Civil War Timeline

  • Confederate forces fire upon Fort Sumter

    Hostilities began when Confederate forces fired upon Fort Sumter.
  • Bull Run (Manassas) 1st battle

    General McDowell leads 30,000 men agaisnt General Johnston's 22,000 men.
  • Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson

    General Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.
  • Confederate river navy is destroyed

    By the summer of 1862 the union destroyed the Confederate river navy, much of their western armies, and also seized New Orleans.
  • Bull Run (manassas) 2nd battle

    General McClellan is replaces by General Pope. Lee
  • Antietam

    General Lee's troops are outnumbered and face General McClellan in fighting. Over 23,000 casualties.
  • Vicksburg

    Vicksburg surrenders to Grant after a long seige. Mississippi River is now in Union Control.
  • Gettysburg

    Over 165,000 soldiers participate in the largest battle of the western hemipshere.
  • Chattanooga

    General Grant is able to push Southern troops back and prepare for assault.
  • Period: to

    Petersburg

    General Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication outside Richmond
  • General Lee surrenders

    General Lee surrenders to General Grant refusing to see his troops suffer any longer.