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Fort Sumter
In 1861, 7 southern states succeeded from the Union and claimed possession of all U.S. forts. Fort Sumter was one of only 2 forts that remained under federal jurisdiction. Lincoln and the Confederate authorities demand evacuation of Fort Sumter. When they refused the south fired shots for 34 hours until they surrendered. April 14, 1861 they surrendered and as they left the fort they did a gun salute, this killed one person, which was the only casualty. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
July 1, 1861 Lee gave orders to attack Cemetery Hill. July 2, Union troops had strong positions from Culp’s Hill to Cemetery Ridge. July 3, Lee’s troops attack, known as “Pickett’s Charge” resulted in a failed assault, half of Confederate troops surviving. Lee was waiting, ready for the Union to counterattack, it never came. When Lee withdrew, he tried to resign, but President Davis refused. This victory was known as the turning point in the war for the Union. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle at Bull Run began on July 21, 1861 with McDowell’s union force striking. Each side had equal amounts of troops of 18,000 each. Giving the “rebel yell” the Confederates broke through the Union line. As Union troops were retreating they ran into civilians that were watching the battle. With their victory, the Confederates weren’t organized enough to take advantage of the retreating Union. The Battle of Bull Run also known as First Manassas ended on July 21, 1861. -
Peninsula Campaign
George McClellan is named General to replace Winfield Scott, in November of 1861. By early April of the next year, 60,000 of his soldiers were in Yorktown, Virginia. On May 31, Johnston led the Confederates in an attack, the two-day battle of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. Unexpectedly, the rebels were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Federals. During the Seven Days’ Battle, Confederates ordered repeated attacks on the Federals. As McClellan backed off, and lost, the Confederates became vict -
The Battle of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads was the first duel between ironclad warships. Specifically, it was the battle between Virginia’s Merrimack, and Minnesota’s Monitor. The first steam-powered ironclad warship of the confederate states navy was the Merrimack (CSS). The CSS was 263 ft., while the Monitor was 172 f tall. The Merrimack was commonly called a “floating barn roof,” the Monitor a “Yankee Cheese Box.” The Merrimack was led by Commodore Franklin Buchanan, the Monitor by Lieutenant John Worden. -
The Battle of Shiloh
Shiloh is also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. On April 6, 1862, the Confederates launched a surprise attack on General Ulysses S. Grant’s army in southwest Tennessee. IThe result of this battle was a victory for the Union, although both sides suffered heavy losses, with more than 23,000 casualties, around 10,000 on each side. The battle ended the next day. As a result, the Shiloh National Military Park was established. -
The Second Battle at Bull Run
McClellan refused to send any more troops for the Pope’s aid to continue defending Washington. August 28, 1862 Pope prepared his troops to attack the Confederates in the morning. August 29 Jackson’s troops were able to hold their position and hold back the Federal assault. After Confederate brigades adjusted their position, Pope thought they were retreating. With a Union defeat on August 30, 1862, despair swept across the North, and accusations were made on who to blame for the defeat. -
Sherman's March
On September 2, 1864, General Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia which was a railroad hub and industrial center of the Confederacy. Sherman decided to break his troops into two groups: Major General George Thomas took 60,000 men to Nashville to fight the Confederate army, and Sherman took 62,000 through to Savannah, Georgia, “smashing things to the sea;” he used a total war tactic which led to another Union victory. On November 22, 650 Confederate soldiers were killed or wounded. -
The Battle of Antietam
McClellan arrived in front of Lee’s position behind Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 15, 1862. The union commander did not attack the enemy immediately, the confederate troops were still in the process of coming together. The success of the battle enabled Lincoln to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. The battle was inconclusive ending on September 18, 1862. The battle will go down in history as the bloodiest one day clash of the Civil War. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
