Civil War Battles

By lukow41

  • South Carolina secedes

    South Carolina secedes
    South carolina became the first state to secede from the United States of America in December of 1860. This happened shortly after Lincoln is elected President of the United States of America.

  • Ft. Sumter attacked

    Ft. Sumter attacked
    Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot. Finally the South did fire the fisrt shot of the American Civil War.

  • Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle

    Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle
    Gen. McDowell leads 30,000 men against Gen. Johnston's 22,000 Southern troops in an attempt to crush the rebels and go "On to Richmond." South scores victory as Union troops flee back to Washington in disarray. McDowell replaced by Gen. McClellan

  • Monitor vs. Merrimac

    Monitor vs. Merrimac
    First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained

  • Antietam

    Antietam
    Heavily outnumbered, Lee's troops face McClellan in bloody fighting. Over 23,000 casualties (more than all previous American wars combined). Lee retreats to Virginia

  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    With victory at Antietam, Lincoln announces that on 1/1/63, all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. Does not affect border states. Forces European nations to recognize that choosing sides in the Civil War is to take a stand on slavery

  • Gettysburg

    Gettysburg
    Over 165,000 soldiers participate in the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere. After three days of fighting, Lee retreats, leaving 4,000 dead Confederates. Total casualties: 23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederates

  • Grant promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops

    Grant promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops
    Grant prepares for assault on Richmond. When Lincoln's Cabinet complains that Grant is a drunk and seeks to interfere with his command, Lincoln gives him unconditional support and asks not to be notified of his plans

  • Wilderness & Spotsylvania

    Wilderness & Spotsylvania
    Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to RichmondThough suffering huge losses (55,000 men to South's 31,000), Grant states "I propose to fight on this line if it takes all summer"

  • General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union Forces

    General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union Forces
    Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender