Below are links to key documents and speeches of the Civil War era:
1860
Abraham Lincoln’s Speech at Cooper Union, New York City, 27 February 1860 (courtesy AbrahamLincolnOnline.org)
James Buchanan’s Annual Message to Congress, 3 December 1860 (courtesy StateOfTheUnion.OneTwoThree.net)
1861
James Buchanan’s Special Message to Congress, 8 January 1861 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Jefferson Davis’ Farewell Address to the U.S. Senate, 21 January 1861 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
James Buchanan’s Special Message to Congress, 28 January 1861 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Farewell Address to Residents of Springfield, Illinois, 11 February 1861 (courtesy AbrahamLincolnOnline.org)
Jefferson Davis’ Inaugural Address, 18 February 1861 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Address, 4 March 1861 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Special Message to Congress, 4 July 1861 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Jefferson Davis’ Message to the Confederate Congress, 18 November 1861 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Annual Message to Congress, 3 December 1861 (courtesy PresidentialRhetoric.com)
1862
Jefferson Davis’ Second Inaugural Address, 22 February 1862 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Jefferson Davis’ Message to the Confederate Congress, 25 February 1862 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Annual Message to Congress, 1 December 1862 (courtesy InfoPlease.com)
Jefferson Davis’ Address at Jackson, Mississippi, 26 December 1862 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
1863
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, 1 January 1863 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving, 3 October 1863 (courtesy AbrahamLincolnOnline.org)
Abraham Lincoln’s Address at the Dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, 19 November 1863 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Annual Message to Congress, 8 December 1863 (courtesy StateOfTheUnion.OneTwoThree.net)
Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, 8 December 1863 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
1864
Jefferson Davis’ Message to the Confederate Congress, 2 May 1864 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Annual Message to Congress, 6 December 1864 (courtesy StateOfTheUnion.OneTwoThree.net)
1865
William T. Sherman’s Field Order No. 15, 16 January 1865 (courtesy BlackPast.org)
Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, 4 March 1865 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)
Jefferson Davis’ Proclamation from Danville, Virginia, 4 April 1865 (courtesy JeffersonDavis.Rice.edu)
Abraham Lincoln’s Speech from the White House Portico, 11 April 1865 (courtesy AbrahamLincolnOnline.org)
Andrew Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation, 29 May 1865 (courtesy Presidency.UCSB.edu)