Civil War -- 1862
Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated.
- 1862
- January 19
- Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky
- January 21
- Attends funeral of John Tyler
- February 6
- Fort Henry, Tennessee, surrenders
- February 16
- Fort Donelson, Tennessee, surrenders
- February 20
- Meets with J. E. Johnston
- February 21
- Writes Joseph E. Davis about recent occurrences
- February 22
- Inaugurated president; hosts reception, 8-11 p.m.
- February 25
- Sends state of the nation address to Congress
- March 7-8
- Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas
- March 9
- USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimack) fight to a draw in Hampton Roads, Virginia
- March 21
- Travels to army on the Potomac
- March 22
- Confers with Lee at Gordonsville and with Johnston in Fredericksburg; returns to Richmond
- March 31
- Meets with Johnston
- April 2
- Confers with Johnston and Lee
- April 6-7
- Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, where Davis's close friend Albert Sidney Johnston is killed
- April 8
- Island No. 10 off of New Madrid, Missouri, surrenders
- April 12
- With Lee and aides, rides toward York River Railroad station and returns; confers with Johnston
- April 14
- Meets with Lee, Johnston, G. W. Smith, James Longstreet, and George W. Randolph
- April 24
- David G. Farragut passes the forts below New Orleans, Louisiana; city taken by end of the month
- May 6
- Baptized and confirmed in Episcopal faith at St. Paul's Church, Richmond
- May 9
- Norfolk, Virginia, evacuated
- May 10
- Varina Davis and children leave for Raleigh, North Carolina
- May 12
- With Lee, visits Johnston's headquarters
- May 13
- Returns to Richmond
- May 15 & 16
- Rides to Drewry's Bluff, Virginia (site of May 15 battle)
- May 17
- Tours Richmond defensive lines; confers with Johnston
- [May 24]
- [Confers with Johnston in Richmond]
- May [30]
- Writes Varina Davis about military situation
- May 31
- Tours Seven Pines battlefield with W. P. Johnston and Joseph C. Ives; confers with G. W. Smith and Lee
- June 1
- With Lee, Letcher, Randolph, and W. P. Johnston, meets with generals on battlefield; visits J. E. Johnston
- June [4-5]
- Visits Rose O. Greenhow
- June 15
- Travels to Raleigh, North Carolina
- June 18
- Returns to Richmond
- June 19
- Writes Varina Davis about trip and about concern for the family
- June 24
- Visits Lee's headquarters
- June 26-July 1
- Present near battlefields during Seven Days' campaign
- July 2
- Visits Lee's headquarters; meets Stonewall Jackson
- July [c8-27]
- Varina Davis visits from Raleigh
- July 13
- Meets with Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, and other generals
- August [15-20]
- Varina Davis returns to Richmond
- August 28-30
- Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run), Virginia
- September 3
- Lee writes of his intention to march into Maryland
- September 17
- Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Maryland
- September 22
- Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation announced
- October 3-4
- Battle of Corinth, Mississippi
- October 8
- Battle of Perryville, Kentucky
- October 26-27
- Confers with Braxton Bragg
- November 3
- Meets with E. Kirby Smith
- December 7
- Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas
- December 9
- Leaves Richmond for western tour
- December 11
- Speaks at Knoxville; arrives in Chattanooga
- December 12
- Arrives in Murfreesboro via Bridgeport and Dechard Station
- December 13
- Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
- December 14
- Returns to Chattanooga, Tennessee
- December 15
- Leaves Chattanooga, accompanied by Joseph E. Johnston
- December 17
- Arrives in Montgomery, Alabama; meets with Governor John Gill Shorter; leaves for Mississippi
- December 19
- Arrives in Jackson; leaves for Vicksburg
- December 20-22
- Surveys Vicksburg defenses
- December 25
- Travels to Jackson with Johnston and John C. Pemberton
- December 26
- Addresses legislature in Jackson
- December 29
- Leaves Jackson
- December 30
- Arrives in Mobile, Alabama; reviews troops; speaks
- December 31-January 2
- Battle of Stones River, Tennessee
