Civil War Timeline

Battle of Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

First battle of the Civil War
Confederate general Beauregard
Union general Robert Anderson
Union retreared
no loss of life on any side

1st Battle of bull run

Jul 21, 1861

The battle of bull run was the first land battle of the civil war. The union general Irvin McDowell planning to attack the confederate army commanded by General Beauregard. The confederates were at a large disadvantage, Confederate reiforcements commanded by general Joseph E. Johnston arrived by railroad to aid the confederate troops. The union army was defeated, the confederate army saw this as a very large win.

Battle of Hampton Roads

Mar 8, 1862

On march 8th naval history was made, the confederates first ironclad stormed down the elizabeth river into hampton roads.
Union general John E. Wool
Confederate general Benjamin Hunger

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Union general Grant
Confederate general Johnston
Union Victory
Johnston kiled
Union controled the Tennessee River

2nd Battle of Bull Run

Aug 28, 1862

General "Stonewall" Jackson ordered an attack on general pope, Of the union army.Jackson set up defenses at Stony Ridge on august 28th, The union army believed that they had the confederates trapped so they began the concentrate the strongest part of their army on general jackson's troops. At noon the next day Jackson's reinforcements had arrived and launched a large counterattack on general Pope's Troops forcing them to retreat back to bull run. The confederates won this battle.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

The battle of Antietam was fought near the town of sharpsburg, the battle took place on northern soil, and is considered the single bloodiest day in american history. The union leader, George B. McClellan was chasing the confederate leader, Robert E. Lee into maryland. At dawn of september 17th the union army attacked Lee and his troops, Lee was able to counter McClellans army and push them back enough to retreat into virginia, ending his raid in maryland. The battle was called a draw.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 13, 1862

Union general Burnside
Confederate general Lee
Confederate victory stop the unions final advance in 1862
Burnside is relieved of his command due to the loss

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

Written by president abraham lincoln
set all slaves in the confederate states free
many southern slaves began to run away from their owners
over 180,000 african americans joined the union army
written after the Battle of Antietam

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 27, 1863

The union leader Joseph hooker, Fought against the confederate army led by general Robert E. Lee and General "Stonewall" Jackson.The union army crossed the Rappahannock River, the union calvary began a raid against Lee's supplie lines. As Lee launched several attacks on the union soilders at chancellorsville resulting in large loss of life on both sides.The Confederate army forced back the union army. This was a Confederate victory.

Siege of vicksburg

May 18, 1863

Took place in Mississippi
Union general Grant
Confederate General Pemberton
Union victory
gave them control of the Mississippi river
accomplished their goal in the west

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Union general Hooker
Confederate General Lee
Confederate victory, lee soundly beat the union
"stonewall" Jackson dies

Siege of Atlanta

Jul 16, 1864

Took place in Georgia
Union leader Sherman
Confederate leader Hood
Union captured the heart of the south
launched the march to the sea

surrender at Appomatox Court House

Apr 9, 1865

Grant offered generous terms of surrender. After laying down their arms they could return home in peace, taking their private possessions and horses with them. Grant also gave food to the hungry confederate soldiers.

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Apr 14, 1865

The assassination of abraham lincoln was planned by John Wilkes Booth to rally the confederate states to continue fighting. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated. Lincoln was shot while watching the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre In Washington D.C. with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. He died the next morning. Booth's plan to rally the confederates failed.

Ratification of the 13th Amendment

Dec 6, 1865

declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction"
First reconstruction of amendments