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Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th president of the United States. -
The Confederation is formed
The southern states form their own country called the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis is their president. -
War Begins
The South attacks Fort Sumter South Carolina and starts the war. -
Union Blockade
Abraham Lincoln announces the Union Blockade where the Union Navy will attempt to keep supplies from entering or leaving the Confederacy. This blockade will weaken the Confederacy later in the war. -
Abraham Lincoln Takes Action
President Lincoln issued a war order authorizing the Union to launch a unified aggressive action against the Confederacy. General McClellan ignored the order. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the largest battle fought in the western part of the country. The Confederate Army, led by General's Albert Johnston and P.T. Beauregard, attacked the Union Army led by General Ulysses S. Grant. They won the first day, however, General Johnston was killed and they stopped the attack. The next day reinforcements arrived for the North. The North counterattacked and drove back the Confederate Army. Both sides suffered heavy losses. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the first major battle fought in the North. It was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Battle of Antietam is known as the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. There were over 23,000 casualties and 4600 deaths. The Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, was vastly outnumbered, but still managed to harass and fight off the more conservative Union Army, led by General George B. McClellan. Eventually, though, the Union Amy was able to push back Lee's army and cause them t -
Battle of Fredericksburg
It was a huge battle involving over 180,000 soldiers. The North was led by General Ambrose Burnside and the South was led by General Robert E. Lee. The North was leading a major attack into the South. General Lee managed to fight them back with a much smaller force. It was considered a major victory for the Southern forces. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues an executive order freeing many slaves and laying the groundwork for the Thirteenth Amendment. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A major battle where the North not only wins the battle, but starts to win the Civil War. -
Confederate Troops Approach Washington, D.C.
Confederate General Jubal Early led his forces into Maryland to relieve the pressure on Lee's army. Early got within five miles of Washington, D.C., but on July 13, he was driven back to Virginia. -
Sherman Captures Atlanta
General Sherman captures the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Later in the year he would march to the sea and capture Savannah, Ga. On his way he would destroy and burn much of the land his army passed through. -
General Robert E. Lee surrenders
General Lee, the leader of the Confederate Army, surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at The Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
