Civil War Annotated Timeline

Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/sc001.htm
General Beauragaurd led his troops to Fort Sumter in South Carolina and demanded the Union forces to surrender the fort. Union Garrison Commander Anderson refused and a 2 day long battle followed. On April 14 the Union forces surrendered to the Confederates and evacuated the next day.

1st Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_bull1.htm
On July 21, 1861 in Manasses Virginia, General Beuraguard from the Confederate army defeated the Union army. 5,000 soldiers died

Battle of Hampton Roads

Mar 8, 1862

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va008.htm
The first Confederate iron clad boat sailed down Hampton Roads.
The Union iron clad boat countered the attack. Who won is inconclusive.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/tn003.htm
General Johnston of the Confederate Army attacked General Grants Union Army. Grants army was able to defend themselves and fight of the Confederates on April 7, 1862. General Johnston was Shot.

2nd Battle of Bull Run

Aug 29, 1862

http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/edison/projects/bullrun2.html
On August 29, 1862 the Union Army led by General Pope, was defeated by the Confederate Army who was led by General Jackson. The battle ended on August 30, 1862

Emancipation Proclamation

Sep 12, 1862

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1549.html
Abraham Lincoln Issued a proclamation that would set free every slave in the Confederacy. Few slaves were freed because their owners didn't let them go. This led to slaves revolting and causing even more problems for the Confederates.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 15, 1862

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/battle-antietam.htm
On September 15, 1862 in Sharpsburg, Maryland, General McClellan from the Union Army attacked the Confederates and won a stategic battle.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va028.htm
In Spotsylvania County, General Burnside send part of the union army to occupy Falmouth. Lee saw what was happening and entrenched his army for defense. The Union army laid pontoon boats across the Rappahannock river underfire and crossed over. The Confederates destroyed the Union army and won the battle. It ended on December 15, 1862.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

http://www.footnote.com/page/83001119_battle_of_chancellorsville/
General Hooker led the Union army around the Confederates to try to trap them. General Lee out strategised Hooker and won the battle near Fredericksburg. The battle ended on May 5, 1863

Siege of Vicksburg

May 18, 1863

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ms011.htm
General Grant's army attacked Vicksburg trapping a Confederate army led by General Pemberton. After an unusualy long siege, the Union army won the battle on July 4, 1863. This victory split the Confederacy in half along the Mississippi.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/pa002.htm
On July 1, 1863 the Confederate army attacked the Union army near Gettysburg and drove them back to Cemetary Hill. The Union army defended themselves and drove back the Confederates. The Union army won the battle on July 3, 1863

Siege of Atlanta

Jul 22, 1864

http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graphics/battles/atlanta.html
General Hood of the Confederate Army decided to attack the Union army led by General McPherson in Tennessee. Hood tried to trick the Union army to follow Hood's force as they faked retreat and sent another group of soldiers around the back of the Union's unprotected back. Hood micalculated the timing so the element of surprise was lost. McPhrson was able to send troops to defend the back of his army and fight of Hood's soldiers.

Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

Apr 9, 1865

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm
On April 3, Richmond fell to Union troops as General Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia in retreat to the West, pursued by Grant and his army. Seeing how hopeless continueing to fight was, General Lee agreed to surrender at the house of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse. This surrender concluded the bloodiest battles ever fought in America.

Assassinination of Abraham Lincoln

Apr 14, 1865

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alrintr.html
On April 14, 1865, right after the Civil War ended ,Lincoln went to a play called "Our American Cousin". John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head with a john derringer pistol.

Ratification of the 13th Amendment

Dec 6, 1865

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html
on January 31 the 13th amendment was passed by the Congress after being proposed by Abraham Lincoln. The amendment stated that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."