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Lincoln is President
Lincoln is elected president for the United States
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln_seated,_Feb_9,_1864.jpg) -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina finds out that Lincoln has become president; they secede from the union
(http://www.beachonearth.net/south-carolina/) -
Confederacy Formed
Seven states form their own confederacy, write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation
(http:wilybadger.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/flag-hags/) -
Lincoln inaugurated
Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts
(http://howishow.eu/search/when-was-lincoln-inaugurated.html) -
Fort Sumter
Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot.
(http://www.charlestonbatterytour.com/fort-sumter.htm) -
Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle
General McDowell leads 30,000 men against General Johnston's 22,000 Southern troops in attempt to crush the rebels. South wins the battle. McDowell is replaced with General McLellan.
(http://www.civilwarhome.com/1manassa.htm) -
Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson
Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee
(http://symonsez.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/reagan-replacing-grant-on-the-50-bill-ill-considered/) -
Monitor vs. Merrimac
First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is still up.
(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/march/monitor-merrimac.htm) -
Shiloh/Pittsburgh Landing
Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/20073669@N05/2927382237/) -
New Orleans
Farragut seizes New Orleans for Union after boldly attacking Southern position. 11 Southern ships sunk
(http://steamboattimes.com/civil_war_1.html) -
Peninsular Campaign (Yorktown, Seven Days' Battle, Fair Oaks)
After continual prodding by Lincoln, McClellan decides to attack Richmond via the South. He moves his large army down the Potomac, marches on Richmond, and then assumes a defensive position rather than pushing for victory. Gen. Lee takes command of Southern troops
(http://www.civilwar.org/maps/seven-days-campaign/sevendaysmap.html) -
Bull Run (Manassas) 2nd battle
McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Second_Battle_of_Bull_Run.jpg) -
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
(http://symonsez.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/abraham-lincoln-no-signature-required/) -
Fredericksburg
Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000).
(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/battle-fredericksburg.htm) -
Emancipation Proclamation
With victory at Antietam, Lincoln announces that on 1/1/63, all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. Does not affect border states. Forces European nations to recognize that choosing sides in the Civil War is to take a stand on slavery
(http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/EmancipationProclamation.html) -
Chancellorsville
Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed.
(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/may/battle-chancellorsville.htm) -
Vicksburg
After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control
(http://steamboattimes.com/civil_war_1.html) -
West Virginia is Born
Residents of the western counties of Virginia did not wish to secede along with the rest of the state. This section of Virginia was admitted into the Union as the state of West Virginia
(http://www.flowersbouquetphoto.com/west-virginia/) -
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
(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/august/battle-gettysburg.htm) -
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
(http://dailytrends.net/id-Battle%20of%20Chattanooga.html) -
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 be notified of his plans
(http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/General-Grant.htm) -
Wilderness & 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"
(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/battle-of-spotsylvania.htm) -
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
(http://www.civilwarpreferprints.com/item/battles-amp-battlefields/fall-of-petersburg-battle-civi/lid=6680618) -
Atlanta to Savannah
Gen. Sherman destroys Atlanta and then sends troops on 300 mile destructive march to the sea. Railroads torn up, buildings destroyed, crops burned in an attempt to break the will of the South
(http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/civil_war/atlanta/) -
Lee surrenders
Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender
(http://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/civil-war-coins.html)
