The Valley of the Shadow
Valley of the Shadow Timelines: 1865

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Dates Augusta County, VA Franklin County, PA Virginia Pennsylvania National
01-04-1865 J. S. Hoffman thanked the Churchville Soldiers' Aid Society for feeding his brigade. Companies A, B, & C of the Chambersurg Home Guards practice how to board a train in a short span of time.
01-06-1865 Vindicator asked people to help feed Gen Jubal Early's army
01-09-1865 The Staunton Overseers of the Poor met at the office of N. K. Trout.
01-10-1865 Gen. Early forbid his army from impressing supplies intended for families of Augusta soldiers. Board of Directors elected at First National Bank of Waynesboro. National Bank of Chambersburg elected its Board of Directors.
Mid 01-1865 Tax assessments listed Franklin with $12,674,963 in real and personal estate. Gov. Curtin complained to Lincoln that PA draft quotas are too high.
01-15-1865 Ft. Fisher, NC fell to Union forces. Monitor & Patapsco sunk by torpedo.
01-20-1865 George, young mulatto slave, ran away from E. G. Marshall near Staunton. Vindicator announced Stonewall Brigade needs warm clothes for winter.
01-25-1865 Confederate Day of Public Fast.
01-28-1865 Staunton Artillery treated to dinner at the American Hotel, listen to speeches by Gen. Jubal Early & Col. William H. Harman.
01-30-1865 Board of Enrollment in Chambersburg drafted men.
01-31-1865 A. H. Coffroth, of Franklin, voted for a congressional amendment to abolish slavery.
02-01-1865 Staunton Artillery pledged to fight for four more years. John Rock became 1st African-American admitted to practice law before US Supreme Court.
02-02-1865 Camp Pegram Brigade of 52nd VA Regiment adopted resolution reaffirming their commitment to Confederate victory. Lincoln met with Confederate peace commissioners aboard the River Queen.
02-03-1865 Confederate raiders on Lake Erie surrender.
02-05-1865 5th VA & 52nd VA fight in battle at Hatcher's Run. William Wilson's house in Hamilton township burned to the ground. Battle of Hatcher's Run
02-06-1865 Gen. Lee given command of all Confederate armies. Soldiers in Gen. Early's army petition Jefferson Davis to stop war immediately.
02-07-1865 53 members of PA 107th wounded, 6 killed, and 21 missing at Battle of Dabney's Mills. Confederate Senate rejected plan to raise 200,000 African-American troops.
02-08-1865 State legislature ratified 13th Amendement.
02-09-1865 B. Y. Hamsher of the Valley Spirit elected secretary of the newspaper publishers convention. Newspaper publishers attended a convention in Harrisburg.
02-10-1865 Vindicator printed an appeal from Gen. Lee asking for weapons for Confederate troops.
02-15-1865 Repository reported that seven Chambersburg men escaped from a prison in Salsbury, NC.
Mid 02-1865 Gov. Curtin censured Maj. Dodge of PA for mistreating enlisted men.
02-17-1865 Gen. Sherman burns Charleston, SC.
02-18-1865 Union forces under Gen. Cox capture Ft. Anderson.
02-22-1865 Chambersburg residents celebrated Washington's birthday with a parade. Gen. Schofield captured Wilmington, NC.
02-23-1865 Robert McClure began teaching a singing class for "ladies and gentlemen."
02-24-1865 Vindicator criticized those pessimistic about the war's outcome. John Y. Beall of Virginia hanged as a spy at Ft. Lafayette, NY.
02-25-1865 Gen. Johnston assumed command of Confederate forces in NC.
02-27-1865 A "large and enthusiastic" crowd in Augusta condemned Lincoln's demand of unconditional surrender. Union troops under Gen. Sheridan drive Confederate troops from Waynesboro.
03-02-1865 Sheridan's troops defeated Gen. Early and arrive in Staunton.
03-03-1865 Col. William Harman killed after he surrenders. Congress created the Freedmen's Bureau.
03-04-1865 Abraham Lincoln inaugurated.
03-08-1865 Maj. Dodge relieved of his position as Assistant Provost Marshal of PA.
03-10-1865 Jefferson Davis proclaimed a day of fasting, and prayer. S.S Huber & Johnston McLanahan graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.
Mid 03-1865 6 Chambersburg soldiers captured at Gettysburg return home.
