, West Virginia
- October 1861Bulloch's Fingal sails from Greenock with Confederate ordnanceGreenock, United Kingdom
- October 1861Confederate batteries close the lower Potomac to shippingFreestone Point, Virginia
- November 1861Britain halts saltpeter exports over the Trent seizureLondon, United Kingdom
- November 7, 1861Union fleet captures Port Royal SoundPort Royal Sound, South Carolina
- November 8, 1861USS San Jacinto stops the British mail packet TrentOld Bahama Channel, at sea, Cuba
- November 8, 1861Unionists burn East Tennessee railroad bridgesLick Creek bridge near Mosheim, Tennessee
- December 1861Jackson attacks Dam No. 5 on the C&O CanalDam No. 5, Potomac River, Maryland
- December 5, 1861First blockade runner from the South lands cotton at NassauNassau, Bahamas
1862
- 1862Lancashire mills close as American cotton stopsManchester, United Kingdom
- 1862Confederates wreck the Pensacola Navy Yard and withdrawWarrington Navy Yard, Pensacola, Florida
- January 31, 1862Congress passes the Railways and Telegraph ActWashington, District of Columbia
- February 1862Nashville falls and becomes a Union supply baseNashville, Tennessee
- February 6, 1862Fort Henry falls, opening the Tennessee RiverFort Henry, Tennessee
- February 16, 1862Fort Donelson surrenders, opening the Cumberland RiverFort Donelson, Dover, Tennessee
- March 1862Union retakes Martinsburg and the B&O main line reopensMartinsburg, West Virginia
- March 14, 1862Burnside captures New BernNew Bern, North Carolina
- March 22, 1862Liverpool-built Oreto sails to become CSS FloridaLiverpool, United Kingdom
- March 28, 1862Union troops burn the Confederate supply train at Johnson's RanchJohnson's Ranch, Glorieta Pass, New Mexico
- April 8, 1862Island No. 10 surrenders, opening the Mississippi to Fort PillowIsland No. 10, New Madrid Bend, Tennessee
- April 11, 1862Mitchel takes Huntsville and cuts the Memphis and CharlestonHuntsville, Alabama
- April 11, 1862Fort Pulaski surrenders, closing Savannah as a portFort Pulaski, Cockspur Island, Georgia
- April 12, 1862Andrews Raid on the Western and AtlanticBig Shanty to near Ringgold, Georgia
- April 25, 1862Farragut's fleet takes New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
- April 26, 1862Fort Macon surrenders, opening Beaufort and Morehead CityFort Macon, Bogue Banks, North Carolina
- May 1862Jackson captures Banks's wagons and stores in the ValleyWinchester, Virginia
- May 1862Haupt rebuilds the Potomac Creek bridge in nine working daysPotomac Creek, Stafford County, Virginia
- May 10, 1862Union troops occupy Norfolk as Confederates burn the navy yardNorfolk, Virginia
- May 30, 1862Beauregard abandons the Corinth rail junctionCorinth, Mississippi
- June 1862McClellan abandons the White House Landing supply baseWhite House, Virginia
- June 6, 1862Memphis surrenders after the river battleMemphis, Tennessee
- June 29, 1862Union army burns its stores at Savage's StationSavage's Station, Virginia
- July 13, 1862Forrest raids the Union supply centre at MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, Tennessee
- July 20, 1862Union raiders burn the Virginia Central depot at BeaverdamBeaverdam, Virginia
- July 29, 1862Laird-built Enrica slips out of BirkenheadBirkenhead, United Kingdom
- August 22, 1862Stuart raids Pope's supply depot at Catlett's StationCatlett, Virginia
- August 24, 1862Enrica is armed off Terceira and commissioned CSS AlabamaOff Terceira Island, Azores, at sea, Portugal
- August 27, 1862Jackson captures and burns the Union depot at Manassas JunctionManassas Junction, Virginia
- September 15, 1862Jackson captures the B&O railroad garrison at Harpers FerryHarpers Ferry, West Virginia
- September 17, 1862Bragg captures the Green River bridge garrison at MunfordvilleMunfordville, Kentucky
- October 4, 1862Rosecrans holds the Corinth junction against Van DornCorinth, Mississippi
- October 10, 1862Stuart burns the railroad depot and shops at ChambersburgChambersburg, Pennsylvania
- October 22, 1862Union attempt to cut the Charleston and Savannah at PocotaligoPocotaligo, near Yemassee, South Carolina
- December 1862Morgan burns the Muldraugh Hill trestles on the L&NMuldraugh Hill, Kentucky
- December 17, 1862Foster burns the Wilmington and Weldon bridge at GoldsboroNeuse River bridge, Goldsboro, North Carolina
- December 19, 1862CSS Sumter is sold at Gibraltar and turns blockade runnerGibraltar, Gibraltar
- December 20, 1862Forrest captures the Union depot at TrentonTrenton, Tennessee
- December 20, 1862Van Dorn destroys Grant's depot at Holly SpringsHolly Springs, Mississippi
- December 24, 1862Forrest wrecks the Mobile and Ohio trestles on the ObionObion River near Kenton, Tennessee
1863
- 1863Egypt doubles its cotton exports to replace Southern cottonAlexandria, Egypt
- January 1, 1863Magruder recaptures Galveston and lifts the blockadeGalveston, Texas
- January 8, 1863Central Pacific breaks ground at SacramentoSacramento, California
- April 9, 1863Scottish-built Japan takes on guns off Ushant as CSS GeorgiaOff Ushant, at sea, France
- April 24, 1863Grierson's raiders burn trains and depot at Newton's StationNewton, Mississippi
- April 26, 1863Jones-Imboden raiders burn the B&O bridge at OaklandOakland, Maryland
- April 26, 1863Defenders save the B&O Cheat River bridge at RowlesburgRowlesburg, West Virginia
- May 1863Jones burns the oil field at Burning SpringsBurning Springs, West Virginia
- May 1863Stoneman's cavalry strikes the Virginia Central at LouisaLouisa, Virginia
- May 3, 1863Streight's raid on the Western and Atlantic ends in surrenderCedar Bluff, Alabama
- May 15, 1863Sherman wrecks the railroads at JacksonJackson, Mississippi
- June 1863Jenkins burns Cumberland Valley Railroad buildings at ChambersburgChambersburg, Pennsylvania
- June 23, 1863Confederates capture the Union depot at Brashear CityBrashear City (Morgan City), Louisiana
- June 26, 1863Early's division burns rail cars and a bridge at GettysburgGettysburg, Pennsylvania
- June 27, 1863Early cuts the Northern Central at Hanover Junction and YorkHanover Junction, Pennsylvania
- June 27, 1863Spear's cavalry burns the depot and bridge at Hanover Junction, Va.Hanover Junction (Doswell), Virginia
- June 28, 1863Militia burn the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge over the SusquehannaWrightsville, Pennsylvania
- July 1863Morgan burns canal boats at Nelsonville on the Hocking CanalNelsonville, Ohio
- July 1863Potter's raid strikes Rocky MountRocky Mount, North Carolina
- July 1, 1863Union supply train fights through at Cabin CreekCabin Creek crossing, Texas Road, Oklahoma
- July 4, 1863Vicksburg surrenders and the Confederacy is splitVicksburg, Mississippi
- July 9, 1863Haupt's military trains carry the Gettysburg woundedHanover Junction, Pennsylvania
- July 9, 1863Port Hudson surrenders and the Mississippi is reopenedPort Hudson, Louisiana
- July 10, 1863Morgan's raiders burn the depot and bridges at Salem, IndianaSalem, Indiana
- September 8, 1863Union invasion of Texas turned back at Sabine PassSabine Pass, Texas
- September 10, 1863Little Rock falls and Price burns its railroad equipmentLittle Rock, Arkansas
- September 13, 1863Union cavalry captures the Culpeper railroad depotCulpeper, Virginia
- September 25, 1863Military railroads move two corps from Virginia to TennesseeBealeton, Virginia
- October 1863Lee wrecks the Orange and Alexandria after Bristoe StationBristoe Station, Virginia
- October 2, 1863Wheeler burns the Chattanooga wagon train at Anderson's Cross RoadsAnderson's Cross Roads, Walden's Ridge, Tennessee
- October 9, 1863British customs seize the Laird rams at BirkenheadBirkenhead, United Kingdom
- October 28, 1863Union opens the Cracker Line into ChattanoogaBrown's Ferry, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- November 6, 1863Union troops take Brownsville and the cotton road to MatamorosBrownsville, Texas
