The Civil War

South Carolina Secedes

Dec 20, 1860

This day there was a convention held in South Carlonia where the people decided they were going to separate from the United States.
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Virginia Secedes

Jan 1, 1861

Virginia chose to secede after Fort Sumter when the Southern states were forced to chose sides
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Abraham Lincoln inaugurated

Mar 4, 1861

Lincoln was made the 16th president before the Civil War started.
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Attack on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

The Confederates wanted to take back Fort Sumter so on April 1 they attacked and took Fort Sumter. This was said to be the start of the Civil War.
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1st Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Also, known as First Manassas, this was the first major battle of the Civil War. Union forces had to withdraw during the battle, giving victory to the Confederates.
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McClellan Returns to Washington after the Peninsula Campaign

Mar 1, 1862

The Peninsula Campaign took place in the spring of 1862. McCllelan failed to capture the Confederate capital and bring an end to the war. This part of the war however influenced Lincoln to have free black men become soldiers (Emancipation Proclamation)
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Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac

Mar 8, 1862

The Merrimac was a Confederate ship that sank two other ships on the Hampton Roads. Then the Monitor ( Union boat) later battled the Merrimac but broke off from the battle and the Merrimac left, ending the battle.
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Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

This battle was two days. On the first day The Confederates were very successful but on the second day they were defeated by the Union.
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2nd Battle of Bull Run

Aug 28, 1862

This battle was much larger than the first Battle of Bull Run and was a 3 day battle. The Union army was forced to retreat and lost many casualties tothe Confederates.
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Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

This was the bloodiest single day in American War history. Both sides stopped fighting because of how many casualties each side had.
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Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 13, 1862

This battle was won by Lee (Confederates) and lost by General Burnside (Union). Burnside had wanted to capture the Confederate capital before Lee could reach him. The battle ended on the 15th when Burnside withdrew his army.
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Emancipation Proclamation Takes Effect

Jan 1, 1863

This was when Lincoln's decision to let free black men be soldiers took effect.
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Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

This battle didn't end until May 6. This was a Confederate win because Lee made the disions to divide his army when he realized the large size of the Union force. May 3 was the second bloodiest day in the Civil War.
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Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

This is often explained at the turning point in the war because the Union began to win the war and the Confederates retreated.
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Surrender of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

This was the peak of the Vicksburg Campaign which was the Federals atampt at gaining control over the Mississippi. The Confederates were trapped and had no way of getting help because of the Union. Confederates had no chioce but to surrender, this was big win for the Union.
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Battle at Fort Wagner

Jul 18, 1863

More InfoFort Wagner was won by the Confederates but this brought attention to the people because of the black soldiers fought in it.

Lincoln Delivers Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

When Lincoln delivered this speech he thought people wouldn't like it because it was too short. Also, people noticed that he has changed his view of the war from trying to keep the Union together to ending slavery.
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Atlanta Burns to the Ground

Jan 1, 1864

Shermans army (union army) marched through Atlanta on their journey to the sea and they burned it to the ground after raiding it.
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Grant Displays Fighting Stlye at Cold Harbor

May 31, 1864

Grant's attempted assaults here on the Confederate Army was unsuccessful nd was one of his regrets.
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Sherman Set out for the Sea

Nov 15, 1864

Shermans Army's march to the sea start Nov 15 and ended Dec 21. His army would march through cities and take all the supplies that they could and then burn the cities to the ground.
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Sherman Reaches Savannah

Dec 7, 1864

More InfoBy early December Shermans army on their March to the Sea had reached the city of Savannah.

Lincoln Delivers 2nd Inaugural Address

Mar 4, 1865

Lincoln was elected president again and gave another Inaugural Address speech.
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Richmond, the Confederate capital, Falls

Apr 1, 1865

The Confederate capital of Richmond had to be abandoned by General Lee and his army when his army was thinned by casualties and they were forced to evacuate. This made it seem impossible for the Confederates to keep fighting the Union and expect to win.
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Robert E. Lee Surrenders Commission

Apr 9, 1865

Robert E. Lee , general of the Confederstes, was forced to surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, a Union general.
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Surrender at Appomattox

Apr 9, 1865

General Lee of the Confederate Army surrendered to General Grant of the Union army t the courthouse in Appomattox, ending the American Civil War.
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