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Fort Sumter
This battle was the bombardment of and surrender of Fort Sumter that started the American Civil War. Lincoln wanted to avoid firing the first shots against the south, so he sent reinforcement ships to give food the Union troops in the fort. The southerns shoot first and the fort is surrendered. -
First Manassas/ Bull Run
This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. Although the Union army commander felt that his army was ill prepared, he sent his men to battle anyway. This led to a huge Confederate victoryand ended the northern hopes of the war soon ending. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
This was the dual between the Monitor and the Merrimack (CSS Virginia) was the first dual between ironclad warships which proved to be important in the development of navies. -
Battle of Shiloh
In this battle, 40,000 confederate soldiers came from the woods to strike the Union soldiers near Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. The Confederates were overpowering to unsuspecting army quickly and was close to overcoming the entire command. Both parties suffered from severe casulaties and led to this battle being known as the bloddiest battle in American history at the time. -
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles were a series of 6 major battles over seven days near Richmond, Virginia, the capital on the Confederacy. The Union troops were constantly pushing towards Richmond in hopes to capture the new capital. Although Lee was often the aggressor in these battles, neither army was able to gain the upper hand. Even though many people were slain, the winner was inconclusive. -
Antietam
A series of powerful assaults were taken out aginst Robert E. Lee's forces in Maryland by the Army of the Potomac. The Army of the Potomac was ultimately pushed back after a series of battles throughout the day. The battle ended in a draw, but Lincoln claimed it as a the victory that he needed before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
Fought in Fredericksburg, Virginia, this was basically a race for the Union army to rush to the capital of Richmond before the Confederate forces could catch up. Lee's army moved to easily block their path. The Union forces lost 13,000 men while the Confederates lost nearly 5,000. This made for a crushing defeat for the Union troops due to mismanagement by their generals. They ultimately failed due to pressure from Lincoln to persue the attack. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln signed this into law during the Civil War that freed all of the slaves only in states in rebellion. -
Chancellorsville
While this was a victory for the Confederacy, they happened to lose a key figure in Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson by friendly fire. When Robert E. Lee was confronted with the much bigger Union army, he split up his troops and pushed the Union troops back to the Rappahannock River. Hooker's goal was the cross the Rappahannock River in the rear of Lee's troops and trap them in the East with reinforcements coming from the West and to cut their supply lines and stop Confederate reinforcements. -
Battle of Vicksburg
This was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign that took place in Mississippi. Lincoln knew the significance of this town that was so closely situatued to the Mississippi River. Grant's armies converged at Vicksburg to take down the Confederate forces. The Confederate army was ultimately entrapped by Grant and surrendered on July 4th. -
Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the most important battles of the war. The Confederates clashed with the Union at the Potomac at the crossroads of Gettysburg. Confederates attacked from every angle. Lee was able to pierce the Union line, but ultimately failed in his attack. Lee was eventually forced to remove his battered troops. This battle served as a turning point for the Union soldiers in the war. -
Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln's short and sweet message to the families of the fallen troops in the Battle of Gettysburg redefined the Civil War to more than just a war about rebellion to a war about freedom and equality to every citizen in America. -
Chattanooga
This was an important victory for the Union army because it opened up an essential rail hub that acted as a gateway for later successful campaigns like the capture of Atlanta. Gen. Grant's goal was to save the starving Union troops in the Western theater. -
Battle of the Wilderness
This was the first stage of the Union offense to take the Confederate capitol in Richmond, VA. Although the Union troops took heavy casualties, Grant succecced in destroying Lee's Army of Northern VA. This battle symbolized the end of the Confederate states and of Lee's victories; in addition to decimating Lee's number which weakened the defense of Richmond. -
Capture of Atlanta
The Union army and William T. Sherman defeated a much bigger Confederate army. Sherman intended on capturing Atlanta, destroy the Army of Tenn., and cut off Confederate supply lines. This win increased Northern morale and aided in the reelection of Lincoln. -
Battle of Appomattox
This was the beginning of the end of the Civil War featuring the surrender of Robert E. Lee. He had intended to escape the reach of Grant's Army but surrundered to avoid unneccessary destruction to the South.