- November 24, 1863Ex-Royal Navy Victor slips out of Sheerness as CSS RappahannockSheerness, United Kingdom
- December 1863Captured steamer Chesapeake takes on coal in Nova ScotiaHalifax, Canada
- December 16, 1863Averell burns the Virginia and Tennessee depot at SalemSalem, Virginia
1864
- 1864France blocks delivery of the Bordeaux ironcladsBordeaux, France
- February 14, 1864Sherman destroys the rail centre at MeridianMeridian, Mississippi
- February 20, 1864Union drive on Florida's beef and salt supply stopped at OlusteeOlustee, Florida
- April 1864Yellow fever strikes the blockade-running base at BermudaSt. George's, Bermuda
- April 8, 1864Banks turned back short of Shreveport at MansfieldMansfield, Louisiana
- April 18, 1864Confederates capture Steele's forage train at Poison SpringPoison Spring, Arkansas
- April 25, 1864Fagan captures Steele's supply train at Marks' MillsMarks' Mills, Arkansas
- May 1864Bailey's Dam frees Porter's fleet above the Alexandria fallsAlexandria, Louisiana
- May 1864Piedmont Railroad completed from Danville to GreensboroGreensboro, North Carolina
- May 5, 1864McNeill's Rangers burn the B&O machine shops at PiedmontPiedmont, West Virginia
- May 7, 1864Butler cuts the Richmond and Petersburg at Port Walthall JunctionPort Walthall Junction, Virginia
- May 9, 1864Sheridan destroys the supply base at Beaverdam StationBeaverdam, Virginia
- May 10, 1864Crook burns Dublin Depot and the New River railroad bridgeDublin, Virginia
- June 1, 1864Sherman's cavalry takes the Allatoona Pass railheadAllatoona Pass, Georgia
- June 6, 1864Hunter occupies Staunton on the Virginia CentralStaunton, Virginia
- June 10, 1864Forrest routs the expedition sent to keep him off Sherman's railroadBrice's Cross Roads, Mississippi
- June 12, 1864Sheridan's raid on the Virginia Central stopped at Trevilian StationTrevilian Station, Virginia
- June 18, 1864Early's troops arrive by rail and turn Hunter back at LynchburgLynchburg, Virginia
- June 19, 1864USS Kearsarge sinks CSS Alabama off CherbourgOff Cherbourg, at sea, France
- June 25, 1864Wilson-Kautz raid stopped at Staunton River BridgeStaunton River Bridge, Virginia
- July 9, 1864Wallace holds the B&O bridge at Monocacy Junction for a dayMonocacy Junction, Maryland
- July 11, 1864Gilmor burns the PW&B bridge over the Gunpowder RiverMagnolia Station, Maryland
- July 18, 1864Union cavalry cuts the Georgia Railroad near Stone MountainStone Mountain, Georgia
- July 19, 1864Rousseau wrecks the Montgomery and West Point at OpelikaOpelika, Alabama
- August 5, 1864Farragut closes Mobile Bay to blockade runnersMobile Bay, Alabama
- August 9, 1864Ammunition barge explodes at City PointCity Point wharf, Virginia
- August 14, 1864Wheeler strikes Sherman's railroad at DaltonDalton, Georgia
- August 18, 1864CSS Tallahassee is refused a full load of coal at HalifaxHalifax, Canada
- August 18, 1864Battle of Globe Tavern cuts the Weldon RailroadGlobe Tavern, south of Petersburg, Virginia
- August 20, 1864Kilpatrick raids the Macon and Western at Jonesborough and LovejoyLovejoy's Station, Georgia
- August 25, 1864Second Battle of Ream's StationReam's Station, Virginia
- August 31, 1864Sherman cuts the Macon and Western at JonesboroughJonesborough, Georgia
- September 1, 1864Hood blows up his ammunition train and abandons AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia
- September 16, 1864Hampton's Beefsteak Raid takes the Union cattle herd at Coggin's PointCoggin's Point, Virginia
- September 19, 1864Watie and Gano capture a Union supply train at Cabin CreekCabin Creek station, Oklahoma
- September 25, 1864Forrest takes Athens and the Sulphur Creek trestleSulphur Creek Trestle near Athens, Alabama
- September 27, 1864Anderson's guerrillas burn a train and depot at CentraliaCentralia, Missouri
- September 27, 1864Price attacks the Iron Mountain railhead at Pilot KnobFort Davidson, Pilot Knob, Missouri
