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Period: to
civil war
December 6, 1865 -
the confederts
- The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president.
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the war begins
April 12, 1861 - At 4:30 a.m. Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. -
troops
April 15, 1861 - President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen, and summoning a special session of Congress for July 4. -
bull run
July 21, 1861 - The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell suffers a defeat at Bull Run 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resists Union attacks. Union troops fall back to Washington. President Lincoln realizes the war will be long. "It's damned bad," he comments. -
yorktown
April 5–May 4 Siege of Yorktown, Virginia -
shiloh
April 6/7, 1862 - Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates, more men than in all previous American wars combined. The president is then pressured to relieve Grant but resists. "I can't spare this man; he fights," Lincoln says. -
beaver dam
June 26, Beaver Dam Creek, Virginia* -
gaines mill
June 27, Gaines Mill, Virginia* -
goldings farm
June 27–28, Garnett’s Farm and Golding’s Farm, Virginia* -
allens farm
June 29, Savage Station and Allen’s Farm, Virginia* -
bull run 2
August 29/30, 1862 - 75,000 Federals under Gen. John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. Once again the Union Army retreats to Washington. The president then relieves Pope. -
gettyburg
July 1–3, Battle of Gettyburg, Pennsylvania -
fort pillow
April 12, Battle of Fort Pillow, Tennessee -
spotsvlvania
May 8–21, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia -
resaca
May 13–15, Battle of Resaca, Georgia -
cold harbor
May 31-June 12, Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia -
petersburg
June 15–18, Battle of Petersburg, Virginia -
atlanta
July 22, Battle of Atlanta, Georgia -
fishers
September 21–24, Battle of Fisher’s Hill, Virginia -
nashville
December 15–16, Battle of Nashville Nashville, Tennessee -
general lee surrenders
April 9, General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia