Request a brochure Civil War Encyclopedia Blue and Gray Trail Civil War in Georgia On the Blue and Gray Trail Civil War by state Today in the Civil War Battles Images Places Feature Stories Links Search Who we are	Civil War Timeline / Chronology for August 1863 <<Previous year    Next year>> Civil War Navidater Century 1700's 1800's 1900's 2000's Decade 1800's 1810's 1820's 1830's 1840's 1850's 1860's 1870's 1880's 1890's Year 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 January, 1863 May, 1863 September, 1863 February, 1863 June, 1863 October, 1863 March, 1863 July, 1863 November, 1863 April, 1863 August, 1863 December, 1863 August 1, 1863 Federal forces begin a prolonged bombardment of entrenchments around Charleston Harbor South Carolina   Siege of Charleston August 1, 1863 David Porter assumes command of federal Navy forces on the Mississippi River.   David Porter August 2, 1863 Following Lee's retreat from Gettysburg, the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac establish lines with Virginia's Rappahannock River between them. Virginia   Army of the Potomac   Army of Northern Virginia August 5, 1863 In a letter to Nathaniel Banks, Abraham Lincoln states 'I am an anti-slavery man' and goes on to state he would never return a "negro" freed under the Emancipation Proclamation to slavery.   Nathaniel Banks August 8, 1863 Robert E. Lee offers his resignation to Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the offer.   Robert E. Lee   Jefferson Davis August 10, 1863 President Lincoln meets with former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Among the topics discussed are the treatment and pay of black soldiers in the U. S. Army   Abraham Lincoln   Frederick Douglass August 11, 1863 Confederate forces pound Federal entrenchments on Morris Island South Carolina   Siege of Charleston August 12, 1863 Federal batteries on Morris Island open up a "ranging" barrage that will last four days South Carolina   Siege of Charleston August 17, 1863 In an impressive display of firepower, Federal batteries begin heavy shelling of Confederate positions ringing Charleston Harbor including Fort Sumter. Using Parrott rifled cannon including the 200 pound Swamp Angel, the artillery is deadly accurate and easily breaches Sumter, but no assault is forthcoming. Although the initial attack is the heaviest, Federal assaults continue off and on until September, 1864. South Carolina   Fort Sumter   Siege of Charleston August 18, 1863 The Great Sioux Uprising begins under Chief Little Crow in Minnesota. August 18, 1863 General Thomas Ewing issues orders freeing slaves of Missourians actively involved with the Confederate Army. August 19, 1863 300 men under the command of William Quantrill, popularly known as Quantrill's Raiders, leave Blackwater Creek, Missouri heading for Lawrence, Kansas Kansas Missouri August 21, 1863 The Confederate Navy attempts to attack the USS New Ironsides with a torpedo from the four-man vessel the CSS David. The attack is ineffective   USS New Ironsides August 21, 1863 Quantrill's Raiders, now numbering more 400, attack Lawrence, Kansas, killing every male they could find who was old enough to carry a gun (a total of 183 men). One they missed was U. S. Senator James H. Lane, who hid in a cornfield in his nightshirt. Quantrill's men burned the town following the raid Kansas Missouri August 25, 1863 In response to Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, Brigadier General Thomas Ewing [US] orders civilians out of their homes in 3 Missouri counties (Jackson, Cass and Bates) and parts of a fourth (Vernon). Union soldiers burn the homes, barns and crops. Missouri August 26, 1863 General John Floyd dies of natural causes in Abingdon, VA   John Floyd August 27, 1863 Ford's Theater reopens as Ford's New Theater   Ford's Theater August 29, 1863 The Army of the Cumberland begins the Chickamauga Campaign, heading east for passes in Lookout Mountain Alabama Georgia   Army of the Cumberland   Chickamauga Campaign January, 1863 May, 1863 September, 1863 February, 1863 June, 1863 October, 1863 March, 1863 July, 1863 November, 1863 April, 1863 August, 1863 December, 1863 Civil War Navidater Century 1700's 1800's 1900's 2000's Decade 1800's 1810's 1820's 1830's 1840's 1850's 1860's 1870's 1880's 1890's Year 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 The best search in Civil War History
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