Tennessee in the Confederacy: 1861–1865 Timeline

Tennessee was part of the Confederate States of America for approximately four years: June 8, 1861 – April/May 1865.

Key Dates

• June 8, 1861: Tennessee voters approve secession referendum (104,913–47,238) — last state to join Confederacy
• July 1861: Formal admission to CSA
• February 1862: Union victories at Fort Henry/Donelson — Nashville falls, first Confederate capital captured
• 1862–1863: Major battles: Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga
• November 1864: Battle of Franklin — devastating Confederate defeat
• December 1864: Battle of Nashville — Confederate Army of Tennessee destroyed
• April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox
• April 26, 1865: Gen. Johnston surrenders remaining Confederate forces in NC (includes TN units)
• May 1865: Last organized Confederate resistance in TN ends

Strategic Significance

• Border state divided: East TN strongly Unionist; West TN pro-Confederate; Middle TN split
• Rivers & rails: Mississippi, Cumberland, Tennessee Rivers + rail hubs made TN critical logistics corridor
• Manpower: ~115,000 TN men served Confederacy; ~51,000 served Union (most from East TN)
• Battles: 2nd most battles of any state (after Virginia) — ~1,462 engagements

Reconstruction Transition

Andrew Johnson (TN Unionist, Lincoln's VP) became President. TN was first Confederate state readmitted to Union (July 24, 1866) after ratifying 14th Amendment — avoiding Military Reconstruction Acts that governed other Southern states.