- October 1864Supply steamer Laurel arms the Sea King off MadeiraFunchal, Portugal
- October 5, 1864Battle of AllatoonaAllatoona Pass, Georgia
- October 6, 1864Sheridan's cavalry begins The Burning of the Shenandoah ValleyRockingham County, Virginia
- October 7, 1864USS Wachusett seizes CSS Florida in Bahia harborBahia, Brazil
- October 14, 1864Mosby's Greenback Raid derails a B&O train near DuffieldsDuffields, West Virginia
- November 4, 1864Forrest destroys the Johnsonville supply baseJohnsonville, Tennessee
- November 15, 1864Sherman leaves Atlanta on the March to the SeaAtlanta, Georgia
- November 30, 1864Union attempt on the Charleston and Savannah fails at Honey HillHoney Hill, near Grahamville, South Carolina
- December 2, 1864Confederate batteries close the Cumberland below NashvilleBell's Bend, Cumberland River, Tennessee
- December 20, 1864Stoneman wrecks the Saltville salt worksSaltville, Virginia
- December 21, 1864Sherman takes Savannah with 25,000 bales of cottonSavannah, Georgia
- December 28, 1864Grierson wrecks the Mobile and Ohio at Egypt StationEgypt Station, Mississippi
1865
- 1865The Matamoros cotton trade collapses with the ConfederacyMatamoros, Mexico
- January 6, 1865Confederate crew boards the French-built ram at CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
- January 15, 1865Fort Fisher falls, closing WilmingtonFort Fisher, North Carolina
- January 25, 1865CSS Shenandoah fills her crew and storerooms at MelbourneMelbourne, Australia
- February 17, 1865Sherman takes Columbia and wrecks its railroadsColumbia, South Carolina
- February 20, 1865Cow Cavalry attacks the cattle raiders' base at Fort MyersFort Myers, Florida
- February 22, 1865Union troops occupy WilmingtonWilmington, North Carolina
- March 1865Sheridan wrecks the James River canal locks near GoochlandGoochland Court House, Virginia
- March 2, 1865Custer routs Early at the Waynesboro railroad bridgeWaynesboro, Virginia
- March 8, 1865Battle of Wyse Fork on the New Bern to Goldsboro railroadWyse Fork, near Kinston, North Carolina
- March 9, 1865Sherman's troops burn the Lumberton depotLumberton, North Carolina
- March 19, 1865Battle of BentonvilleBentonville, North Carolina
- March 23, 1865Sherman's armies resupply at GoldsboroGoldsboro, North Carolina
- March 31, 1865Wilson's raiders burn the Tannehill furnacesTannehill Ironworks, Alabama
- April 2, 1865Confederates burn Richmond's bridges and supply warehousesRichmond, Virginia
- April 2, 1865Wilson takes Selma and destroys its arsenal and naval foundrySelma, Alabama
- April 2, 1865Union troops seize the South Side RailroadSutherland's Station, Virginia
- April 3, 1865Danville becomes the last Confederate capitalDanville, Virginia
- April 4, 1865Lee finds no rations at Amelia Court HouseAmelia Court House, Virginia
- April 5, 1865Union cavalry burns Lee's supply wagons at PainevillePaineville, Virginia
- April 6, 1865Lee's wagon trains are lost at Sailor's CreekSailor's Creek, Virginia
- April 7, 1865Union troops save High Bridge on the South Side RailroadHigh Bridge, Virginia
- April 8, 1865Custer captures Lee's supply trains at Appomattox StationAppomattox Station, Virginia
- April 11, 1865Stoneman's cavalry cuts the railroads around GreensboroReedy Fork to High Point, North Carolina
- April 12, 1865Mobile, the last major Confederate port, is capturedMobile, Alabama
- April 12, 1865Stoneman burns the depots at SalisburySalisbury, North Carolina
- April 16, 1865Wilson burns the Columbus navy yard and ironcladColumbus, Georgia
- April 21, 1865Repairs begin on the wrecked Virginia CentralRichmond, Virginia
- April 26, 1865Johnston surrenders to Sherman at Bennett PlaceBennett Place, Durham, North Carolina
- May 1865CSS Stonewall is handed to Spanish authorities at HavanaHavana, Cuba
- November 6, 1865CSS Shenandoah surrenders in the Mersey at LiverpoolLiverpool, United Kingdom