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Period: to
Civil War
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Fort Sumter
April 12, 1861 to April 14, 1861
President Lincoln sends a ship to resupply the federal fort. Believing the ship had troops and weapons, the Confederacy fired on the fort. Due to the attack on the fort, Lincoln calls up 75,000 troops and some of the border states, such as Virginia, secede. -
First Bull Run
Two months after Fort Sumter, the Union’s President Lincoln and General Irvin McDowell planned an attack on more than 20,000 Confederate troops. However, the Confederates, led by Beauregard and Johnston, were prepared and able to outsmart the Union. By 4:00 p.m., there was an equal number of men on both sides, right when Beauregard ordered a counterattack along the entire line, resulting in the federal troops to chaotically retreat. The First Battle of Bull Run cost about 3,000 Union casualties -
Shiloh
Being the second great engagement of the Civil War, the Confederates launched a surprise attack against the Union in Tennessee on April 6, 1862. The battle was fought in the woods by two unprepared sides since the Union was already planning an offensive. Both sides suffered heavily, with a total of 23,000 casualties in all. With it being mostly a failure on the Confederate’s part, both sides still claimed a victory. -
Hampton Roads
This battle was part of the Confederate effort to break down the Union's blockade of Southern ports. But, Virginia's success on March 8th gave the Confederates false hope: the Union blockade was not broken. After the Confederates left Norfolk, Virginia was ruined by its crew. -
Antietam
On September 17, the first battle of the American Civil War was to be fought in the north. Generals Lee and McClellan challenged each other in Sharpsburg, Maryland. With over 22,000 casualties, it remains the bloodiest single day in American history. After some consecutive defeats, the Union finally had a tactical victory that provided Lincoln the political cover he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Lee withdrew across the river, which was claimed by the Union as a win. -
Fredericksburg
Due to miscommunication and more directions between Burnside and Halleck, the Union army suffered a terrible loss during the battle of Fredericksburg. The Union was upset about losing this battle, the Confederate army gained military strength. -
Chancellorsville
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's attack against Hooker destroyed nearly half of Hooker's army line. But, night and darkness prevented complete victory. Stonewall was badly wounded during this attack. Lee lost 12,826 casualities, including Stonewall during the battle of Chancellorsville. -
Gettysburg
Robert E. Lee assembled his army in the town of Gettysburg. He wanted to gain recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France. Lee wanted to strengthen the Copperheads. As this battle continued, both the Union and the Confederate armies lost many troops. The battle of Gettysburg moved the Civil War into the Union's favor. -
Vicksburg
General John C. Pemberton came across Grant in Vicksburg. But, once Grant arrived in the rear of Vicksburg, some 30,000 of Pemberton's soldiers were isolated. After days of battling, Pemberton surrendered the city of Vicksburg on July 4th. -
Chickamauga
On September 19th, 1863, the Union army and Confederate army met in the woods, along the banks of Chickamauga Creek. On the first day of battle, Bragg's army attacked the Union army repeatedly. In result of this battle, Grant was o his way to becoming the commander of the Union army. -
Wilderness
With Grant as the Union’s new commander in chief, the Overland Campaign was planned and put into action on May 6. As the Union was marching through dense woodland, Lee made the decision to confront the Northern troops in the familiar wilderness. The first day of battle was fierce and chaotic, fighting until dark, therefore halted until morning. Two days later, May 7th, the federal troops marched toward Spotsylvania Courthouse, but not until Lee’s Confederates had already beat them there. -
Spotsylvania
While the Union army traveled to Spotsylvania, the crossed paths with Lee and the Confederates. On May 12, Hancock's Union troops attacked the Confederate mule-shoe, capturing most of a rebel division, cutting Lee's army in half. Lee then tried a counterattack. No one really won this battle. Later, Lee was still forced to move the Confederates between the enemy and the Confederate capital. -
Sherman's March
Sherman marched through Georgia and destroyed it by using total warfare. He then took over Savannah. Sherman eliminated the south's hopes of winning the war by taking all of their resources and land. -
Petersburg
In a series of battles after the Union began a siege of Petersburg, the Union had many losses up until August, when Grant captured Fort Harrison. The Confederates became ill due to physical exhaustion during their battle on June 9. Their railroads were broken down, and the troops were immobilized. As a result of the Union driving the Confederates back, Lee was left with 50,000 troops while Grant still had 120,000. In the end, Lee surrendered to General Grant. -
Lincoln's Assassination
As President Lincoln sat at Ford's Thearte in Washington D.C., he was murdered by John WIlkes Booth of Maryland. Wilkes then stabbed an army officer that was with Lincoln. Union soldiers later found Booth and killed him. Many mourned over the loss of President Lincoln, and hated President Johnson that followed him.
