Civil War By johnakay Apr 12, 1861 Shots Fired at Fort Sumter Jul 21, 1861 The Confederate army defeats the Union army at the First Battle of Bull Run in Virginia Mar 9, 1862 The ironclad ships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia battle, ending in a draw Sep 17, 1862 Casualties total 26,000 in the Battle of Antietam. Lee's invasion of the North ends in retreat Jan 1, 1863 President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. This document eventually free all slaves Period: Jul 1, 1863 to Jul 3, 1863 The Union army defeats the Confederate army at the Battle of Gettysburg. This is the turning point of the war. Jul 4, 1863 Confederate troops surrender the town of Vicksburg after 40 days of nonstop cannon assaults from Union troops. Nov 19, 1863 President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of a national cemetery on the site of the battlefield in Gettysburg. Sep 2, 1864 The Union army captures Atlanta, Georgia. The city is burned to the ground by Sherman's troops Nov 8, 1864 President Lincoln is reelected Apr 9, 1865 Confederate General Lee surrenders to Union General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia Apr 14, 1865 Before President Lincoln can help restore the South to the Union, he is assassinated.