| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union Army crosses the James River, ending Grant's Overland Campaign and besieging Petersburg |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union Army's Marine Brigade burns the town of Austin, Mississippi for sheltering rebel forces |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union garrison on Santa Rosa Island in Florida beats off a Confederate attack on Fort Pickens |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union League of New York City hosts a massive reception for General Philip Sheridan. |
| Business/Industry |
|
The Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon opens in Philadelphia |
| Religion/Philosophy |
|
The Union, by presidential proclamation, holds a day of "humiliation, prayer, and fasting" for the nation |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union's Army of the Tennessee attempts the storming of Vicksburg but is beaten back |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The Union's Army of the Tennessee captures Atlanta, boosting northern morale and Republican prospects |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States and Chile agree to submit the long standing "Macedonia" dispute for arbitration |
| US/the World |
|
The United States and Great Britain sign the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States and Mexico sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo |
| US/the World |
|
The United States and New Granada (today Colombia) sign the Bidlack Treaty |
| US/the World |
|
The United States and several European powers sign a joint trade agreement with Japan. |
| Legal/Political |
|
The United States appoints its first entomologist |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The United States Army abolishes flogging as a punishment |
| Battles/Soldiers |
|
The United States Army begins its incursion into Native-American territory along the Bozeman Trail. |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States becomes the second nation state to recognize the new united Kingdom of Italy |
| Religion/Philosophy |
|
The United States Christian Commission is set up at a conference in New York City |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States establishes a Court of Claims |
| Cultural |
|
The United States Inebriate Asylum is organized in New York |
| Education/Culture |
|
The United States Navy celebrates the eighty-fifth anniversary of its founding |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States reclassifies convicted Confederate privateers as prisoners of war |
| US/the World |
|
The United States recognizes the Liberal government of Benito Juarez in Mexico |
| US/the World |
|
The United States releases the Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell into British custody |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States Senate expels Missouri Senators Waldo Johnson and Trusten Polk for treason |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
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|
The United States Senate is sitting in special session in Washington DC |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States Senate occupies its new chamber at the Capitol |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States Senate passes President Lincoln's suggested resolution to help end slavery gradually |
| Commercial |
|
The United States Steamboat Inspection Service in 1859, by the numbers |
| Lawmaking/Litigating |
|
The United States Supreme Court finishes its 1859-1860 session |
