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Notable Civil War Events
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Abraham Lincoln Wins the Presidential Election of 1860
He was the first Republican ever elected president and won both the popular and electoral vote. In the months after the election, seven southern states succeeded before the inauguration. South Carolina was first to succeed on December 20th 1860. -
Conflict at Fort Sumter
The battle for Fort Sumter is the beginning of the civil war. After the union general does not surrender, the confederates fire on the fort on the morning of April 12th. The union troops have no supplies and turn the fort over to Confederate general Beauregard. -
Battle of Bull Run (Manasses)
The first major land battle of the civil war. Union troops marched from Washington DC to the Bull Run river. There were 35,000 union troops and 20,000 confederate troops. Even though they were outnumbered, the confederacy wins the first battle and the union troops retreat back to Washington. The North loss means the war would not be easy. -
General Robert E Lee becomes commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
General Lee takes command of the Army of Northern Virginia when Gen. Joseph Johnson is wounded. Gen. Lee is a West Point graduate and fought in the mexican war and with frontier forces in Texas. He was offered command of union forces. When his home state of Virginia succeeded he became commander of Virginia's forces. His military knowledge and care for his men is credited for extending the war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people in the southern states were free. It also opened the united states army to all free african americans. -
Battle of Gettysburg
General Lee hoped that he could finally end the war by winning a battle in northern territory. He marched his army north into Pennsylvania. 94,000 union troops battled 72,000 confederates over 3 days. The Battle of Gettysburg remains the deadliest battle of the Civil War. As many as 23,000 yankees and 28,000 confederates were killed, wounded, or captured. Gettysburg was a turning point toward the final Union victory in 1865. -
Ulysses S. Grant becomes commander of Union Forces
Grant had earned a good reputation after his success in Vicksburg. He proved himself as a leader and was given command of Union forces in March 1864. He led his troops in a series of battles that wore down the General Lee's army and helped bring the civil war to an end. -
Abraham Lincoln wins re-election
Abraham Lincoln wins re election against his former general George McClellan. He won 55 percent of the popular vote. With his election there would not be a negotiated peace. Lincoln would insist on unconditional surrender to restore the union. -
General Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse
General Robert E Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia are surrounded at Appomattox Court House. On April 9th General Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S Grant. Lee's surrender effectively ends the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
Abraham Lincoln is shot dead at Fords Theatre during the play 'Our American Cousin'. The entrance to their box seats was poorly guarded, allowing actor John Wilkes Booth to enter. He shot Lincoln in the back of the head, then fled the theater. President Lincoln would die the next morning on April 15th 1865