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Period: to
Civil War
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Fort Sumter
April 12, 1861 to April 14, 1861
President Lincoln sends a ship to resupply the federal fort. Believing the ship had troops and weapons, the Confederacy fired on the fort. Due to the attack on the fort, Lincoln calls up 75,000 troops and some of the border states, such as Virginia, seceede. -
First Bull Run
July 21, 1861
Lincoln issued the attack at Bull Run, hoping to quickly end the war with its win. Union troops attacked the Confederate troops at Bull Run, and although severely outnumbered the Confederates managed to come out victorious. This loss jarred the North making them recognize that this war might not be as short as they hoped, and this victory brought the South the hope that they might just win. -
Hampton Roads
March 9, 1862
The first battle of ironclad ships began, between the Monitor, from the Union, and the Merrimack (rechristened the Virginia), from the Confederacy. This battle was conducted by the Confederacy in hopes of breaking the Union blockade. The battle soon ended a mere four and a half hours later, with neither team the obvious victor. The battle showed that the blockade the Union created would be harder to abolish than the Confederacy had originally thought. -
Shiloh
April 16, 1862
Confederate generals lead a surprise attack on Union forces. The Confederates had the upper hand, but lost their advantage and lost the battle. The Confederates tried again the next day and eventually did beat the battered Union forces, decisively end the battle. Though both sides experienced victories it concluded to be a loss for the Confederates. -
Antietam
September 17,1862
The Confederate and Union forces faced off near Antietam creek, 1862, in the first battle to be fought on northern soil in the American Civil war. The battle lasted until September 18th and surmounted to a grand total of about 22,000 casualties, becoming one of the bloodiest battles in history. This battle played a key role in politics; after this acclaimed Union victory, the Lincoln administration had enough validation to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
The Confederates were on the offensive as they attacked the Union forces. The battle field was in disarray due to mismanagement from the generals and some miscommunications, and by nightfall the positions had not changed. The Union lost with nearly 13,000 casualties and the Confederacy with fewer than 5,000. This Union loss caused grief for Lincoln among the government officials, but it restored morals in the Confederacy. -
Chancellorsville
April 30 to May 6, 1863
The battle of Chancellorsville is considered to be General Robert E. Lee`s greatest victory. Using brilliant and risky military strategies, General Lee manages to defeat a Union force twice the size of his, and even with fewer casualties. This was bad for the Union because Lee now possessed the strategic initiative which would soon lead him to Gettysburg. -
Vicksburg
May 18, 1863-July 4, 1863
Subsequent to several failed attempts, General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union army across the Mississippi River, methodically making his way into Vicksburg. Once there, Grant gleaned control of the city’s numerous entrances, depriving the Confederacy of ammunition and food. On July 4, the Confederate General John C. Pemberton was forced to surrender. The Union’s victory at Vicksburg propagated northern confidence and was considered a turning point in the Civil War. -
Gettysburg
July 1, 1863 to July 3, 1863
With high confidence after winning his last battle in Chancellorsville, General Lee decides to go into offensive mode and bring the battle back up north for the second time. Winning this battle would be the Confederacy`s last hope for gaining foreign recognition, and would also be a major turning point in the war. The battle raged on for three days, ending with a crushing defeat for the South. The North celebrated the next day for winning this battle, while the So -
Chickamauga
September 19, 1863-September 20, 1863
Thomas led the Union in a battle against Bragg, Longstreet, and the Confederacy over possession of a significant railroad in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During this costly battle in the Chickamauga woods, Thomas and Rosecrans made a successful march to Chattanooga. The Confederates lost 20,000 men, including General Hood. The Union lost 16,000 soldiers. This battle caused the Battle of Chattanooga, and Thomas became the brigadier general. -
Wilderness
May 5, 1864-May 7, 1864
Grant, Meade and the Union began battling the Confederates, led by Richard Ewell and Lee, in a dense forest in Virginia, known as the Wilderness. The battle was one of the various offensive fronts that Grant used to reach Richmond, which he called the Overland Campaign. Following various attacks on all fronts, no side arose victorious. However, the Union had 17,500 deaths. This battle strengthened Grant’s refusal to retreat and csused the Battle of Spotsylvania. -
Spotsylvania
May 8, 1864-May 21, 1864
The Union traveled to the Spotsylvania Courthouse, where it encountered Lee and his Confederates. Colonel Upton of the Union led a charge on the Confederates’ mule-shoe, almost prevailing, but retreated when the opposing side was able to fight back. General Stuart of the Confederacy was wounded in a clash with General Sheridan and General Custer at Yellow Tavern. Then, Hancock and the Union attacked the Confederates “Bloody Angle.” Grant continued to Richmond. -
Petersburg
June 9, 1864-April 9, 1865
The Union army began the Petersburg Campaign, attempting to capture Petersburg and Richmond. Throughout a long chain of battles, General Grant of the Union captured Fort Harrison and destroyed the Confederates’ source of food and supplies. Grant was also able to defeat Pickett, Lee, and Johnston in the Battle of Fort Stedman and the Battle of Five Forks. General Lee had no choice but to surrender to the Union at Appomattox Court House, signaling the end of the war. -
Sherman's March
September 2, 1864-December 21, 1864
General Sherman led the Union in a march, on which he captured the Confederacy’s most significant industrial city- Atlanta. Sherman continued his march through the Confederate states, using the “total war” tactic to demolish Georgia and capture Savannah. This chaotic destruction of Georgia weakened the Confederacy’s aggression and eliminated all hope of a southern victory. -
Lincoln’s Assassination
April 14, 1865
John Wilkes Booth from Maryland shot Lincoln in the back of the head at Ford’s Theatre. Then, he stabbed Henry Rathbone, an army officer that was with the President, and fled. The following morning, Lincoln was announced dead. On April 26, Union soldiers found Booth and killed him. President Lincoln was the first assassinated president and his death was mourned by the nation for many months. Lincoln's death made the next president, Andrew Johnson, very unwelcomed.
