-
Period: to
Civil War
-
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, secede. -
First Bull Run
President Abraham Lincoln ordered Brigadier General Irvin McDowell to mount an offensive that would hit quickly at the enemy and open the way to Richmond, bringing the war to a quick end. By four o'clock in the afternoon, both sides had an equal number of men on the field of battle and Beauregard ordered a counterattack along the entire line. Despite their victory, Confederate troops were far too disorganized, First Bull Run cost the confederates 1,750 casulties and the union 3,000 casulties. -
Hampton Roads
The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack was history's first duel between ironclad warships. The subsequent battle between the two ironclads was generally interpreted as a victory for the Monitor, however, and produced feelings of combined relief and exultation in the North. While the battle was indecisive, it is difficult to exaggerate the profound effect on morale that was produced in both regions. -
Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the second great engagement of the Civil War. Since Union troops were planning an offensive they did not fortifie their camps, General Johnston seized the initiative and attacked Grant before reinforcements could arrive. Although both sides claimed victory, it was a Confederate failure; both sides were immobilized for the next three weeks because of the heavy casualties. -
Antietam
Generals Robert E. Lee and George McClellan faced off near Antietam creek in Sharpsburg, the first battle of the American Civil War to be fought on Northern soil. This battle brought about America's bloodiest day, a product of Confederate audacity and Union command failure. Lee withdrew across the river on September 18, the draw that the Union claimed as a victory provided the Lincoln administration enough reason to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Fredericksburg
Before fall of 1862, President had offered offered Ambrose Burnside overall command of the Union's Army twice, due to frustration of it's present commander, On December 13, Burnside ordered his left wing in an attack on Lee's right, commanded by Jackson, while the rest of his army attempted to assault Longstreet's First Corps at Marye's Heights. The Battle of Fredericksburg was a crushing defeat for the Union, whose soldiers fought courageously, but fell victim to mismanagement. -
Chancellorsville
April 30 to May 6, 1863
The Battle of Chancellorsville is considered to be General Robert E. Lee's greatest victory during the Civil War. On April 30, Lee found 80,000 enemy troops behind him, thanks to a brilliantly executed march and river crossing by major general Joseph Hooker, who proclaimed Lee could either " give "battle on our ground." or "ingloriously fly.". On May 6, Hooker recrossed the Rappahannock, lost 17,278 casualties to Lee's 12,826, including the irreplaceable Jackson. -
Gettysburg
July 1 to July 3 1863
Lee gave orders to attack Cemetery Hill, By dusk, Union soldiers arrived and extended the defensive line along Cemetery Ridge to the hill known as Little Round Top. The following day Lee gave a command to attack federals where they stood, because of fierce fighting by one Minnesota regiment, the Federals were able to hold Little Round Top, but lost the orchard, field and Devil's Den