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The South Carolina Militia, a predecessor to the Confederate Army, bombarded Fort Sumter, occupied by the US Army's Mj. Robert Anderson. There were no causalities, but a full Union surrender and the start of the Civil War.
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Confederate General Robert Lee led 5,000 troops into combat. He tried to surround the Union garrison led by Maj. Gen. George McClellan, but an attack was never launched due to false information from prisoners and poor Confederate Commander's communication.
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One of the earliest amphibious operations of the Civil War, where a US Fleet and Army, led by Flag Off. DuPont and Brigadier Gen. Thomas Sherman, respectively, captured the Port Royal Sound in South Carolina from Gen. Roswell Ripley's Confederate soldiers.
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Fought in Donelson, Middle Tennessee, it was the first important victory for Union Brig. Gen. Ulysses Grant in the Western Theater. Grant landed two divisions north of the Tennessee River and attacked Confederate Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, who surrendered before Grant even arrived due to Union Flag Off. Andrew Foote's accurate naval fire.
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This was a battle at the Kentucky Bend on the Mississippi River. The island was a strong strategic point as all ships had to pass by it, but it had a major weakness in that there was only one road for supplies. Under Union Brig. Gen. John Pope's bombardment of the Island's garrison, combined with Flag Off. Andrew Foote's gunboats, the Confederates surrendered.
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On the outskirts of Co. Cateret, NC, Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside laid siege to the Fort, breaking through its masonry. As the scarp began to collapse, Confederate Col. Moses White ordered a surrender.
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Union Maj. Gen. George McClellan confronted Confederate Maj. Gen. John Magruder at Yorktown, Virginia. The result was inconclusive, however, the Confederates withdrew to Williamsburg as the Union followed.
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In Co. Chesterfield, Virginia, five US Navy warships steamed up the James River to Richmond, VA, the Confederate Capital. They encountered submerged obstacles, as well as fire from Fort Darling's batteries, forcing the ships to retreat. The operation was headed by Union Maj. Gen. George McClellan, who had many successes leading up to this battle. However, as Union forces closed in on Richmond, the consolidated forces in Richmond and Fort Darling repelled them.
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At Co. Culpeper, VA, Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks attacked Confederate Maj. Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson near Cedar Mountain. After the Confederates marched on Culpeper Court House to stop a Union advance into Central VA, the Union repelled them and it looked like they would cease the day. However, a Confiderate counterattack broke through Union lines and resulted in over 2,000 casualties and a Confederate victory.
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Co. Washington, Maryland near Sharpsburg. Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Lee attacked Union Maj. Gen. George McClellan and was the first field army-level engagement in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War to take place on Union Soil. It was tactically inconclusive, but regarded as a Union strategic victory. Also, it was the bloodiest day in US history, with over 22,000 people dead. The Emancipation Proclamation was released five days later.
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At Co. Jefferson, VA, after the Battle of Antietam, Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Lee prepared to defend against a Union assault which never transpired. Lee's forces began to withdraw across the Potomac River to VA and left behind two infantry brigades and 44 guns under Brig. Gen. William Pendleton to hold Boteler's Ford. Union Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin clashed with reinforcements from Lee and led to WV bloodiest day.
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This was a presidential proclamation written by executive order by US President Abraham Lincoln and it changed every African-American slave's status from property to free people. Over 3.5 million people were made free in the Union's eyes.
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At Jackson, MS, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant defeated Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston, seizing the city and cutting supply lines. This led to the Siege of Vicksburg.
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These riots occurred in lower Manhattan due to the laws passed by Congress to draft men into the Union army. Many white, working-class men rioted due to the discontent which arose with these laws. Lincoln instructed militia and troops to seize the city and manage the riots.
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At Co. Magoffin, KY, Confederate Col. Ezekiel Clay led mounted infantry on a raid to KY. In opposition, Union Col. George Gallup and reinforcing Col. C.J. True. Clay attacked the Union position at Paintsville, but Gallup's men held. The Confederates were driven to Salyersville and was captured along with the rest of his command.
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At Co. Dinwiddie, VA, Union Maj. gen. Ulysses Grant dislodged Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Lee's force from defensive lines at Petersburg, VA. This was the beginning of the Appomattox Campaign and a Union victory.
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Near the southwest of Petersburg, VA, Union Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan defeated Confederate Maj. Gen George Pickett. The Union force inflicted over 1,000 casualties and took over 4,000 prisoners from the Confederates, while seizing Five Forks, vital to Confederate supply lines.
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At Co. Dinwiddie, VA, Union columns led by Maj. Gen. Nelson Miles pushed a large section of Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Lee's entrenchments back. This combined with Grant's victories led to a Union Victory. This was part of the Appomattox Campaign.
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A group of Union Armies beat Confederate Brig. Gen. Lindsay Walker in Co. Appomattox, VA. It marked one of the last battles of the war and a decisive Union victory.
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At Co. Appomattox, VA, the final engagement of Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Lee's army occurred against Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant. Lee abandoned the Confederate capital of Richmond, VA and then lost to pursuing Union forces. This marked an inevitable Union victory.