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Lincoln Elected President
Though winning in the electoral college, Lincoln's lack of a popular majority {1.9 million out of 4.7 million votes cast} is an indication of the problems he would face with a dividd nation. -
South Carolina Secedes
On the news of Lincoln's election, South Carolina secedes. -
Bull Run {1st battle}
Gen. McDowell leads 30,000 men against Gen.South scores victory as Union troops flee back to Washington in disarray. McDowell replaced by Gen. McClellan -
Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson
Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee. -
New Orleans
Farragut seizes New Orleans for Union after boldly attacking Southern position. 11 Southern ships sunk. -
Bull Run {2nd battle}
McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union trops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln announces that on 1.1.63, all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. Does not affect border states. Forces European nations to recognize that choosing sides in the Civil War is to take a stand on slavery, -
Fredericksburg
Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000). -
Chancellorsville
Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed. -
Chattanooga
Grant is able to push Southern troops back and prepare for assault on Atlanta and the heart of the Confederacy after being reinforced. -
Grant promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops
Grant prepares for assault on Richmond. When Lincoln's Cabinet complains that Grant is a drinking and seeks to interfer with his command, Lincoln gives him unconditional support and asks not to be notified of his plans. -
Lee surrenders
Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender. -
Wilderness & Spotsylvania
Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, Grant resumes march to RichmondThough suffering huge losses (55,000 men to South's 31,000), -
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Petersburg
Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication outside Richmond. Long siege of Petersburg begins with troops living in trenches which stretched for 50m -
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Atlanta to Savannah
Gen. Sherman destroys Atlanta and then sends troops on 300 mile destructive march to the sea. Railroads torn up, buildings destroyed, crops burned in an attempt to break the will of the South