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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 Battle of Bull Run
July 21, 1861
The Union was the first to strike with General McDowell at command. The Federals push the rebels across Warrington turn pike and up Henry House Hill. A few hours in to the battle both sides had around the some number of troops. The Confederates won the battle when McDowell and his men retreated. Thomas J. Jackson received his nickname of “Stonewall” from this battle. -
Hampton Roads
March 8, 1862 to March 9, 1862
This battle was part of the Confederates plan to break the Union blockage. This was the first battle in history between ironclad warships. The battle was inconclusive with both sides suffering damage. The battle was fought between USS Monitor under Union command and the CSS Virginia (originally named Merrimack) witch was under Confederate command. Monitor was sometimes called the “Yankee Cheese Box on a raft” because of it totally new design. -
Shiloh
April 6, 1862- April 7, 1862
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was the second great engagement of the Civil War. Confederate forces attacked Grant’s Union troops in southern Tennessee and had initial successes but could not maintain their position, resulting in 23,000 casualties between the two armies. Though it was an obvious Confederate failure, it was recorded as a victory for both armies; both sides’ forces were immobilized for the next three weeks. -
Antietam
September 17, 1862 to September 18, 1862
General Lee planned to split his troops up and catch General McDowell off guard but he lost a copy of his plan and it was found by the Union. This battle was the bloodiest battle of the war. The Confederates started out with about 38,000 troops and the Union with 75,000 troops. By the end of the battle the Confederates casualty count was 10,318 the Unions count was 12,401. Ending with a Union victory when Lee withdrew back across Antietam Creek. -
Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
The Union under new command was Ambrose Burnside. Burnside planned to cross Rappahannock River and capture Richmond before Lee and his forces could get there to protect it. This plan mostly would have worked but the necessary pontoons were delayed and that gave Lee’s troop enough time to get into position. The Union suffered a loss of about 13,000 men. The Union was defeated this win of the Confederates game the troops a much needed morale boost. -
Chancellorsville
April 30, 1863 to May 6, 1863
At the Battle of Chancellorsville General Lee split his troops in two to confront Union General Hooker, who assumed a defensive position. Lee again split his troops and attacked. In response, Hooker retreated across the Rappahannock River. Though the Confederacy suffered fewer casualties, “Stonewall” Jackson was accidentally killed by his own troops. This victory provided Lee with the strategic initiative that would soon lead him north to Gettysburg. -
Gettysburg
July 1, 1863 to July 3, 1863
After his victory at Chancellorsville, Lee gathered his forces at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On July 1st, battle commenced between the two armies. On July 2nd, Lee decided to attack Union defenses. Both armies suffered heavy losses and Lee's forces took much of the Union's land. On July 3rd, Lee again attacked, but the assault failed, reducing his army to barely half. This battle halted Lee’s invasion of the North and turned the tide of the war in the Union's favor. -
Siege of Vicksburg
May 18, 1863 to July 4, 1863
General Grant at first tried to take Vicksburg by force with two assaults in May. When both failed Grant came up with a new plan to wait out General Pemberton and his troops. Pemberton’s forces began to run out of food because Grant cut off and supplies. The starving began to eat horses, mules, dogs, cats, and rats. Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg on July 4 this coupled with a victory at Gettysburg a day before marked a turning point in the war. -
Chickamauga
September 19, 1863 to September 20, 1863
Prior to the Battle of Chickamauga, the Union gained control of a key railroad center at Chattanooga, TN, gathering their forces at Chickamauga. However, promised reinforcements allowed General Bragg to take the offensive. Initially, Union forces held their position, but were then forced into a retreat towards Chattanooga. As a result, Grant took over Union control of the region, later reversing these results with the help of General Thomas. -
Petersburg
June 9, 1864 to April 9, 1864
Petersburg was a very important rail and communication center about 23 miles south of Richmond. It was part of the Confederate defense. On March 25 Lee only had 50,000 troops to battle Grant’s 120,000. On April 9 Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. -
Wilderness
May 5, 1864 to May 7, 1864
The Battle of Wilderness began on May 5 when General Lee attacked Meade’s forces in hopes of overcoming its numerical advantage. After the first day, Union forces gained a position from which they could attack Lee; Confederate forces then counterattacked and the Union again held their position. The battle ended inconclusively on May 7. After the battle, Grant did not retreat and instead marched towards Spotsylvania where the Union advance was once again stalled. -
Spotsylvania
May 8, 1864 to May 21, 1864
This Battle began only two days after the Battle of the Wilderness. May 11 General J.E.B Stuart made a stand on the Union cavalry six miles north of Richmond Stuart was mortally wounded in this loss for the Confederacy. On May 19 the Confederates turned the tables and attacked the Union at Harris Farm. With this two days later Grant ordered is army to disengage. This battle was one of the bloodiest frights in the Civil War. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sept. 2, 1864 to Dec. 21, 1864
Prior to Sherman’s March to Sea, Union troops captured Atlanta, the industrial center of the South. As a result, Confederate forces headed west, attacking Union supply lines as they went; the Union then sent Sherman’s men to Savannah. Southern troops attacked once, retreating further south after losing. Sherman’s forces arrived in an unprotected Savannah on Dec. 21. Sherman’s troops later advanced into SC, contributing to the Confederacy’s surrender in April 1865. -
Lincoln's Assassination
April 14, 1865 to April 15, 1865
As the Civil War entered its final stages, John Wilkes Booth devised a plan to save the Confederacy after the fall of Richmond. Knowing that President Lincoln would be at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, Booth planned to assassinate him. That morning, Booth slipped into the theater box and shot Lincoln; he died the next morning. Lincoln’s assassination had a long-lasting impact on the United States, helping to unify a country shaken by war against a common enemy.
