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Lincoln's Election
Presidential ElectionNow, Lincoln's election happened before the Civil War officially started, but his election and innauguration played a key role in the secession of the Southern states, starting the war. The Republican Party chose Lincoln to run for President. When he was elected, several Southern states quickly seceded from the Union and formed their own government on February 4 of 1861. The government was/is called the Confederacy and gave them the freedom to protect their welfare. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter LinkThe Confederacy decided to seige Fort Sumter until the Northerners surrendered. Shelled and held without supplies for 33 hours, they finally surrendered on 13 April 1861. Fort Sumter was the first armed battle of the war.
Fort Sumter was important in the war because it was the beginning of the war and was a sign (in my opinion) that the war wouldn't be over in Lincoln's promised amount of days. -
Bull Run/Manassas
Bull Run LinkThe first battle of Bull Run/Manassas lasted from 18-21 July 1861 and ended with the Confederates winning the bloody masacre, same with the second battle of Manassas. Union General Irvin McDowell made a military error in not capturing Henry Hill, just firing at it so Confederates Beauregard and Johnston decided to have Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson move his troops onto Henry Hill. By the time McDowell realized his mistake, it was too late.
These battles gave the South the advantage. -
Shiloh
ShilohTwo days long, the official battle of Shiloh was fought on the Tennessee River, just north of Mississippi. It was a battle in the campaign for control of the Mississippi Valley, starting out looking like a strategic Confederate win. When the South focused on the Hornets' Nest, Grant took the opportunity to attack and won the battle. With the victory, the North started splitting the Southern states in half, pretty much signalling defeat for the South (in the long run). -
Second Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
Second Bull RunStonewall Jackson took control of Manassas Junction shortly before the battle, which ended on 30 August 1862. Waiting for re-enforcements from Longstreet, he was sent to watch Maj. Gen. John Pope of the Union. Pope was confused and thought Jackson's troops were retreating, so he sent his troops to attack, and Jackson managed to pull a strategic victory off. Once again, this was an earlier battle, and the Confederacy won most of the early battles, so once again it gave them the advantage. -
Antietam
AntietamThe battle of Antietam was reportedly the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Lee planned a forage into Northern territory to find supplies. One of his men carelessly dropped an important package in the road containing all of Lee's plans and one of McClellan's men picked it up. Because of McClellan's slowness to prepare for battle, Lee's troops had time to prepare. Troops on both sides lost about 50% of their men. -
Emanciation Proclamation
Emancipation ProclamationSigned to take action on New Year's of 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was a war document signed by Lincoln to free all slaves. The battle of Antietam gave Lincoln the incentive he needed to right the document. The slaves in the Union were already free, the Emancipation Proclamation freed the Confederacy's slaves and gave African Americans the right to join the Army and fight. Part of the Emancipation Proclamation quotes, "I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor" -
Vicksburg
VicksburgThe Battle of Vicksburg started 26 December 1862 and ended on the same day as the Battle of Gettysburg. Sitting on a hill, Vicksburg guarded the entrance to the Mississippi River, making it almost impossible to gain strategic position. Grant attempted several unsuccessful forays during the winter and finally decided to send his men south of Vicksburg and send more men around to cut off Vicksburg's supplies. Vicksburg solidified Grant's reputation and he rose to commander of the Union armies. -
Chancellorsville
ChancellorsvilleFought from 1 May to 4 May 1863, the battle of Chancellorsville brought a military and moral blow to the Confederate Army, as Stonewall Jackson was fatally shot by his own men. Considered one of Lee's greatest victories, both sides lost enormous numbers of men. Joseph Hooker of the Union attempted to cross the Rappahannock and dislodge Lee's troops from Fredericksburg. Lee's troops managed to drive Hooker's back across the river, giving the Confederacy an important strategic victory. -
Gettysburg
GettysburgGettysburg is called the turning point in the Civil War, as Lee never took the strategic offensive again after the loss, and the Northern states were never threatened as gravely again. Union troops were stationed along McPherson's Ridge, in the fishhook pattern, waiting for Confederate troops to attack. On July 3rd, Lee decided to attack the center of the Union troops, after two attempts at the flanks failed. On July 4th, the South formed a wagon train of wounded 19 mi long and retreated. -
Chickamauga
ChickamaugaChickamauga was one of the bloodier battles of the war, with each side losing about 28% of their men. Sadly, it was one of the battles where General Rosecrans (of the Union)'s thinking and strategic planning failed, as he ordered troops to form a gap for Confederate soldiers to get through. In the end, Rosecrans' troops ended up retreating back to Chattanooga. Chickamauga is one example of where you shouldn't listen to your leader if you want your life. -
Spotsylvania Court House
Spotsylvania Court HouseSpotsylvania Court House was another bloody battle of the war, with the South losing about 12,000, the North 18,000. A battle led by Lee and Grant, it lasted from the 8th to the 19th of May. Lee made it to Spotsylvania before Grant did, therefore he had time to prepare defensive with field works. May 12th was the worst day of fighting, no other day in the battle was as bad. Grant finally pulled his troops after 11 days of fighting. The bloodiest battles of the war are some of the most important. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
March to the SeaGeneral William Tecumseh Sherman led his troops from Atlanta to Savannah, a 60 mi-wide path of destruction going 285 mi. His reasoning was to cut off Savannah from the rest of the Confederacy and to get rid of as many Confederate resources as possible. He reached and occupied Savannah on December 21, offering Savannah as a Christmas present to Lincoln. With the capture of Savannah, the Confederacy lost one of their most important seaports, basically crippling them. -
Surrender
Surrender at AppomattoxOn April 9, 1865, Generals Lee and Grant met at the Appomattox Court House to determine details of surrender. April 9 is the official date that the Civil War ended. However, there were still several battles fought after that date. Surrendering his [Lee's] troops meant the Confederacy lost and became part of the Union again. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln's AssassinationFive days after the war was over, the Lincolns were attending a play at Ford's theatre in Washington when Lincoln was shot. John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer snuck into the presidential booth and shot Lincoln. Sadly, the next day, Lincoln died from the wound. Who knows what would have happened if Lincoln had not been shot, if the Reconstruction era would have gone the way it did.
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