-
Union Naval Blockade
A Naval blockade that existed through the entirety of the war that prevented Confederate trading. It was significant by being successful - crippling the southern economy to surrender while costing few lives. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Abraham Lincoln ordered the fort be resupplied but the South Carolina militia led by PGT Beauregard had other plans, capturing the fort. The confederacy won after 34 hours of fighting, thus starting the American Civil War. This battle was the tipping point and kicked off the whole war. If not for this, something else would have ticked off the south and started the war. The confederacy army was soon after formed along with many other states seceding from the US after South Carolina did so. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the Civil War was the response to the northern public demanding the army attempt to take over the confederate capital of Richmond, VA. The siege was poorly executed, thus leading Brigadier General Irvin McDowell to be trampled by the confederacy and PGT Beauregard. Up to this point, the First Battle of Bull Run was the deadliest battle ever in American history. Nearly 5,000 people were either killed, severely wounded, or went missing. -
Trent Affair
The US captured 2 Confederate ambassadors headed to the UK and France. They were released after 2 days, but the northern public criticized the government for releasing them, calling them cowards. It might have changed the entire trajectory of the war, likely dragging France and the UK into it - on the wrong side albeit. It would have further angered the south and the Union would have had its hands fuller than previously due to having two foreign nations to fight along with the confederacy. -
Battle of Shiloh
In SW TN, this was the first battle west of the original colonies. The union was led to victory by new general & future POTUS Ulysses S. Grant & the Confederacy by PGT Beauregard & Albert Johnston - who died in battle. Both sides suffered major losses - the union with around 3,000 more, totaling just under 25,000 combined for the Union & Confederacy. It was by far the deadliest battle up to that point, having more deaths, injuries & missing persons than the previous battles combined - doubled. -
Battle of Antietam
Fought in MD, Antietam had an inconclusive outcome. The confederates were led by notorious general Robert E. Lee, the union by George B. McClellan. The battle was almost as deadly as Shiloh with a combined casualty total greater than 22,000. No winner and a lot of dead people made this fairly inefficient for both sides, however it seen as a strategic northern victory because Lincoln's disappointment in the outcome inspired him to issue the Emancipation Proclamation just days later. -
Lincoln's Issue of the Emancipation Proclamation
Following Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation five days later. It posed a Catch-22 to the south saying effective 1/1/63, all slaves who are freed by force via the union army or by escape are recognized as free citizens by the United States. It broadened the goals of the war effort by making the abolition into an explicit goal as well as reunification. The Emancipation Proclamation also prevented the UK and France from joining the war on the Confederacy's side -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The battle occurred in Fredericksburg, VA & its mere size differentiates it from the rest as over 200,000 soldiers took part in the 4 day battle resulting in a union defeat. Robert E. Lee led the confederates & Ambrose Burnside led the union. The union assembled bridges to advance on the confederates, but the confederates were ready & came out on top. The south rejoiced their victory, while the army & Lincoln came under fire, leading him to say "If there is a worse place than hell, I am in it." -
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg campaign had Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman lead the union to Vicksburg fortress and engage with the confederates. Their smart military tactics were able to fool confederate forces by creating river blockades, preventing access to their ports. Of the south's 40k soldiers who engaged, 39k were either killed, wounded, or reported missing. Destruction of confederate forces in Vicksburg made it considered a major turning point in the war in favor of the United States. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The union was led by Joseph Hooker, flopped terribly. Their forces more than doubled that of the CSA. Despite managing to wound and kill confederate general Stonewall Jackson, the union was forced to retreat thanks in part to Robert E. Lee's superb military strategy. The union was shocked by the defeat considering their force's large size. Lincoln even said: "My God! My God! What will the country say?" The Confederates were happy they won but hurt by the loss of general Jackson. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg was interesting because the grand total of soldiers was around 180k and took place in the north - PA. It was the deadliest civil war battle of all and is universally considered the war's turning point as after this, nearly everything went in the way of the union. The south unusually was the offense and General Lee invaded the union - a mistake because he lost almost 30k men and lost. The confederates were forced to retreat back to the south and reassess their plans. -
Gettysburg Address
A short but famous speech by Lincoln, he said that 87 years ago when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they wrote all men were created equal. He argued against slavery saying not all men can be equal if some are enslaved. He proposed that secession was a test of endurance for a nation and that one must remain tough in order to leave the war victorious. He ended with: "[a] government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -
Overland Campaign
The ultimate face off of the Civil War was a two month long engagement that pitted Ulysses S. Grant against Robert E. Lee. In Virginia, the heart of the confederacy was where the many battles occurred. Lee grew increasingly worried as he learned of Grant's advancement on the confederate capital of Richmond. Grant had lee surrounded on nearly all sides, making it virtually impossible for Lee to defend the capital. The change in strategy shifted from attacking the capital to defeating Lee's army. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea
The purpose of the march was to scare confederates into abandoning their cause. Sherman’s soldiers didn't destroy any properties in their path, but they stole confederate's food and cattle and looted the houses and barns of sympathizers who dared fight back. General Sherman said that the union was “not only fighting hostile armies, but a hostile people,” and they needed to “make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.” (some paraphrasing from history.com) (union victory) -
Appomattox Campaign
The south, lead by Lieutenant General James Longstreet was unmatched, depleted, and defeated. Their last fighting chance was at Appomattox and after about 2 weeks, it was clear the north, lead by Major General George G. Meade would prevail. Once again, the south was on the defense - in Virginia. They were unable to defend their claims and were forced to retreat by the eighth of April. This was the final set of battles in the civil war, marking the end of infighting within our country. -
Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox
The depleted southern army led by Lee surrendered to Grant & the north at Appomattox Courthouse on 4.9.1865. The actual war was over, the south in ruins, but the war black people continue to fight to this day prevails. Even though no longer were enslaved, their lack of have from the federal government, allowed for them to be discriminated against systemically. Between redlining & Jim Crow, black people continue to fight despite the ending of the war and it is disgusting they still must do so.