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South Carolina Secedes
More informationSoth Carolina decided to seperate itself from the United States of America (the union). Once Lincoln became elected the state feared that he would interfere with the slavery in the country, as it heavily relied on it to produce its crops. South Carolina became the first state in the union to secede and in doing so other states soon followed it. -
Abraham Lincoln inaugurated
More informationAbraham Lincoln was sworn into presidency after being elected by electoral college and recieved the presidental oath into office as the 16th president of the U.S.A. In his first inauural address Lincoln spoke about how he thinks that the union is perpetual and that he will not interefere with sklavery where it exists just try to stop the spread. He refuses to acknowledge the secession of the states and knows his job is to keep the country together. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
More informationAfter the secession of South Carolina, other states including TX, FL, LA, MI, AL, and GA also seceeded as well as coming together to form a new government in which Jefferson Davis of MI was elected president of the Confederate States of America. South Carolina later demanded that the Union surrender Ft. Sumner in SC to them, so later the Confederates opened fire on the Fort. The Union surrendered the Fort and although there were no casulaties it began the Civil War. -
Virginia seceeds
More information The commonwealth voted for Virginia to seceed from the union because they didnt want to fight or have trouble with the other southern states that had already seceeded. The main reason why most states seceeded was to protect themselves from having the institution of slavery from being taken away. -
1st Battle of Bull Run
More informationFirst major land battle in Virginia. Union army led by General Irwin McDowell marched from Washington to Centerville near Bull Run. People rod out to Manassus to see the battle to have picnics. The union was winning the early stages of the battle and Stonewall Jackson held a hill for the confederates. Confederates won the battle. -
Battle of Monitor and the Merrimac
More information
On March 81862 the Confederate ironclad ( a war steam boat) called Virginia (aka Merrimac) headed for Hampton roads where it sank the ship Cumberland and caused trouble for Congress. The next day a union ironclad named Monior came to battle the Merrimac. This was the first ironclad battle in history and after they fought the Confederate ship Merrimac retired (so technically the union won this) -
Battle of Shiloh
More informationAfter the loss of several forts, the Confederate general Albert Sidney Johnston had to fall back and give up Kentucky and much of Tennessee. In Mississippi he prepared for the offensive position against Ulysses Grant. Confederates surprise attacked Grants army. Johnson was wounded so General Beuregard-confederate-took over. Union held positions and soon outnumbered the confederates. Confederates lost too many casualties and had to retreat-thus a Union victory! -
McClellan Returns to Washington after the Penninsula Campaign
More informationMcClellan of the union returned to Washington after the Pennisula Campaing which resulted in a victory for the confederacy and a loss for the union. Due to the failure at the Pennisula for the union it left Washinton vulnerable. Under Gen. John Pope of the conderates they sensed the union was retreating. The failure of the union on the offensive lost them Richmond and exposed the north to defeat Bull Run. -
2nd Battle of Bull Run
More information(aka the second battle of Manasus) The Union army general John Pope threatened a railroad junction town near Richmond, and so General Robert E Lee of the Confederacy sent Stonewall Jackson there along with most of their troops. Lee's paln was to strike hard before Pope could be reinforced. The union was forced back a few times resulting in a retreat and a Confederate victory. Pope withdrew to Washington. -
Battle at Antietam
More informationGeneral Robert E Lee of the confederacy moved into the border state of Maryland in hopes of a successful campaign which could gain England's support for their side. Union General McClellan moved in prepared for battle near a town of Antietam and found Lee's battle plan, yet did nothing with it. The battle began in a cornfield where by 10am 8,000 men were killed. As a result the union won, many confederates and union members died, the bloodiest day in American history. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
More information General Ambrose Burnside of the Union was given power to control the Potomac army (120,00 men) and they headed to Fredericksburg--a 40mile dash cross country to ensure a supply line to Washington their capital. The union needed to cross the Rappahannock river to continue their journey to Richmond however the Confederates army had arrived to foil their plans. The union built three bridges to cross yet the confederates began firing at them and the union shot cannons back. Confederates won! -
Emmancipation Proclamation takes effect
More informationThe Emmancipation proclamation was issued by President Lincoln applying to the states that had seceeded (not the border states) or the states in a "rebellion" with the union. It stated that those states would have their slaves freed if they didnt come back to the union and Lincoln had the power to free the slaves with power from the army. If a state didn't want this to happen they would have to rejoin the union as of Jan.1 1863 -
Battle of Chancellorsville
