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The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the American Civil War. It started on April 12, 1861 and ended on April 14, 1861. President Lincoln pronounced his plans resupply Fort Sumter. the Confederate army bombarded the fort. 34 hours of artillery fire was exchanged. Anderson surrendered on April 13th. Confederate troops occupied Fort Sumter for four years. After the War, Fort Sumter was restored. This Battle was significant because it was where the first shots were fired. -
The Union Naval Blockade ran form April 19, 1861 to the end of the civil war in 1865. The Union had a strategy called the Anaconda plan. The plan was to keep foreign countries from shipping supplies to Confederates. The South did not have an industrial economy. So, they used cotton as a bargain for supplies. The Union used 500 ships to block off major ports. This event was significant because people in the South were suffering due to the lack of supplies and the economy came to a halt. -
The First Battle of Bull took place on July 21, 1861. General McDowell led the Union army up Bull Run Creek to attack. The Union army had the number advantage. General Jackson and his forces were able to hold off the Union attacks. While holding off the attacks, confederate reinforcements arrived from General Joseph Johnson's division. The Confederates had claimed victory. This battle was significant because it was the first major battle of the Civil War and it boosted the Southern morale. -
The Trent affair took place between Great Britain and the United States from November to December 1861. Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell were aboard the Trent. They hoped to get support for the South in the war. Mason and Slidell got arrested on the ship. Britain was outraged. They demanded the release of Mason and Slidell and an apology. The British minister warned that the US should surrender or war will ensue. It was significant because it almost triggered a war with Britain. -
The Battle of Shiloh took place April 6, 1862 to April 7, 1862. On April 6th confederates came out the woods and stormed federal camps. Intense fighting ensued. The Union army managed to launch counter attacks, but they soon began to lose ground. General Beauregard is then sent to replace Johnston. General Buell arrived with reinforcements over night for Grant. Grant’s army launched their attack. Grant received more reinforcements. The Union won the battle. This was a crucial win for the Union. -
The Battle of Antietam took place form September 16, 1862 to September 18, 1862. General Hooker’s Union corps launched an attack on General Lee’s left flank. Union and confederates go back and forth across Miller’s cornfield. The Union had the advantage in numbers. The Union assaults the Confederate center, for a key position. The Union later abandons their position. The final assault was made by General Burnside. The battle was a stalemate. It showed that the Union could stand against the South -
On July 1862, Lincoln told his cabinet that he was issuing an emancipation proclamation. The Union's victory at the Battle of Antietam gave him the strength. On September 22, 1862, Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This then changed the cause of fighting the Civil War to the ending of Slavery. This event was significant because it led to the way to the total abolition of slavery and the aim of the war changed from preserving the union to ending slavery. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg took place from December 11, 1862 to December 15, 1862. On December 11th, a group of engineers were assembling pontoon bridges for the Union Army. Confederate riflemen slowed down their progress. General Burnside had a landing party across the river to hunt down confederate snipers. Confederates withdrew after few hours. On December 13th, the Union launched an assault on Jackson’s troop. Towards the end of the war, the confederates took the win, a loss for the Union. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville took place from April 30, 1863 to May 6,1863. General Burnside was replaced by General Joseph Hooker. Going into the battle Hooker had about 115,00 men while Lee had 60,000. On April 27th, Hooker planned to surprise attack his enemy. Unfortunately, his plan failed. On May 1st, the two armies clashed on an open field. General Lee split his army again and sent General “Stonewall” to attack the Union right flank. He later died from pneumonia. Confederates took the win -
The Vicksburg Campaign was on of the Union’s Army most successful campaigns. It took place form May 18, 1863 to July 4, 1863. Grant marched his army down to Jackson. After defeating confederate forces in Jackson, Grant went back to Vicksburg. On May 16th, he defeated a force at Champion Hill. Pemberton retreated to Vicksburg and Grant sealed off the city. July 4th, 1863, Pemberton’s force surrendered. The Union army claimed this victory. This gave the Union's Mississippi and favor in the war. -
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1- July 3, 1863. It is considered the most important engagement of the Civil War. General Lee invaded the North for the second time. On July 1st, General Lee assembled his troops in the town of Gettysburg. On July 2nd, the Union Army established a strong position from Cupid Hill to Cemetery Ridge. Over several hours, intense fighting ensued.On July 3rd, General Lee sent three divisions to attack the Union center. The Union won. -
On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg, which was on the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles. In President Lincoln’s brief address, he talked about principles of human equality, how the sacrifices of the war were connected to the birth of a new freedom, and the preservation of the Union. This event was significant because it was considered one of the best speeches of all time. -
The Overland Campaign took place from May to June of 1864. It was a series of battles initiated by General Grant to destroy General Lee’s Army and to take the Confederate Capital. General Grant carried out his plan by placing his massive army between General Lee’s Army and Richmond. Over the three battles and skirmishes, both sides had losses. In the end, the Union’s assaults against Lee’s Army drove them to the brink of disaster. This event marked the Union’s first major offensive. -
Sherman’s March took place from November to December 1864. General Sherman marched to Savannah, Georgia to take control of the sea port. It was a risky march since he was in enemy territory and he did not have many supplies. His army destroyed and looted about everything in their path. This caused much damage to the South. Sherman split up his army to spread the destruction. When he arrived in Savannah, the Mayor surrendered quickly. The Union won. This march broke the backbone of the South. -
The Appomattox Campaign took place from March 29, 1865 to April 9, 1865. It was the final of the war. It consisted of a series of battles. General Grant’s Army moved against Confederate trenches in Petersburg. General Lee’s troops were outnumbered and were forced to leave the city. General Grant’s Army later traps the Confederates near Appomattox Courthouse. This leads to General Lee’s surrender. This campaign was significant because it was the last battle of the war. -
On April 9th, 1865, General Grant and General Lee meet up to the discuss the surrender of General Lee’s Army. Grant had respect for General Lee and they both decided on surrender terms. The terms of the surrender were that the Confederate soldiers would hand in their rifles, but they were allowed to go back home and keep their livestock. The terms also mentioned giving Southerners’ food, since most of them were hungry. This signified that the South had lost the war.