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Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an anti-slavery book by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was published in June, 1851, and is believed to have helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War. It was the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and it was credited with powering the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. -
Lincoln Wins Presidential Election
Lincoln wins the presidential election of 1860, and becomes the first Republican to become president. In the election, Lincoln faced Stephen Douglas, who he had already faced for a Senate seat in 1858. Lincoln won against Stephen, and by the time of his inauguration on March 4th, 1861, the Confederate States of America had been formally established. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The battle of Fort Sumter happened between April 12, 1861 and April 13, 1861. Fort Sumter was an island off the coast of South Carolina used as a coastal garrison. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard fired the first shots of the Civil War on Fort Sumter on April 12th. Anderson surrendered on April 13th, along with 86 other soldiers after a 34-hour battle. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. It occurred in July, 1861. The Union troops moved to strike the Confederate troops near a small river called Bull Run. However, the Confederate started attacking instead of defending, and ultimately beat the Union troops. The South gained a surge of confidence from this, and the North realized that the war would be a lot harder than they had imagined. -
Battle of Fort Henry
General Ulysses S. Grant arrived at Fort Henry in February, 1862, and found that the fort was partially flooded. However, it was not heavily guarded, and Union ships opened fire on it. Confederate General Tilghman moved his troops down to Fort Donelson, and surrendered Fort Henry. Both the battles of Fort Henry and Donelson aided in restoring Western and Middle Tennessee, as well as part of Kentucky to the Union. -
Battle of Fort Donelson
In February, 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant advanced to Fort Donelson, and surrounded the river. He attacked in small portions at first, and then Union Navy ships tried to attack the fort, however were beaten back. The Confederates launched a surprise attack, but Grant counterattacked and the Confederates surrendered Fort Donelson. -
Battle of the Ironclads
In March, 1862, the Battle of the Ironclads, or the first battle between naval warships, occurred. The U.S.S. Monitor and the Merrimack were the fighting ships, and on March 9th, the ships circled each other, firing cannons, though the cannonballs simply deflected off both ships. No ship won, though the Monitor successfully ended the anxiety of the Merrimack’s looming steel design. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh took place in April, 1862. The Confederate Army launched a surprise attack on General Ulysses S. Grant’s troops in Tennessee. However, Grant’s troops were inexperienced, and it looked like a Confederate victory. Then, General Buell’s army came, and the Union turned the battle around. The Union drove the Confederates to Shiloh Church, and won the battle. -
Battle of New Orleans
During April, 1862, Union forces used naval ships to try and capture the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. 43 ships under the control of Admiral David G. Farragut. The ships successfully infiltrated New Orleans and Confederate General Mansfield Lovell realized that his 3,000 troops were useless against the naval fleet and withdrew them. The Union won New Orleans, and the loss of it was one of the Confederacy’s biggest losses. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam occurred in September, 1862. Major General George B. McClellan of the Union attacked Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from behind Antietam Creek. Despite having a larger army, General McClellan was not able to concentrate his force on Lee’s, however he did stop his invasion of Maryland. This is considered a Union victory because the Confederate troops withdrew first. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in December, 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Commander Ambrose Burnside, the new commander of the Army of the Potomac, sent his troops to attack the Confederates. However, General Lee fought back, and the Union suffered large casualties. The Union was defeated in this battle, and Joseph Hooker replaced Burnside as the new commander of the army. -
Lincoln Issued the Emancipation Proclamation
In January, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation stated "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." However, the Proclamation was limiting, only applying to the states that had seceded from the United States. However, it did help, and also allowed black men to be able to fight in the army. The Emancipation Proclamation was a turning point in America. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
In April, 1863, Major General Joseph Hooker launched an attack meant to rid Virginia of General Lee’s troops. Hooker’s troops reached Chancellorsville, which was very close to where Lee’s troops were. However, Lee successfully removed Hooker’s troops from Chancellorsville, and Hooker had no other choice but to retreat. This battle is considered Lee’s greatest victory. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
In May, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant came to the Confederate defenses in Vicksburg. Grant ordered an attack, but the troops were blocked by ravines. Grant opened fire in late May, and for 4 hours the troops fired on the defenses of the Confederates. However, the defenses were too strong and he was unsuccessful. However, Grant ordered explosives to be planted under the defenses and the explosive left a 12-foot crater. Unable to defend anymore, the Confederates surrendered. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863 was considered a turning point in the Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee attacked the Union on Northern ground and met the Union in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. However, he wasn’t able to dislodge the defenders, and lost the battle. There were around 51,000 casualties on both sides, which makes the Battle of Gettysburg the bloodiest battle of the war. -
The Battle of Chickamauga
In September, 1863, Union General William C. Rosecrans hoped to force Major General Braxton Braggs out of Tennessee. Braggs’ men gained ground, however they found it difficult to break the Union’s forces. However, they found a gap in the Union troops, and the battle was over. Though this was a Confederate victory, the Confederates suffered many losses and would later lose the battle of Chattanooga. -
The Battle of Chattanooga
In November, 1863, General William Rosecrans retreated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, after his defeat in the Battle of Chickamauga. Confederate General Braxton Bragg followed him there, and placed his troops on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. The Union soldiers charged at the troops, and successfully overtook Chattanooga. Union possession of Chattanooga opened up the deep south for Union invasion. -
The Atlanta Campaign
In the summer of 1864, the Union faced off against the Confederates during numerous battles. Union General William T. Sherman’s plan was to demolish the Army of Tennessee, then capture Atlanta and sever Confederate supply lines. However, Sherman was not able to destroy the Confederates, but he did compel the surrender of Atlanta in September 1864. -
Appomattox Court House
The battle of Appomattox Court House occurred in April, 1865. The battle led to the end of the war, with Confederate General Lee surrendering to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The confederates were quickly surrounded and outnumbered, and Lee was out of options. He and Grant met at the Appomattox Court House, where Lee surrendered. -
Lincoln’s Assassination
President Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865 in the Peterson House in Washington D.C. He was assassinated by a stage actor, John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln and Mary were accompanied by Grant and his wife to see a play, and were seated in a box. Booth snuck into the box, stood behind Lincoln, and shot him in the head. The bullet went through Lincoln’s skull and brain, and rested at the front of his head. Booth jumped from the box to the stage below, and escaped. Lincoln passed the next morning
