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It is said the battle at Fort Sumter began the Civil War. The Confederate Army, led by Jefferson Davis, attacked Fort Sumter before their suppies arrived. The Union surrendered April 14th.
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This first major battle of the Civil War was fought in northern Virginia. Around 30,000 inexperienced Union soldiers, led by General Irvin McDowell, attacked inexperienced Confederate troops led by General P.G.T. Beauregard. The Union was winning, but soon after, the Confederates broke enemy lines.
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Ulysses S. Grant was ordered to make a move on Confederate forces under General Albert Sidney Johnson. Grant captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee river. 10 days later, Grant captured Fort Donelson on the Cumberland. The commander at Donelson asked Grant for his terms, he said it was "Unconditional Surrender" and became the new hero of the North.
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Lincoln ordered a naval blockade of Southern ports, and the South wouldn't let it go unchallenged. Confederates sailed the Virginia, which was very powerful, so the Union sailed the Monitor, similarily built like the Virginia. The Union kept the Merrimack in the harbor, so it never threatened Northern ships. This marked a new age in naval warfare.
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General Grant and troops headed to Corinth, Mississippi. The Confederates attacked first, before reinforcements arrived. This battle lasted two days. Day one, the Confederates drove Grant and his troops back to the Tennesse River. Day two, Union forces recovered, defeating the Confederates.
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A few weeks after Shiloh, Union naval forces, under David Farragut captured New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans was the largest city in the south at the time. The capture of this city meant the Confederacy couldn't use the river to carry it's goods to sea.
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Davis ordered Lee to launch an offensive into Maryland, hoping it would bring aid from France and Britain. Lee's army marched into Maryland with many Union troops after them. Luckily, two North soldiers found a copy of Lee's orders for his army! Now, McLellan knew exactly what to do, This battle was labled the bloodiest, with close to 6,000 dead and 17,000 seriously wounded.
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Lee and his soldiers began moving North. Lincoln told Union general Hooker to attack Lee's army. Hooker failed, and Lincoln replaced him with General George Meade. These two armies met by accident in Gettysburg when Union cavalry surprised Rebel infantry. The last attack, Pickett's Charge, made Lee know the battle was lost. Barely half of the Rebels returned.
