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Battle of Fort Sumter
The battle of Fort Sumter was marked as the first war starting the Civil War. It took place in Charleston Harbor, SC. Before the battle, SC would secede from the Union to join the Confederacy. CONF. surrounded the fort in hopes for the Union to surrender the crucial fort but Major Anderson, the union leader in Charleston refused to give up the fort hoping for back up to arrive. They ran out of supplies quickly and had to surrender the fort to the CONF. No casualties were reported. -
Battle of Bull Run
This was the first land battle of the Civil War, but also the first major battle that made both sides realize the horror of war. The reason for this battle was Lincoln wanted to take hold of Richmond, VA so he ordered General Irwin McDowell to attack the CONF. troops at Manassas Junction to weaken the army in that area.
President Lincoln’s plan was to take down the enemy ASAP to have an unhesitate victory towards the confederacy and have them return to the Union. -
Union Progress in Winning Territory
The first few months of the Civil War looked like the end for the Union and the hope of freedom for African Americans. The fighting was mostly in the southern territory making it easy for the conf. to send troops and supplies down while the union didn’t have that advantage. A year later the Union would finally find their strategies and win more territory. -
Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh was a two day conflict which resulted in a win for the Union. This battle allowed for Union troops to split the Confederate interior to cut the communication and supply lines between the CONF. states. It first was an ambush attack on Grant's troops in the southwestern part of Tennessee leaving them on the defensive but that night the union would bring reinforcements to Grant. This left the CONF. retreating back towards Corinth, TX. Death&wounded toll is estimated around 26,000 -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was one of the few battles the conf. took the offensive role. General Lee took his troops near Sharpsburg, MD to attack the union soldiers and gain more land up north if they won. The conf. couldn’t hold their attack they planned so they retreated back to the south to regroup. The battle ended in a stalemate, but the union claimed this as a win and gave the opportunity for Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation. 23,000 were left wounded or killed. -
Enrollment Act of 1863
The Enrollment Act of 1863 expanded the draft system to immigrants. If a citizen registered for citizenship between the ages 20 and 45 they would be required to serve in the army. In the South, the states protected the rights to the citizens that didn’t want to be drafted, on the other hand, the North disbanded Habeas Corpus and forced draftees to be apart of the military. This caused an uproar to the citizens in the north and caused a widespread of violence and riots. -
Siege of Vicksburg
The siege of Vicksburg was to take control of the Mississippi River in order to split the confederate states apart. It also gave the Union an important route to move men and supplies if they took the Mississippi River. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg marked a key point within the Civil war. The conf. troops under the general Maj. Gen Henry Heth was heading towards Gettysburg, PA to subjugate supplies. They crossed paths with the Union which led to a 3 day conflict that is considered the bloodiest battle in the civil war. On the final day, conf. troops assaulted an artillery fire which was rebelled by the union resulting in a retreat from the conf. And a win from th union. -
Robert E. Lee surrender
The confederate general, Robert E. Lee surrenders to the Union general, Ulysses S. Grant because he wanted no more unnecessary destruction to the south since the scorched earth method was commonly used in the civil war. Lee saw no more reason to fight since their lines were falling apart and it was getting hard to fight against the union. This surrender could be considered what ended the civil war. -
Last Battle of the Civil War
The last civil war battle that was recorded was in Palmito Ranch, Texas. This took place months after the surrender of Robert E. Lee to the Union. The general under the protection of certain areas near the texas region refused to agree to the terms of the Union and would proposed to continue the fight.