-
Period: to
The Civil War
After Lincoln's election, South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 24, 1860 because they believed that they were being treated unjustly, and that the North was being favored in a tariff that had been passed. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas followed, ad these seven states formed the Confederate States of America. The seemingly everlasting war that ensued finally ended on April 9, 1865. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was the first official battle of the Civil War. The
Confederacy's General Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter. However, this "battle" quickly ended. Avoiding any casualties, the Union's General Anderson surrendered the fort. The South won this battle. It was truly the start of the 'Civil War'. -
First Battle of Bull Run
In Manasses, Virginia, the first battle of Bull Run changed people's view of war. It wasn't nearly as glorious as they envisioned it to be! Northern general Irvin McDowell and his troops defended their position, but quickly retreated from General Beauregard's and General Jackson's Confederate troops. Northerners were afraid that the war would be more difficult than they thought, and the Confederates thought that they might have an easy victory. -
Battle of Shiloh
The battle of Shiloh begun on the 6th of April, 1862 when General Beauregard's Southern troops attacked General Grant's and General Sherman's Northern troops without reinforcements. The Union ended up victorious. This victory helped them work towards their goal of controlling the Mississippi River. -
Fall of New Orleans
This naval battle was fought in the Mississippi river. The Union was lead by Captain David Farragut, and the Southern leader is unknown. Farragut took the Union to victory, and also completed the Union's control of the Mississippi. The South was also rendered unable to export or import goods from New Orleans or the Mississippi. -
Battle of Antietam
This battle is also known as the "Bloodiest Day in American History". General McClellan, of the Union, and General Lee, of the South, and their respective troops, fought in this bloody battle. No one was victorious. However, this battle prevented General Lee from advancing Southern troops into Northern territory. In addition, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in the South. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, General Lee, general for the Confederacy, intercepted the troops of General Burnside, who lead the Union army. General Lee's entrenched forces and superior military knowledge drove back the Union troops, who were, at the time, marching to Richmond. This was another of the South's many victories. Its importance was simply that it was another Southern victory. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a long battle occuring throughout most of May. The Union, lead by General Joseph Hooker, planned to attack Richmond by splitting in half. However, the Confederates, lead by General Jackson and General Lee, had a similar plan. They split their army and suprised the Union, later winning the battle, though General Jackson died. The Union's loss ruined their chances of attacking Richmond and fulfilling the Anaconda Plan. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is widely known as the turning point of the Civil War. Occuring from July 1st to the 4th of 1863, this bloody, unplanned battle ruined Southern hopes of British and French assistance. Despite General Lee and General Pickett's agressive attacks to the Union's center, General Meade and his Union troops held their ground. The Union was victorious in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. -
Siege of Vicksburg
During the siege of Vicksburg, Vicksburg, Mississippi was entirely isolated from the rest of the Confederacy for 47 days by Union troops, lead by Ulysses S. Grant. All generals from the Confederacy fought, but the Union was still victorious in splitting the Confederacy in half and entirely gaining control of the Southern Mississippi River. -
Wilderness Campaign
The Wilderness Campaign occured for the six bloodiest weeks of the war, in which Grant and his Northern troops attacked Lee and his Confederate troops in an attempt to get to Richmond. The Union's victory was a Pyrrhic one, however, for 50000 Union soldiers died in only 30 days. However, it was crucial to the Union's access to Richmond. -
Mobile Bay
General George Farragut, the highest ranking Union officer, lead an attack into Mobile Bay, Alabama. Confederate leader Franklin Buchanan responded with torpedoes. The North won the battle, and succeeded in taking the South's last port east of the Mississippi. -
The March to the Sea
General Sherman's march to the sea was simply a march of destruction, while the South was afraid and the North's morale was high. He used total war to destroy Atlanta, Georgia, then met General John Hood, who attempted to resist. However, Hood and his troops fled on the first of September, 1864. Sherman continued to use total war, marching to the South. -
Fall of Richmond
After Lee and the Confederates fled Petersburg, the Union continued moving towards Richmond.
However, before they could get there, Jefferson Davis (the Confederates' president) burned the city, himself, so the Union army wouldn't get any supplies. He then escaped the city.
When Lincoln toured the city, he was almost like a celebrity to the former slaves, and Northerners truly began to believe that the war was going to end soon. -
Surrender at Appomattox
At Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, the Confederacy officially surrendered to the Union. General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant under the conditions that rebel troops would keep their weapons and horses, no one would disturb rebel troops on their way home, and Grant would give 25000 rations to feed rebel troops. The war between the North and South was officially over.
