This US Civil War timeline focuses on the eastern states, the area east of the Appalachians in the vicinity of the rival capitals of Washington and Richmond. For the western theater, see this page on US Civil War dates in 1865.
The year opens with both armies largely inactive and still entrenched around Petersburg. With each passing week, the hopelessness of Lee's cause becomes more apparent. Early in February, Grant sends his cavalry and infantry south and west of Petersburg in an attempt to sever the only remaining supply lines into the city and to force Lee to extend his already strained defensive positions. Confederate attempts to halt the movement are checkmated at Hatcher's Run. As March begins, Lee realizes that he cannot hold the Petersburg-Richmond lines much longer. On the 25th he makes a desperate attempt to extricate his army by attacking Federal Fort Stedman east of Petersburg. The attempt fails and Lee tells President Davis: "I fear now it will be impossible to prevent a junction between Grant and Sherman...." Shortly thereafter, the Federals achieve the inevitable and break the thin Confederate defenses at Five Forks, southwest of Petersburg. Lee evacuates the city and Richmond falls. his forlorn retreat lasts one week until Grant cuts off the remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. Lee's surrender on April 9 signals the early end of the Confederacy.
Jan 1-Apr 2 Siege of Petersburg continued
Feb 5-7 Battle of Hatcher's Run
Mar 25 Battle of Fort Stedman
Apr 1 Battle of Five Forks
Apr 2 Petersburg lines breached
Apr 2 Confederates evacuate Richmond and Petersburg
Apr 3 US forces occupy Richmond
Apr 6 Battle of Sayler's Creek, Va.
Apr 9 Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House.
Apr 14 Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater, Washington, D.C.
May 23-24 Grand Review of Federal armies in Washington, D.C.
Search for books on the US Civil War in 1865 at Amazon.
Source materials published by the National Park Service were used to create this US Civil War Timeline for 1865.
