1863

1863 was a pivotal year in the midst of the American Civil War, marked by major political decisions and battlefield campaigns that shaped the course of the conflict. On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free and enabling the recruitment of black soldiers into the Union Army. The Enrollment Act of March 3 established a federal conscription system, which contributed to significant civil unrest, most notably the New York City Draft Riots in July.

In the Western Theatre, Union forces achieved a decisive result at Vicksburg, where the siege ended on July 4, 1863, granting the Union control of the Mississippi River. The following month, the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3) in Pennsylvania became a turning point in the war, and the commemorative Gettysburg Address was delivered on November 19, 1863 during the cemetery dedication. The same year saw the Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20) in Georgia, a Confederate victory that underscored the strategic stalemate of the region. Earlier, the cavalry engagement at Brandy Station (June 9) represented a notable clash in the Eastern theaters. The siege of Port Hudson (May 22–July 9) culminated in Union control of the lower Mississippi.

Other notable developments included West Virginia’s admission to statehood on June 20, 1863, separating from Virginia, and the organization of the Arizona Territory on February 24, 1863. Internationally, the International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1863, addressing humanitarian needs arising from modern warfare.