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Fort Sumter
The Union was resolved to hold onto all of its forts in Confederate territory. The confederates began firing on the fort when Lincoln sent a boat full of supplies to the fort. The confederates were vicotorious and the fort was surrendered.
The Union called for 75,000 troops, prompting the confederacy to declare war. -
First Bull Run
Also called "First Manassas" by the Southern States, was a poorly fought battle, that was fought between poorly trained armies. The Union's goal was to march on Richmond and put an early end to the Civil War. The Confederacy believed that an early decisive victory would prompt the Union to negotiate peace. /Casualties were light compared to other battles but they were still substantial.
The battle was won by the Confederates, and both sides realized that the war will not be won easily. -
The Battle of Hampton Roads
The battle of Hampton Roads was the most notable naval battle in the Civil War. The Confederate ship CSS Virginia, was attempting to break the Union Navy's blockade when it encountered a number of ships, it easily destroyed these ships, but the next day, the USS Monitor arrived. The two ships exchanged fire but neither were able to land a decisive hit.
The battle of Hampton Roads was important to the outcome of the war because it allowed the Union to continue their blockade of the Confederacy. -
The Battle of Shiloh
Also known as "The Battle of Pittsburg Landing" was fought over a control point of the Tennessee and the Cumberland rivers. The Confederate troops were poorly armed, with flintlock muskets, shotguns and even pikes. The Union's armarment was superior and they were able to win the battle.
The battle was the bloodiest so far, and it reaffirmed the idea that the war could not be ended quickly. The Buell and Grant's armies were able to join together to become the main force in the western theater. -
The Battle of Antietam
The battle took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland along the banks of Antietam Creek. Confederate General Robert E. Lee engaged the Union's Major General George B. McClellan.General Lee intended to invade the North, and to demoralize its people. It was the bloodiest one-day battle in the war.
Lee experienced heavy losses and was forced to abandon his plans of invading the North, the battle also allowed President Lincoln to make the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
The battle of Fredericksburg was fought by the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. The Union was attempting to cross the Rappahanaock to capture Richmond, the capital of Virginia.
The Union was devastated in the battle, and was unable to continue their march on to Richmond. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
The battle of Chancellorsville was a major upset victory for the Confederacy, Robert E Lee was outnumbered and divided his troops to fight the Union Army. The victory was caused by Lee's audacity and Joseph Hooker's timidity.
Chancellorsville was an extremely bloody battle for both sides. Stonewall Jackson, one of Lee's best generals and good friends, he compared the loss to losing his right arm. The loss of this -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a massive battle that occured over three days in July 1863. The Union took a defensive position on Cemetery Ridge. Lee's army continued to make attempts to attack the Union, but were unsuccessful on every attempt, including the deadly Pickett's Charge. The battle was a key turning point in the war and was a solid union victory. The confederacy again had to abandon their plans to invade the northern states. -
The Siege of Vicksburg
Grant's army had surrounded the city of Vicksburg on May 18 and had been laying siege to the people inside for over 40 days. The starved and demoralized troops of Vicksburg Surrendered, the Union captureded nearly 30,000 rebel soldiers.
Vicksburg's surrender occurred just a day after the Confederate's defeat at Gettysburg, these two battles were major turning points in the war. The confederacy lost control of the Mississippi River and communications with the States west of it. -
The Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga was one of the Union's most important defeats in the western theater. The battle was a stalemate until the Union's miscommunication caused a gap to form in their line, which the Confederate officers quickly exploited.
After the loss at Chickamauga the Union was forced to end their campaign in Tennessee. -
Battle of the Wilderness
The battle of the Wilderness was Grant's first battle of his Overland Campaign, he engaged Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia.
The battle was tactically inconclusive with both sides suffering massive casualties, Grant was able to continue his offensive into Virginia. -
Spotsylvania
The battle of Spotsylvania occurred over a period of thirteen days in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It was the costliest battle of the Civil War.
The battle was tactically inconclusive with massive losses, Grant decided to make an attempt to engage Grant several more times, all of which met heavy resistence. -
General Sherman's March to the Sea
General William Tecumseh Sherman started his march from the captured city of Atlanta with a goal of capturing the strategically important port city of Savannah. He used or destroyed everything in his path, crippling the economy in that area.
Sherman's march had serious repercusions for the Confederacy, their economy and supply lines were crippled, and two of their major cities were left in ruin. -
The Battles of Petersburg
The Battles began on March 9th 1864, when the Union attempted to capture Petersburg,Virginia. The Union was at first unsuccessful in the battle, but then fell back and dug a long line of trenches near the city. They continued their attacks unsuccessfully for over a year until they finally broke through and captured the city.
Petersburg was an important supply route for Richmond, and after the city fell, The rebel capital became a much easier target. -
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Less than a week after the Confederate's surrender, Lincoln was watching a play in Ford's theater, when John Wilkes Booth snuck into his box and shot him, he escaped but was killed a few weeks later.
Abraham Lincoln was killed and his vice president took office, Lincoln never was able to enact his plans for reconstruction.