More information After the Battle of Fredericksburg Robert Lee's army was stationed south of the Rappahannock River while the union's army led by Joseoph Hooker resided in a town called Chancellorsville (near confederates army). Stonewall Jackson aided Lee's army and defensively attacked the union. However after Jackson was hurt, another stepped in driving the union out. Union retreated across the river-conferates win -
Battle of Gettysburg
More informationUnion led by General George Meade met the confederate army led by Robert E Lee and fighting commenced. The confederates were able to drive the union back and union was driven to Cemetary Hill. Fighting continued at several places like Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions. Confederates were driven to Culp's Hill and then forced to retreat. Thus a Union victory! -
Surrender at Vicksburg
More informationGeneral John C. Pemberton, confederate, surrenders on July 4, 1863 to Ulysses S Grant of the union in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant had previously led his army opposite the river opposite Vicksburg towards Jackson. He defeated a confederate force near Jackson, Pemberton's army, as well as winning five battles along a 180 mile journey. Grant captured Vicksburg, then the confederates under Pemberton surrendered. -
2nd Battle at Fort Wagner
More information Because the attack on Fort Wagner had failed, General Quincy Gilmore of the union decided to reinforce his fortifications at Morris Island (near Charlestown,SC). Gilmore launched an attack leading the 54th Massachusetts Infantry (black regiment). After much fighting the union was driven out and this was a confederate victory. -
Lincoln delivers Gettysburg address
More informationLincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in history in just 272 words at a military cemetary at Gettysburg where he tells why the union had to enter in the war and why it was so important that they win. He told the fighting was necessary to gain liberty and freedom for all-the idea that he fully supported before during and after the war. -
Grant displays fighting style at Cold Harbor
More informationThe union army arrived at the crossroads of Old cold Harbor where they were attacked by a confederate infantry. Both armies built a seven mile front with their soldiers ready to fight. The union line along the fronts was slaughtered by the confederate army. This was the only attack that Ulysses S Grant wished he had never ordered. Confederates won this battle. -
Atlanta burns to the ground
More informationGeneral Sherman of the Union and John Bell Hood of the confederacy fought over who would control the city of Atalnta. Eventually John Bell Hood retreated and Sherman gained control of the city. He told all civilians to leave within five days of September 2 and burnt the city to the ground. -
Sherman sets out for the sea
More informationSherman and Ulysses S Grant both believed that in order for the Civil war to end the Confederacys strategic and economic ideas had to be broken. Sherman's escorts on the march were made up of all southerners who had remained loyal to the union and they lived off the land while on the march. On the march he ordered his troops to burn the cities (scorched earth policy) to weaken the confederates as well as increasing the pressure on Robert E Lee so that Grant could break through his forces. -
Sherman reaches Savannah
More informationSherman of the union reached Savannah after a 40 mile journey throughout southeast Georgia with a 60,000 member army who destoyed railroads and lived on the land while in the state. He approached Savannah and asked for their surrender which they did and he claimed Savannah. Later telling President Lincoln that this capture was a Christmas present for him. -
Lincoln delivers 2nd inaugural address
More information Abraham Lincoln was elected president for a second term carrying fifty four percent of the popular vote. He delivered his second inaugural address speech at the capital in Washington. He spoke about the sadness of the Civil war and did not frown upon the south (who may still have bitter feelings) but said that both sides were at fault for the cause of this war. -
Richmond (the Confederate capital) falls
More informationUlysses S Grant had led his army to the Confederate capital after much fighting and managed to successfully weaken the confederate army as they grow weak from the fighting. Robert E Lee's army tried make one last stand to save the capital but is overpowered losing 4800 men and losing his right flank of men.Lee begins plans to evacuate Richmond and Richmond is burnt to the ground. Danville, Va is the new confederate capital, -
Robert E Lee Surrenders Commission
More informationConfederate General Robert E Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia to Ulysses S Grant of the Union. He surrendered 26,000 troops and this effectively ended the Civil War. The Confderate army had a limited amount of food and supplies and at one point were running from the union. The best option for the Confederates was to surrender. -
Surrender at Appomattox
More informationConfederate General Robert E Lee met with Union General Ulysses S Grant in in the rural town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. This was to put an end to the four year Civil War in which there were over 600,000 deaths. They both agreed on the terms that the federal government would become a model for all the other states that surrendered. Because the Virginia army of the north (Lee's army) surrendered it helped the union end all the other conflicts of the confederacy.
