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A shot was fired into the air and exploded over Fort Sumter. Surrounded by the enemy, General Robert Anderson, waited until 7:00 am to respond. The two sides kept fighting until Fort Moultrie was burnt down. With no more resources to keep fighting, Andersen surrendered Fort Sumter to the Confederate forces.
After the Union surrendered to Confederate forces, the Battle of Fort Sumter signified the beginning of the American Civil War. -
The blockade was part of the Anaconda Plan. The Union wanted to cut off the resources of the Confederate. General Winfield Scott believed the best equipped army would have the advantage.
It kept the Confederate from developing a full scale war economy and kept it isolated. -
The Union army, led by General McDowell, shelled the Confederate forces and make their way south. The Confederates retreat onto Matthew Hill. They make lines, hiding in grass with guns. McDowell pauses the attack and sends divisions to Bull Run. Eventually, the Union forces become Confederate targets. They Confederates hold their lines and push back the Federal forces who end up retreating.
This Union's loss of this battle led to Lincoln understanding it would be a long and costly one. -
The Confederate wanted to have strong relations with Great Britain and France and have them recognize the Confederate as an independent government power. Two Confederates were found on board the "Trent," a boat going to England. The alloys were arrested but Britain thought the U.S. of violating British neutrality. The anger from England diffused, knowing that what happened was a mistake.
The Trent Affair almost caused war between England and the U.S. -
The Confederate Infantry storms into the Federal camps, attacking the Union. The Union troops fight back but lose ground. Fighting halts through the night and more soldiers come to reinforce the Union troops. Grant’s army launches an attack at 6:00am. The Confederates fight back, but were outnumbered and retreated. The Union victory led to a loss of morale for the Confederate, as well as the death of General Albert Sidney Johnson. This was the most death-full fight of any war so far. -
The Union Corps attack on the Confederate left flank. Despite the numerical advantage of the Union Forces, Stonewall Jackson forces held their ground. In the midday, fighting took place on a sunken road where many died. In the afternoon, the south charged Burnside’s Bridge. The Confederate retreated and the Union claimed the battle as a win.
It was the bloodiest battle yet. However, the victory allowed President Lincoln to announce the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
The Emancipation Proclamation declared all enslaved people free in seceded American territories as of January 1st, 1863.
Many abolitionists were overjoyed that Lincoln had taken a side on abolishing slavery. The document, however, left many loopholes open. In addition, many Black men joined the Union in the fight for their freedom. -
General Burnside crossed the Rappahannok River to head south. The Union produces a victory, but later suffers a loss due to the South's strong counterattack. The Confederate forces keep their lines strong and produce a large amount of Union casualties. The Union forces end up retreating.
The Battle of Fredericksburg was a big defeat for the Union army, as they suffered double the amount of casualties as the Confederate army. Because of the loss, Lincoln came under pressure to to end the war. -
The Union wanted to take Vicksburg because it was the only open port of the South. By cutting off that port, supplies would be cut off. When Grant got to Vicksburg, the Confederates were in control. He tried to bring them down with large Union numbers, but resulted in death. Then he decided to bomb the city and wait until supplies ran out. Six weeks later, the Confederate surrendered. This win gave control of the Mississippi to the Union and turned the tide of the war in favor of the Union. -
The South went to Gettysburg to seize supplies and were met by the Union cavalry. Troops fought while the Union fell back to Gettysburg. The next day, the Confederate launches a heavy assault on the Union left flank. The Union corps uses reinforcements and holds a strong position through night. The next day, the Union lines are attacked once again. The Confederate retreats with high casualties and death, but with a win. This battle puts an end to the Confederate strategy of invading the North. -
The amount of Union death from the Battle of Gettysburg was so great that it was turned national cemetery. Lincoln was chosen as the speaker. Lincoln started out the speech with the Declaration of Independence instead of the Constitution, talking about how, "All men are created equal." The next day, newspapers reprinted Lincoln's speech, a speech that would forever be remembered. -
The Overland Campaign plan was to take Richmond by putting an army between Richmond and Lee's army. A battle ensued in the "Wilderness" resulting in the death of 29,000 soldiers. Grant continued to putting an army in between Richmond and Lee, but Lee had gotten there first and built trench systems. The fighting ends and restarts 10 days later. Thousands died and morale decreased, resulting in anti-war feelings up North. This battle helped speed up the end of the war. -
General Sherman of the Union captured Atlanta, Georgia. After this loss, the Confederates headed to Tennessee and Alabama, attacking Union supply lines as they went along. Sherman split his troops into two, leading 62,000 to sea while "smashing things." Farms and plantations were raided, slaughtering animals, and taking needed food. Sherman got to Savannah and gave it to President Lincoln as an early Christmas present. This total war strategy hurt Southern morale and cut off their supplies. -
The Union forces surround the Confederates around Petersburg. General Lee was forced to move westward. Battles had been fought for the last 11 months before moving into trenches for Petersburg. As Lee's army dwindled, Grant's army grew more and more. On March 29th, the Union attacked the Confederate left flank and threatened to cut off Lee's escape route. Fighting broke out but the Confederate army could not advance. This is the final campaign of the Civil War that helped the South surrender. -
In retreating from the Appomattox campaign, Lee's army was getting smaller everyday, with desertions happening more and more and no food or supplies. The Union cavalry blocked the retreat of the South and took 6000 prisoners. Lee sent Grant a message, surrendering his army. Generals met with each other on April 9th and Grant wrote out the terms of the surrender. All soldiers would be pardoned and the starved would be given rations. This was the end of the Civil War. -
General Joseph Hooker replaced General Ambrose and wanted to capture Virginia, the Confederate capital. His army crossed the Rappahannok River to surprise attack the Confederate. The two armies met on an open field where Lee came up with an offensive plan because the Union fell into a defensive position. Hooker eventually retreated to Washington D.C. in defeat, bearing 5000 more casualties than the Confederate.
This battle was a huge win for the Confederate and Stonewall Jackson died in it.