In December of 1862, Lincoln offered the position of command to General Burnside, who doubted his abilty to command. Due to McClellan's removal, Burnside was forces to take command. He commanded two corps of troops to cross the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg. Due to the river being deep to cross, Burnside and his troops waited for a pontoon of bridges to arrive. Miscommunication caused a delay, that enabled the South to get a strong position. It was a crushing defeat for the Union. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville started April 30, 1863 in Spotsylvania, Virginia. It was known as Lee’s greatest victory. Lee’s risky decision to divide his army against a much larger enemy force resulted in a major Confederate Victory. Union Hooker had twice as many troops, but did not take advantage of it. He was forced to retreat across the Rappahannock River. Lee now had the advantage that would lead him on to Gettysburg and ending the battle on May 6, 1863. -
The Batle of Vicksburg
This battle started in the spring of 1862 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and ended in July the next year. After several failures, General Grant made a bold move, that enabled the Union troops to take the city by using the high ground around the Mississippi River. General Grant also took Port Gibson and the Grand Gulf, which prevented the Confederates from joining the Vicksburg forces. This divided the Confederacy. Their surrender, let to another Union victory. -
Battle of Chickamauga
In mid-September, General William Rosecrans of the Union pushed Braxton Bragg’s army of Tennessee out of Chickamauga and gathered his army of about 60,000 soldiers at Chickamauga, Georgia; 12 miles west of Chattanooga. On September 19, both armies met at Chickamauga Creed. 10 Confederate generals had been killed or wounded. The South had 20,000 casualties, while the North had 16,000. -
Gettysburg Address
November 19, 1863 at the dedication to a Military Cemetery at Gettysburg Pennsylvania, President Lincoln delivered one of the most memorable speeches of American History. The speech consisted of 272 words, which reminded the public why the Union had to fight and win the Civil War. President Lincoln’s speech lasted for only 2-3 minutes. The Gettysburg Address redefined the beliefs that the Civil War was not just a fight to save the Union, but freedom and equality for all. -
Wilderness
The battle began on May 5, 1864. Even the first day was described as brutal and chaotic. Richard Ewell led the Confederate troops to Orange Turnpike, where they clashed with the Union’s 5th Corps. It was unclear who had won by the end of the first day. On the second day, Winfield Scott led the Union 2nd Corps in an attack along the Plank Road. The fighting was even more intense than the first day. A thick fog had made it difficult to see where the soldiers were aiming. In a whole, the battle end -
The Battle of Spotslyvania
The Battle of Spotsylvania started on May 8, 1864. May 18 a surprise attack had failed, costing numerous Union Casualties. Confederates built a “Mule Shoe” shape, which was there lines pointing north. Union troops attacked it known as “Bloody Angle” capturing more rebels and split Lee’s army in half. May 21 Grant could not gain advantage, so he sent his troops back towards Richmond. Sheridan’s Union troops out numbered rebels 2 to 1, resulting in the Union victory ending on May 21, 1864. -
The Petersburg Campaign
Petersburg was an important rail center 23 mi.south of Richmond.On June9, the Union army began to besiege on both cities. The Union lost heavily. By the end of August, General Ulysses S. Grant had crossed the Petersburg-Weldon railroad. He captured Fort Harrison on September 29th. Southern railroads were either broken down or destroyed. -
The Battle of Mobile Bay
The Union won this battle which took place in Alabama. It was considered the most important Confederate port left on the Gulf of Mexico. On August 5th, David Farragut’s fleet sailed into Mobile Bay. The Union ship sank and hit a mine. The fight lasted for 2 hours. The Tennessee surrendered into Union hands. On August 23, Fort Morgan surrendered. -
Battle of Appomattox
On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrenders to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant in the front parlor of Wilmer McLean’s home in Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The Confederate army was surrounded 25 miles east of Lynchburg, which is 3 miles northeast at Appomattox Court House. This surrender effectively ended the Civil war. It has made a national historical monument in 1940. In 1954, the 968-acre area became a historical park. -
Lincoln's Assassination
April 11, 1865 Lincoln delivered a speech on the reconstruction of the south and how free slaves would fit into the power with whites in the south. John Wilkes Booth, had great sympathy for the south, made a comment to his friend that, that would be Lincolns last speech. Lincoln, his wife, and two quests attended Fords Theater. Booth shot Lincoln once in the back of the head. Lincoln died at 7:22 A.M. on April 15, 1865.
