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Lincoln's Inauguration
Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts. -
Confederate States start hostilities by attacking Fort Sumter
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American Civil War
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Battles of 1861
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Bull Run Battle (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 -
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Battles of 1862
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Battle of Ft. Henry
Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee -
Battle of Fort Donelson
Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee -
Monitor vs Marrimac (Naval Battle)
First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained -
Battle of Shiloh
Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South -
Bull Run Battle (2nd Battle)
McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan -
Battle of 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 -
Battle of Fredricksburg
Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000). -
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Battles of 1863
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Battle of Chancellorsville
Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed. -
Battle of Vicksburg
After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control -
Battle of 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 -
Battle of Chattanooga
Reinforced with troops from the East, Grant is able to push Southern troops back and prepare for assault on Atlanta and the heart of the Confederacy -
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Battles of 1864
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General 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 notified of his plans. -
Battle of Wilderness
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" -
Battle of 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" -
Battle of Petersburg
Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication outside Richmond. Long siege of Petersburg begins with troops living in trenches which stretched for 50 miles -
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Battles of 1865
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Lee Surrenders
The union's rise to power and massive amounts of south casualties leads to the surrending of General Lee -
President Abraham Lincoln was assasinated by southern rebel John Wilkes Booth
President Abraham Lincoln's daring acts against the southern rebellion forced them to assasinate him in the Peterson House -
End of War
Lee's surrendering led to the official end of the American Civil War -
Last Shot Fired