03-13-1865 Confederate Congress passed bill subjecting slaves to military duty.
03-15-1865 Battle of Aversboro, NC.
03-18-1865 Draft held. William Gilbert thrown from wagon. Confederate Congress adjourns.
03-19-1865 Battle of Bentonville, NC.
03-22-1865 Armies of Union Generals Sherman, Terry, & Shofield joined at Goldsboro, NC.
03-25-1865 Seige of Petersburg begins.
03-27-1865 Lincoln met with his generals at City Point, VA.
03-29-1865 State reported that 110 children of deceased soldiers currently being cared for by PA schools.
03-31-1865 Soldiers in 5th VA Infantry petitioned Confederate Congress to reorganize the depleted Stonewall Brigade as a regiment.
04-01-1865 Battle of Five Forks.
04-02-1865 Evacuation of Richmond by Confederate government. Lee's army evacuated Petersburg.
04-03-1865 Union forces occupy Petersburg.
04-05-1865 Mercersburg residents celebrate the capture of Richmond, VA. Abraham Lincoln tours Richmond with his son, Tad.
04-06-1865 Gen. Ewell's division captured at Sailor's Creek, VA.
04-09-1865 5th VA & 52nd VA Infantry & Staunton Artillery present at Lee's surrender. Chambersburg residents celebrate upon hearing of Lee's surrender. Gen. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Grant.
04-10-1865 Fanfare greets Mr. Elkman, Cauffman, and Brown--returned from CSA prisoner of war camp. Gen. Lee delivers his farewell address to the Army of Northern Virginia. Celebrations broke out in Washington, D.C.
04-11-1865 Montgomery, AL surrendered to Gen. Wilson.
04-12-1865 Confederates evacuated Mobile, AL
04-13-1865 Raleigh, NC occupied by Gen. Sherman
04-14-1865 Lincoln assassinated. Assassination attempt against Seward & his son. The Stars & Stripes raised over Ft. Sumter.
04-15-1865 Lincoln dies at 7:22 AM. Andrew Johnson assumes presidency.
04-16-1865 Ohio Superior Court rules Soldiers' Voting law constitutional.
04-18-1865 Gen. Johnston provisionally surrenders to Gen. Sherman
04-19-1865 Procession of Chambersburg citizens pay respect to Lincoln. Funeral services for Lincoln held in White House.
04-20-1865 Union forces occupy Macon, GA.
04-21-1865 Gen. Mosby disbands his Rangers rather than surrender them.
04-22-1865 Stone & Roston's Circus visits Franklin.
04-24-1865 Van Amburgh & Co.'s "celebrated menagerie" visits Chambersburg. Gen. Grant arrives at Raleigh, NC
04-26-1865 John Wilkes Booth shot and killed. Gen. Johnson officially surrenders to Gen. Sherman
04-27-1865 Steamer Sultana explodes on Mississippi River, killing 1700.
04-29-1865 Johnson removes restrictions on domestic commerce east of Mississippi River.
05-01-1865 Executive order issued for trial by military commission of Lincoln's assassins.
05-02-1865 1st professional fire dept. est. in New York City. Johnson offers $100,000 reward for capture of Jefferson Davis.
05-04-1865 Lincoln buried in Springfield, IL.
05-05-1865 1st train robbery occurs in North Bend, Ohio.
05-09-1865 Johnson recognizes "Restoration Government" of Gov. Pierpont.
05-10-1865 Jefferson Davis captured in Irwinville, GA.
05-13-1865 Confederates defeat Federals at Palo Pinto, TX
05-22-1865 Jefferson Davis imprisoned at Ft. Monroe. Johnson proclaims Southern ports open.
05-26-1865 CSA Gen. E. Kirby Smith surrenders to Gen. Cornly.
05-29-1865 Johnson offers conditional general amnesty to Confederates.
06-01-1865 National Day of mourning for Lincoln.
06-02-1865 British government rescinds its recognition of Confederacy as belligerents.
06-05-1865 Galveston, TX, the last Confederate seaport, surrenders.
06-06-1865 French government rescinds its recognition of Confederacy as belligerents.
06-23-1865 Noah Myers fatally shoots his brother-in-law Ulton T. Moore. Johnson rescinds blockade of Southern ports.
06-24-1865 2 horses stolen from Samuel Reel. Johnson rescinds restrictions on trade west of Mississippi River.
06-28-1865 Valley Spirit reports on large quantities of counterfeit money that surfaced.
06-30-1865 PA Supreme Court upholds Bounty Tax Law.
07-07-1865 Lindsey Forney & Abraham Koon hanged for murder of Edward Gladfelter.
07-08-1865 Wife & son of Mr. Rotz killed by lightning.
07-12-1865 Capt. Michael Houser returns. Baby girl abandoned at Scheuring residence. Fire destroys Given & Bros. paper mill.
07-19-1865 Valley Spirit reports that a railroad company will acquire two new engines, named Gen. Grant & Gen. Sherman. Valley Spirit reports that 25th & 26th PA Calvary consolidated and renamed.
07-26-1865 William Stenger delivers address at Franklin & Marshall College commencement.
08-01-1865 J.P. Reed, Jr. shoots & kills Jacob Crouse.
08-02-1865 Valley Spirit reports that William Beetem hung himself. Convention of black Virginians meet in Alexandria. Valley Spirit reports that Republicans will demand black suffrage in the South and give them equal rights in PA.
08-06-1865 Commencement exercises for PA College begin.
08-16-1865 Chambersburg Concert Band holds picnic at Brown's Mill.
08-17-1865 Abolitionists State Convention held.
08-19-1865 African-Americans hold camp meeting near Shippensburg.
08-23-1865 Trial of Capt. Henry Wirz begins.
08-24-1865 Democratic State Convention held in Harrisburg.
08-28-1865 A. J. Bowers robbed in McConnelsburg of his bag containing $300-$400.
08-29-1865 Democratic Convention of Franklin County meets in Chambersburg. Johnson orders lifting of all restrictions on Southern ports as of 09-01-1865.
09-06-1865 Electors and Trustees of the Agricultural College of PA meet.
09-08-1865 State Central Committee Meeting for the Democratic party.
09-09-1865 Individuals "who oppose the policy of President Johnson" meet at Brown's Hotel.
09-10-1865 Fire broke out at Moses Greenwalt's grocery store.
09-16-1865 Chambersburg Library Association organized.
09-27-1865 Keystone Club of PA announces desire for new auxiliary clubs in PA cities.
10-06-1865 Odd Fellows meeting held in Newburg.
10-09-1865 Freight train and 2 coal cars collide near Shiremanston.
10-10-1865 State elections won by Republicans.
10-25-1865 Valley Spirit reports that large amounts of land is now available in the Valley of Virginia. D. B. Little opened a restaurant in Chambersburg.
11-02-1865 A boarder at Fisher's Union Hotel steals furs, jewelery, and clothing. National Thanksgiving Day Proclamation for Peace.
11-10-1865 Annual meeting of the Franklin County Educational Association. Capt. Henry Wirz hung for cruelty to Union prisoners at Andersonville.
11-18-1865 Mark Twain publishes "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog," in the New York Sunday Press.
12-01-1865 Staunton bar meets at courthouse. Fire destroys Christian Smith's stable on Catherine street. Johnson restores Habeas Corpus in Northern states.
12-02-1865 Edward McPherson, of Franklin County, refuses to seat former Confederates in US House.
12-04-1865 Johnson delivers his annual message to Congress.
12-06-1865 Valley Spirit announces new daily train service to Chambersburg.
12-08-1865 Vindicator reports new counterfeit $10 greenback in circulation.
12-09-1865 L. B. Waller returns to Staunton with remains of Lt. Charles Francisco, killed at Gettysburg.
12-11-1865 Funeral of Lt. Charles Francisco held at Presbyterian Church.
12-13-1865 Valley Spirit reports that VA legislature is allowing ex-Confederates to hold office.
12-14-1865 Vindicator reports that G. W. Dudley was attacked by two African-Americans while returning to Staunton. Delegates for county school boards selected. Committee on Reconstruction formed by US House.
12-18-1865 Declaration of the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
12-20-1865 Meeting of the B&O Railroad expresses interest in a railway through the Valley of Virginia.
12-21-1865 Reconstruction committee appointed by US Senate.
12-22-1865 Vindicator announced death of Dr. R. H. Gambill, former assistant physician at the Western Lunatic Asylum. Chambersburg residents appeal to PA legislature for compensation for damages inflicted by Confederates.
12-29-1865 County Convention of the School Board discusses finances for the upcoming year. Rev. Weightman lectures at courthouse on "Prison Life among the Rebels in 1862."


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