Civil War, Vogel and Walter

Fort Sumter

Apr 14, 1861

This battle started on April 12th, 1861 and ended April 14th, 1861. The Confederacy demanded immediate evacuation but when this was refused the South opened fire at 4:30 am on April 12th. After 34 hours of shelling, Anderson was forced to surrender and give up the fort. On April 14th the fort was cleared out by federal troops who marched out waving American flags during a gun salute.

First Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

First Bull Run took place on July 21st, 1861. In this battle at Bull Run there were about 5,000 casualties (1,982 Confederacy, 2,896 Union). In the morning of July 21st, McDowell sent divisions of Hunter and Heintzelman, about 12,000, from Centreville at 2 a.m. This is said to be one of the bloodiest wars that have ever taken place. The ultimate result of the battle was Confederate victory.

Hampton Roads

Mar 9, 1862

This was a two day battle that occurred from March 8th to March 9th of 1862. This was arguably the most naval battles that took place in the American Civil War. This battle was basically an attempt from the Confederacy to destroy the Union's blockade that cut off Virginia from its largest cites from international trade. This was the first meeting in combat of ironclad ships. This battle is generally interpreted as a victory for the Monitor, but it is said that both sides gained morale.

Shiloh

Apr 7, 1862

This battle took place on April 6th 1862 and April 7th 1862. On the 6th of April, Confederate generals launched a surprise attack on Ulysses S. Grant's forces in southwest Tennessee. Both sides had a large amount of casualties, but it resulted in a Union victory (23,000). On April 7th, the Confederates returned to Corinth, Mississippi and each side claimed victory. Ultimately, the Confederacy lost even though each side was immobilized due to the high amount of casualties.

Antietam

Sep 18, 1862

The battle of Antietam took place from September 17th to September 18th of 1862. There were many attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller’s cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church due to the death of Hooker. Robert E. Lee went to Maryland and this is where he encountered General George B. McClellan and they would battles. Lee chose a very defensive battle ground, but it was dangerous. Lee ended up retreating across the river and he had 10,318 casualties.

Chancellorsville

May 6, 1863

This battles started on April 30th 1863, and ended on May 6th, 1863, This was a battle between General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy and General Joseph Hooker of the Union. General Lee was facing an army nearly twice the size of his own so he decided to divide his up into two. Lee used his divided fronts and attacked General Hooker's army and forced them to retreat across the Rappahannock River. Lee lost his trusted general Thomas Jackson during the battle. This was Lee's greatest victory.

The Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 4, 1863

This took place at Gettysburg, Pa and about 15,000 troops died after the first two days. The battle started July 1st, 1863 and ended July 4th, 1864. On the third day, General Lee and Longstreet scrambled and failed after losing two thirds of their men (Pickett's Charge). There were a total of 51,000 deaths in all and after the battle the North rejoiced and the south mourned.

Siege of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

This battle took place from May 18th, 1863 until July 4th 1863. General Grant would lead the North around Vicksburg to take on General Pemberton and they would isolate 30,000 troops. After two assaults on mid-Mayfield, Grant seized all tactics and had control of Vicksburg which gave the North a morale boost. The city was surrendered on July 4th right after the battle of Gettysburg.

Chickamauga

Sep 20, 1863

This battles took place from September 19th, 1863 to September 20th, 1863. This battles ws fought between the Union, under General William Rosecrans, and the Confederacy, under General Braxton Bragg. The fight began in the morning of September 19th, and the Union line was too strong for Bragg's men. Longstreet tried to advance at 11.30 a.m. the next day, but luckily for the Confederacy they were shifting troops. This battle ended in a Confederate victory and there were 35,500 casualties.

Lincoln's Assassination

Apr 14, 1864

On April 14th, 1864, a tragic event occurred, Lincoln's assassination. Lincoln occupied a small box at Ford's theatre with his wife and a soldier. John Wilkes Booth slipped into Lincoln's box and shot him with a .44 caliber single-shot derringer in the back of the head. On April 26th, the Union discovered where Herold and Booth were hiding in a Virginia farmhouse and set fire to it. Herold surrendered, but Booth stayed in the house being burnt to death.

Wilderness

May 7, 1864

This battle took place from May, 5th 1864 to May 7th, 1864. The Union's 5th corps fought against the Confederate corps led by Richard Ewell on the first day. The second day at 5 a.m. the Union's 2nd corps attacked along Plank Road. At noon Longstreet led the Confederates to a strong counterattack. By the next morning there were over 17,500 casualties and Grant's force refused to retreat which thrilled the exhausted soldiers in their trenches.

The Battle of Spotsylvania

May 21, 1864

The start of the battle of Spotsylvania was May 8th, 1864 and it ended May 21st, 1864. This battle lasted nearly two weeks and there were about 30,000 casualties. On May 19, the Confederates had a failed attempt to flank at Harris Farm. Two days after on May 21, Grant disengaged and advanced to Richmond.

Sherman's march to the sea

Dec 21, 1864

This event started in November 15th, 1864 and ended on December 21st, 1864. The Confederacy lost Atlanta and to compensate for this loss they headed to Tennessee and Alabama. On the way they destroyed Union supply lines as they went. Sherman's troops arrived in Savannah three weeks after they left Atlanta and they found it was unprotected. Sherman presented Savannah and 25,000 bales of cotton a Christmas gift for Lincoln.

Siege of Petersburg

Mar 25, 1865

This battle started on June 9th, 1864 and ended on March 25th, 1865. The battle was fought at Petersburg, which is a important rail ceneter that is 23 miles south of Richmond. On June 9th, the Union started the fight between two cities. The losses of the Union were great, but Ulysses S. Grant ended up crossing the railroad at the end of August. The Confederacy was driven into Petersburg and defeated. This battle ended in a Union victory and this was very important.

Fredericksburg

Dec 15, 1865

This battle began on December 11th, 1862 and ended December 15th, 1862. On the first day, December 11th, Union engineers laid five pontoon bridges on fire across the Rappahannock. On the 12th the Federal army crossed over and on the 13th the Unions failed flank was counter attacked. On the 15th, Burnside called of offense and crossed the river and ended the battle. This boosted the Confederate moral after Lee's failed campaign.