Civil War Timeline

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    Civil War History

    History of the Civil War in chronological order.
  • Lincoln wins election

    Lincoln wins election
    Abraham Lincoln wins election with 39.7% of the vote. He beat Stephen Douglas, John C Breckinridge, and John Bell.
  • Battle at Fort Sumter

    Battle at Fort Sumter
    The first shot from the Confederates was fired on this date, it started the battle at Fort Sumter.
  • Lincoln orders blockade of the South

    Lincoln orders blockade of the South
    Abraham Lincoln initiates the blockade of the South, closing all of their ports so they can't get any supplies.
  • 1st Battle of Bull Run

    1st Battle of Bull Run
    The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War.
  • Emancipation Proclomation Issued

    Emancipation Proclomation Issued
    Issued by Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Procolomation allowed any slaves in the states that were in rebellion, to be free.
  • Monitor vs. Virginian naval battle

    Monitor vs. Virginian naval battle
    This was the first major battle for the new Ironclad warships. The Confederacy tried to blockade the union ports but it didn't go in their favor.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh
    This was a battle that took place in Tennessee. An Union Army under the the command of Maj. General, Ulysses S. Grant and a Confederate Army under the command of Generals Albert Sydney Johnston, and P. G. T. Beureguard had a 2 day battle.
  • Seven Days Campaign

    Seven Days Campaign
    A battle that lasted 6 days from June 25-July 1st, 1862. It happened near Richmond, Virginia.
  • Antietam

    Antietam
    This was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Union soil.
  • 2nd battle of Bull Run

    2nd battle of Bull Run
    The second Battle of Bull Run was much larger than the First Battle of Bull Run. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was fighting against Union Maj. Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia.
  • Emancipation Proclomation takes effect

    Emancipation Proclomation takes effect
    The Emancipation Proclamation is an act that was passed by Abraham Lincoln to free the slave in the 10 states in rebellion. This act freed 3.1 million of the 4 million slaves in the rebllion states.
  • Battle at Chancellorsville

    Battle at Chancellorsville
    The battle of Chancellorsville was the principal engaement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. The two factions in this battle were Union Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's Army of the Potomac, against Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee's Army was less than half the size of Joesph Hooker's army.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg
    The battle of Gettysburg was was fought in and around the town of Gettysburg. This battle was considered the turning point in the war.
  • Siege at Vicksburg

    Siege at Vicksburg
    This was the final major battle in the Vicksburg Campaign. The Union victory in this battle was vital because, when the Union won the battle, they had full control of the Mississippi River and cut off comms with General Lee's army at Gettysburg.
  • Gettysburg Address

    Gettysburg Address
    This was a speech given by Abrham Lincoln about 4 months after the battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most well-known speeches in history.
  • Battle at Chattanooga

    Battle at Chattanooga
    There were multiple battles at Chattanooga, but the imortant ones were the decisive ones where the Union Army made quick and deadly maneuvers.
  • Ulysses S. Grant takes over Union Army

    Ulysses S. Grant takes over Union Army
    Ulysses S. Grant took over the Union Army because the Army was weakening and loosing it's good Generals. So, ulysses S. Grant stepped up to the plate and took action.
  • Sherman captures Atlanta

    Sherman captures Atlanta
    The battle of Atlanta was major battle in the Atlanta Campaign. Atlanta was captured by Union Maj. General Sherman. This gave the Union more territory in the South and it pushed back the Confederates.
  • Lincoln gets re-elected

    Lincoln gets re-elected
    Abraham Lincoln had to run against George B. McClellan. Lincoln won by a land slide with 75.8% of the vote.
  • Sherman begins march to sea

    Sherman begins march to sea
    Sherman's army marched straight through the deep enemy territory and destroyed much of their industry and psycological warfare. This is a name commonly given to the Svannah Campaign.
  • Savannah, Georgia falls to the Union

    Savannah, Georgia falls to the Union
    When Savannah fell, it gave the Union a major vantage point. It could allow them to block supplies coming to the Confederate troops and it could allow them some decent protection in battles.
  • 13th Amendment is passed

    13th Amendment is passed
    The 13th Amendment added to the United States outlaws and form of slavery and servitude. Only when servitude is allowed is when a criminal is doing service.
  • Union Army occupies Richmond, Virginia

    Union Army occupies Richmond, Virginia
    Richmond was the capitol of the Confederate States of America at the time. Once the Union took it over the Confedrerates had no where else to go.
  • Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders

    Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders
    General Lee surrendered to General Grant in the Appomattox Courthouse.
  • Lincoln assassination

    Lincoln assassination
    Abraham Lincoln was sitting in a theatre when he was assassinated. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.