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Abraham Lincoln was elected as president (first term)
The Civil War was not caused by his election, but the election was one of the primary reasons the war broke out the following year. -
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Civil War
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Confederate States of America is Formed
In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, an anti-slavery Republican, as President, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The attack of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
It was the first major battle of the Civil War. The Confederates won and it shattered the North's hopes of winning the war quickly. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, having regrouped and consolidated his army, counterattacked and, by successfully employing his artillery, slowly forced the Rebels back. -
Battle of Shiloh
After Beauregard's men retreated from the battle, Gen. Grant sent 2 Brig. Gens. after him where they met at Fallen Timbers. The battle continued there, but shortly came to a close after using aggresive tactics. -
7 Days Battle
A series of six battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from Richmond and into a retreat down the Virginia Peninsula. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union General John Pope's Army of Virginia. It was a battle of a much larger scale and numbers than the First Battle of Bull Run fought on the same ground. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day battle of the entire war. It technically ended in a draw but the Union forces considered it a victory because the Confederates had began to fall back. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
Considered one of the largest and most deadly battles of the Civil War. After five days of fighting, the Union army had suffered over 12,000 casualties. It was clear that Robert E. Lee's army had severely beaten the Union in this battle. -
Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order issued by President Lincoln. It proclaimed the freedom of slaves in the ten states that were then in rebellion. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Considered to be Robert E. Lee's greatest victory, although greatly outnumbered. Lee continually divided his troops into sections to make up for his lack of men which in the end paid off. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The most infamous battle of the Civil War, and also one of the Union's greatest victories. They had successfully stopped Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the north. -
Battle of Chickamauga
This was battle that was longer than both sides had expected but was ended quickly due to the Union retreating after the Confederates realized that there was a hole in the Union's offensive line allowing them to divide and conquer. -
Gettysburg Address
A speech delivered by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was given four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Battle of Chattanooga
After Maj. Gen. Sherman arrived with his four divisions of men to provide assistance, the Union had the man power that they needed to successfully defeat the Confederates in this battle to gain control of the "gateway to the south." -
Battle of Cold Harbor
Gen. Grant suffered heavy losses in this battle losing approx. 13,000 men. After weeks of hard fighting, Grant retreated with the rest of his men towards Petersburg. -
Lincoln is elected (2nd term)
Abraham Lincoln won the Election of 1864. Lincoln ran against Democratic candidate George B. McClellan, his former top general. McClellan ran as the "peace candidate", but he did not personally believe in his party's platform. The only votes counted were those cast in states that had not attempted to secede from the Union. -
Surrender at Appotamox Courthouse
Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant ending the war. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln was killed five days after the commanding General of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac at the Surrender at the Appotamattox Courthouse. The assassination was planned and carried out by the well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth, as part of a larger conspiracy in a bid to revive the Confederate cause.
