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Attack on Fort Sumter
This attack occured on April 12-13, 1861. Fort Sumter was a federal outpost in Charleston, South Carolina. It was attacked by the Confederates. This event is said to be the spark of the start of the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. This battle proved that the war would not be easily won. The end result was a Confederate Victory. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
This battle occured on March 6-8, 1862. It is also called the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. The Union force was commanded by Major General Samuel R. Curtis, and the Confederate Army was led by Major General Earl Van Dorn. This battle played an important role in securing Missouri, and also opening up Arkansas for the Union. The Union Army were the victors in this battle. -
Battle of Shiloh
This battle took place from April 6-7, 1862 in Tennessee. In this battle the Union army gained a greater control of the Mississippi River Valley with their victory. -
The Battle of Seven Pines
This battle took place from May 31 - June 1, 1862; in Virginia. The Battle of Seven Pines is also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks. The Union troops were led by Major General George B. McClellan, and the Confederate forces were commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston and General Gustavus W. Smith. There was no distinct victor in this battle, because both sides called it a victory. -
Battle of Chattanooga
The Battle of Chattanooga lasted from June 7-8, 1863. It occured in Tennessee; the Union forces were led by General James Negley, while the Confederates were led by General Edmund Smith. The Union troops launched heavy artillery bombardment on the Confederate forces. Unfortunately, the Union forces did not advance and stayed in Chattanooga, Tennessee until the Second and Third Battles of Chattanooga. -
Seven Days' Battles
The Seven Days' Battles lasted from June 26 - July 2, 1862. During this series of battles the Confederate army forced the Union army to retreat from Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate Capital. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
This battle took place from August 28-30, 1862 in Virginia. The Second Battle of Bull Run is also known as Second Manassas. During this battle the Confederate Army forced most of the Union army out of Virginia; causing them to have the victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam is also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg. This battle was the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War. There were more soldiers killed and wounded than in the American Revolution, War of 1812, and the Mexican-American War combined. The Union forces were lead by General George B. McClellan. The ending result of this battle was a Union victory. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle occured from December 11-15, 1862; in Virginia. It was also called Marye’s Heights. The Battle of Fredericksburg was one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War. The first major opposed river crossing in American military history occured during this battle. The Confederate Army won. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville lasted from April 30 - May 6, 1863. The Union forces (Army of the Potomac) were led by Major General Joseph Hooker, and the Confederates were led by General Robert E. Lee. General "Stonewall" Jackson was killed during this battle, which caused General Lee to lose his next battle at Gettysburg. The resulting factor was a victory for the Confederate Army. -
Siege of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg took place from May 18 - July 4, 1863. The Union army blockaded the city of Vicksburg for six weeks, causing the city to surrender. This surrender gave the Union a victory. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle took place from July 1-3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg was a key battle that turned the tide against the Confederate army. This battle was the largest and bloodiest battle of the Civil War. There were more than 51,00 soldiers killed, wounded, or captured. This was an important victory for the Union because it stopped General Lee's plan for invading the North. -
Battle of Chickamauga
The entire battle occured from September 19-20, 1863. The Battle of Chickamauga is said to have marked the end of the Union forces Chickamauga Campaign. The Confederate forces were the victors in this battle. -
Gettysburg Address
This was a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln. In this he praised the bravery of the Union Army, and he also renewed his commitment to winning the Civil War. -
Battle of Spotsylvania
The Battle of Spotsylvania took place on May 8-21, 1864. This battle was the second major engagement of the Overland Campaign. The Union forces were commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant, and the Confederate troops were led by General Robert E. Lee. The Confederate Army won this battle. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor took place from May 31 - June 12, 1864, in Virginia. The most significant day of fighting was on June 3, 1864. This is because that on the morning of June 3, three divisions of Union soldiers (led by Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant) attacked the Confederate soldiers (led by General Robert E. Lee). The end result was a win by the Confederacy. -
The Siege of Petersburg
The Siege of Petersburg lasted from June 9, 1864 - March 25, 1865. It took place in Virginia. This siege ultimately led to General Robert E. Lee surrendering at the Appomatox Courthouse. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
The Union and Confederate leaders met at a home in the town of Appomattox Courthouse. This is where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant; ending the civil war. -
Assassination of President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated shortly after being elected for his second term of presidency. He was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. by John Wilkes Booth. The attack was only five days after General Robert E Lee had surrendered and the Union had won the Civil War.
