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Fort Sumter
Lincoln wanted the south to start the war because he didn't want to be responsible for it. So he sent "food for the hungry men" so as to not abandon nor reinforce it. But General Davis chose war. South Carolinians bombarded the fort with more than 4,000 rounds before Anderson surrendered. After the loss at fort Sumter, Virginia secedes. -
Secession of Virginia
Virginia was unwilling to fight against the southern states, so they seceded from the union. Three other states followed. The west counties were anti-slavery though, so they seceded from Virginia and became West Virginia later in 1863. -
Battle at Bull Run
a.k.a Battle of Manassas. First major battle and bloodshed. Both sides expected to win over the other, but they were both unequally balanced: Union had more supplies and more fighting power, Confederates had cotton, great military leaders, and motivation. Union tried using the Anaconda tactic on the confederates. Civilians came to watch and were brutally exterminated. Stonewall Jackson was the general for the confederates, McDowell was general for the Union. The Confederates won. -
Battle of Shiloh
Confederate soldiers surprised the union while they were drinking coffee or sleeping. General Grant prepared for a counter attack. The confederates retreated, but both sides learned that this could be a bloody war. They -
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Battle at Richmond
McClellan transported his army towards the confederate capital. Joseph E. Johnston was general for the confederacy, but was injured in battle and Robert E. Lee stepped in. Lee wanted to save Richmond, so he conducted McClellan in a series of
battles known collectively as the Seven Days’ Battles, fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862. -
Gettysburg Address
A ceremony was held to dedicate a cemetery in Gettysburg. Edward Everett (noted orator) spoke for two hours. Lincoln spoke for only two minutes. But his speech was considered to have remade America. It lifted union morale and later, confederate morale deteriorated. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln was against slavery but didn't think the government had the power to abolish it. But, he believed that ending slavery could also help the war effort. He could order the enemy to emancipate the slaves. The movement would discourage Britain from supporting the confederacy. This became a weapon of war. -
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln and his wife went to a theater (five days after the surrender at appomattox). John Wilkes Booth (the assassin), crept up behind Lincoln in the presidential box and shot him with a pistol, he was found 12 days later in a tobacco barn. It was the first time a president of the U.S had been assassinated. He was taken home to Illinois while approx. 7 million people publicly mourned him. They had to figure out how to restore the south and deal with newly freed slaves (approx. 4 mil) -
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Battle at Antietam
McClellan got the plans of Lee's strategy and ordered his men forward. The battle between the two was the bloodiest single day battle in american history. (26,00 men died). The south retreated back to Virginia and Lincoln fired McClellan because he was too cautious and let the south slip away. -
Battle at Gettysburg
Considered the turning point of the war. Union held high ground. started near a shoe feeling, lots of stone and hills. Jeb Stuart was late and Lee got pissed. Only lasted three days. Pickett’s charge (confederacy).Little Round Top. Union victory. Meade had the opportunity to cut Lee off but he didn’t take it so Lincoln got pissed and kicked him out. bloodiest battle. Confederates lost 28,063 men.