-
Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
The Battle of Bull Run/Manassas took place 25 miles from Washington D.C. Lincoln decided to attack 30,000 troops on the offensive. The Union gained the upper hand but General Thomas Jackson, “Stonewall”, held their firm grip and forced the Union to surrender. The Southern victory dispelled the myths and illusions that it would be a quick and painless war. -
Merrimack V.S. Monitor
Merrimack was a southern ship and Monitor was a Union ship. They were the first steel ships to go into battle.The battle was a turning point in naval history (ironclads).Nobody won because nobody had the weapons to get through the steel, however it did hurt the hearing of the people inside the ships. -
Antietam
Robert E. lee broke the back of McClellan’s assault on Richmond which gave him motivation to invade Maryland. Union soldiers found a copy of Lee’s battle plans wrapped around a packet of three cigars dropped by a confederate officer. It revealed that Lee’s and Stonewalls armies were separated McClellan caught up will Lee near Antietam. This was the bloodiest day of the war 24,000-26,000 casualties. Lee was forced to retreat back to Virginia and McClellan was removed from command. -
Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, the High tide of the Confedeacy, was the bloodiest battle at the time. Confederate soldiers were searching for supplies when they encountered Union cavalry on patrol. Union forces took defense positions on the hills where it was better to have the higher ground. Confederate forces drove Union troops from the hills but the North still had the higher ground. Lee ordered attack on cemetery and organized the largest ever cannon barrage of the war. Lee was forced to retreat. -
Picketts Charge
15,000 men charged the Union and entered a kill zone. The confederate soldiers were surrounded from the front, back, and side by Union soldiers. 10,000 confederate soldiers died. -
Siege of Vicksburg
The Union found a good General, Ulysses S. Grant. He had a drinking problem, however he was a soldiers general, therefore, Lincoln refused to remove him from his position. Union forces lay siege on the town for six weeks until the city surrendered July 4th. The Union was on its way to controlling the Mississippi River and splitting the South in half. -
March to the Sea
General William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta and then burned it. He received orders to give out total war. They destroyed railroads, buildings and valuables to weaken the confederate army and destroy supplies. The North wanted to make the South pay for going to war with them. Sherman seized Savannah and marched to South Carolina. -
Appomattox
The Union cornered Lee at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia. Ulysses S. Grant offered generous terms; “The war is over the rebels are our countrymen again.”. The end of the war was now in site.
