Civil War Timeline

  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    After Lincoln's election as president, in Charleston, South Carolina, in Fort Sumter. Was used to store food and other necessities, not weapons or military, and was given to the South. Southerners were unhappy since they demanded that all U.S. property should have been given to them, as well as military property. Was a battle no deaths, against the Union and Confederates, with the Confederates winning. Lasted 2 to 3 days.
  • First Battle of Bull Run

    Union army marched from Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Virginia, where the Confederate army had been. Both forces had men who who were not trained/skilled for military action, concluding the battle to have been messy. The Confederates wouldn't have been able to hold off the Union army, causing them to retreat until reinforcements arrived to help, launching a counter attack on the Union and in conclusion making the Confederates win. This was the first major battle of the Civil War, in the South.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Union army had encamped on the west bank of the Tennessee River, causing them to have been attacked surprisingly by the Confederate army, from their base in Corinth, Mississippi. Confederates were doing great until the Union army had gotten reinforcements, allowing them to counter attack, emerging them to victory. The casualties combined from both forces summed up to 23,000 deaths, lasted 2 days, and allowed the Union to advance further along the South.
  • Second Battle of Bull Run

    This battle was fought over a year later after the first Battle of Bull Run, took place on the same ground, and lasted 3 days. As the Union army was waiting to launch a combined offensive attack, the Confederates decided to strike first. Supplies from the Union army were burned. Both forces fought despite there being more casualties from the Confederates side, up until reinforcements had come to help them out the Union army decided to withdraw and head back to Washington.
  • Battle of Antietam

    The Confederate army had an ambitious plan to invade the northern state of Pennsylvania and the border state of Maryland, with the goal of severing the railway routes to Washington. Confederate army was divided to execute this plan, but it was discovered by the Union army, making the Union attack first. Confederate forces were outnumbered, but reinforcements came to help. There was over 22,000 casualties, both forces were too bloodied to advance, the Confederates retreated, making the Union win.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Lasted 7 days, near the village of Chancellorsville in Virginia, remembered for the death of Stonewall Jackson (a well known Confederate commander), and for the victory of the Confederates. The Confederates had decided to divide themselves, while leading a secret march toward the weak right flank of the Union army. This all had resulted in destroying half of the Union army, having 17,278 casualties.
  • Siege of Vicksburg

    The Union army had crossed the Mississippi River, driving the Confederates already in Mississippi into defensive lines surrounding them around the fortress city of Vicksburg. After two assaults from the Confederates to the Union on May 19 and May 22, the Union army decided to surround them. Confederates had held on for 40 days, but surrendered on the 4th of July. This is seen as a turning point of the Civil War.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    In hope of building pressure on the Union army and on drawing them out, the Confederates invaded the North again, this time marching to Pennsylvania. Fighting began on the 1st of July, in the town of Gettysburg and continued over the course of 3 days. The battle is remembered for the full assault of close to 15,000 Confederate men, and as the primary reason for the Confederate defeat. After the battle the Confederates went back to Virginia, due to another failed invasion.
  • Battle of Atlanta

    An important battle for its political impact and re-election of Abraham Lincoln as president, was fought just outside the city of Atlanta. With the aim of seizing the important rail and supply of Atlanta, 34,000 Union forces, attacked the Confederates. Was a Union victory, which was followed by evacuation of the city and by the burning of most buildings/infrastructures in the city to destroy the morale of the Southerners.
  • Battle of Appomattox Station and Court House

    The Confederate Army of North Virginia arrived at Appomattox county where supply trains awaited them. Not long after some artillery had arrived, but the Union army had dispersed of the artillery and gained control of the vital ration and supplies. Confederates were outnumbered again and due to that they hoped they would be able to get to Lynchburg while fending off the Union army. Battle lasted 2 days, Confederates surrendered, and this was the last major battle of the Civil War.