Civil War

First Battle of Bull Run/ Manassas Junction

Jul 21, 1861

Union General Irvin McDowell and about 30,000 Union troops attacked Confederate troops led by General P. G. T. Beauregard in Virginia. General Thomas Jackson brought Confederate reinforcements and gained the nickname "Stonewall" Jackson. The Confederate troops won, causing supporters of the Union to become discouraged. President Lincoln signed two bills for one million soldiers to serve for three years.

George B. McClellan named General of Army of Potomac

Jul 25, 1861

Appointed by President Lincoln to organize and lead the Army of the East. Also trained the Potomac Army.

Battle of Shiloh/ Pittsburg Landing

Apr 7, 1862

Battle lasted two days and together the two armies had about 23,000 casualties. The Union won and gained control of Pittsburg Landing and Corinth in Mississippi.

Battle of Second Bull Run/ Manassas

Aug 28, 1862

Fought in the same place as the First Battle of Bull Run/ Manassas. Confederate troops defeated General John Pope.

Battle of Antietam/ Sharpsburg

Sep 17, 1862

Bloodiest one day battle in the entire Civil war with about 23,000 casualties on both sides. In Maryland, George McClellan battled Robert E. Lee and the battle was indecisive but stratigically the Union won.

Emancipation Proclamation issued

Sep 22, 1862

Abraham Lincoln issed the Proclamation to free all enslaved people in rebel territories, and went into effect on January 1, 1863. Lincoln said the Constitution gave him the power to take property from an enemy during wartime so the Proclamation was constitutional.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

One of the most one- sided battles in the entire Civil War. The Confederate soldiers won and their were about 17,000 casualties.

Battle of Chancellorsville/ Death of Stonewall Jackson

May 17, 1863

Lee divided the troops and attacked Jackson. Jackson was shot in the arm and had to have it amputated, which caused his death. He was shot by a Confederate soldier.

Battle of Ghettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Nearly 47,000 casualties in four day battle that became the most decisive battle of the Civil War. Confederate troops tried to use an attack called Pickett's Charge, led by General George Pickett, but in the end about two thirds of the soldiers leading the attack were wounded or dead.

Surrender of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

47 day long siege led by Ulysses S. Grant blocked Confederate soldiers in the town of Vicksburg. This battle caused the South to loose all control of the Mississippi River.

Ghettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

Lincoln spoke for two minutes after edward Everett, but in 272 words he honored the soldiers who died and fought, and their cause. Lincoln's speech got mixed reviews by the press, but some thought the speech was successful.

Grant named General of Army of Potomac

Mar 17, 1864

Because of Grant's success at the Battles of Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Shiloh President Lincoln put Ulysses S. Grant incharge of all of the Union Armies. Grant decided to attack from all sides and to defeat the South once and for all.

Lee Surrenders to Grant

Apr 2, 1864

Grant continued to attack Petersburg, and due to sickness, casualties, and desertion Confederate troops broke through. Lee was forced to surrender.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Nov 16, 1864

William T. Sherman and his troops marched from Atlanta, Georgia and to the Atlantic Coast. Along the way they burned farmland and cities.

Assassination of Lincoln

Apr 14, 1865

Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play called Our American Cousin. He died the next day and his body traveled by train to Springfield, Illinois.