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Election of Lincoln
On this day Lincoln became the president-elect. This is significant because Lincoln won the election with absolutely no Southern support. This shows how divided the country was before the war. This event would also be the tipping point for the seceding states. -
South Carolina Secedes
On this day South Carolina announced it's secession from the Union. This is significant because it marks the first time a state had ever seceded from the Union and the beginning of the Confederacy. This was also done in reaction to Lincoln becoming President because they feared he would end the Southern way of life. -
Fort Sumter
In this battle, the Union forces were going to a Confederate fort located in Charleston, South Carolina. The Confederates felt invaded by the Union despite the Union claiming to have no weapons. As a result, the Confederate forces attacked the Union as they were resupplying the fort. This is important to the Civil War because it was the first battle and started the war. -
"Stonewall" Jackson
In the battle of First Manassas Thomas Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" for not retreating. This battle was a Confederate win because of that and the fact that the Union wasn't expecting a tough battle. The importance of this battle for Thomas Jackson was proving himself and acquiring his nickname. -
Ironclads
In the battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack, two ironclad ships from the Union and Confederacy fought each other off of Hampton Roads, Virginia.The battle ended up being a stalemate but made wooden ships obsolete for naval war. -
Shiloh
Shiloh was the bloodiest battle up until this point. It occurred in Tennessee. General Grant and General Beauregard fought in the battle. The Confederate forces had tried to charge and overwhelm Grant's forces, Grant held out and got new provisions. It was a Union victory that was important because the main strategy was attrition. The Union troops held hold because they had more supplies than the Confederates. -
Union Capture of New Orleans
The capture of New Orleans was lead by Admiral Farragut he attacked it from the Gulf of Mexico which the Confederacy was not expecting. The other ports were already captured. The Union forces met almost no resistance with this port because of that. They blockade the port and stop Southern blockade runners from being able to trade with England. -
Clara Barton
During Antietam Clara Barton and her supply wagons would arrive to help the wounded soldiers in the bloodiest single-day battle of the war. This is significant because it showcased how important Clara Barton was to Union cause, she was able to bring in supplies and relieve tired surgeons of their duties and perform surgeries herself. This intervention saved lives and boosted the morale of the troops. Clara Barton would later go on to found the Red Cross. -
Antietam
This battle was fought near Sharpsburg Maryland and Antietam Creek. Union General McClellan launched a series of attacks on General Lee's troops to stop him from invading the North. McClellan succeeded in stopping Lee's forces and claimed this as a victory for the North. This became the bloodiest single-day battle of the war. The victory gave Lincoln the needed encouragement to announce the Emancipation Proclamation to the House of Representatives. -
Suspension of Habeas Corpus
Habeas Corpus is the right to be tried and to have a fair trial. It was suspended by Lincoln in Maryland on September 25th, 1862 when Lincoln put Maryland under martial law to protect the capital. He did this to keep Maryland, a border state, from joining the Confederacy. If Maryland had seceded it would have meant that the capital would have been taken over and the United States would have probably split. -
Robert E. Lee
At the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Lee got his fame. Lee's arrival to aid Stonewall brought him reliability and a good reputation. He then proceeded to attack Union forces and to invade the North for the first time. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was announced by Lincoln under executive order and was issued by Lincoln. Lincoln did this to take away the South's power. They had been using slave labor to help with the war effort. Lincoln wanted to be able to use the labor that the slaves were willing to give so he issued that to get in new troops and to free the slaves. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place in Virginia. General Hooker's men had crossed the rivers and was closing in on the Confederate flank. Lee and Stonewall devised a plan to make Hooker's men retreat by attacking them in the dense forest. The Confederates won but Stonewall died during the battle. This battle became known as Lee's greatest victory. -
Gettysburg
This occurred in Pennsylvania. The battle was fought between General Lee and General Meade. General Lee had sought to launch another campaign into the North. General Meade intercepted him the battle lasted three days. Lee had failed again to invade the North and Gettysburg cost the Confederates a lot of troops. From this point on the Confederacy would fight a defensive war against the Union. -
Pickett's Charge
This was General Lee's infantry charge against General Meade during Gettysburg on the last day of battle was made to force Meade out of his position on Cemetery Ridge. This was important because it was a bold attack that Lee made and it failed. Because of its failure Lee had to retreat. -
Vicksburg (end date)
The siege of Vicksburg happened in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Ulysses S. Grant surrounded the Confederate Fort of Vicksburg. After a prolonged siege it was captured by Grant. This was a very important Union victory because it gave the surrender of Pemberton's men who were at the fort and a loss of the fort split the Confederacy in two. -
54th Mass. Regiment
In the Battle of Fort Wagner, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment led the battle even after their commander was killed. Though the attack proved to be unsuccessful and the regiment faced heavy losses this battle was important and showed how crucial African Americans were to the war effort. It convinced the Northern public that African Americans could fight in the war. -
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was fought on the outskirts of Atlanta and ensured the capture of Atlanta. General Hood had ordered men to attack General Sherman's men who were on the outskirts of Atlanta and close to attacking it. General Hood's attack failed and Sherman ended up taking out the railways to Atlanta. This is important because it starts Sherman's March to Sea campaign and by destroying the rails Sherman made sure that supplies could no longer get to troops from the city. -
Gettysburg Address
In this Address given by Lincoln, Lincoln stated that this was not only a war over the country to stay together but a war of equality. He said that the war would bring equal rights to all the inhabitants of the country and that it was the birth of a new freedom. This is very important because it reveals the true nature of the war and shows Lincoln's stance. It also rallied new African Americans to sign up for the war because it involved them. -
Sherman's March to Sea
Sherman's March to Sea Campaign began with Atlanta and ended at Savanna. Sherman's March was meant to destroy the esteem of the South by pillaging their homes and taking their livelihood. Along the way, Sherman set fire to anything and everything in his path especially things of war value. Sherman was very successful in his campaign and this was very important for the North because it gave them the advantage and decreased Southern morale about the war. -
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
The Battle of Fort Fisher happened on the coast of North Carolina near Wilmington. It was lead by General Terry against General Hoke. The Union troops arrived on shore near the fort, General Hoke fought until Union took control of the fort. Capturing this fort was vital because it led to the capture of Wilmington which was the last open Confederate port on the Atlantic. -
Battle of Bentonville
This battle was fought in Bentonville, North Carolina. It was a battle between Confederate General Johnston and Union Generals Sherman and Mower. Johnston was trying to attack the Union forces to challenge their position and make them retreat. Mower then moved his men behind Johnston's and Johnston retreated to toward Raleigh. He would later sign an armistice and eventually surrender his army. This battle was important because it led to the loss of Johnston's men and weakened the South. -
Confederate Surrenders
General Lee surrendered his men at the Appomattox Court House after the loss of the Appomattox Battle and his failure to retreat. With the loss of Lee's men, the Confederate's main general and forces were lost. This marks the end of the war and the Union victory. -
Lincoln's Assassination
On this day Lincoln was shot in the back of the head by John Wilkes Booth. It marked the end of Lincoln's presidency and an end to whatever policies he was intending to pass. It also showed resentment towards Lincoln over the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a shock to the public after Lee had surrendered and many people were upset by the loss of Lincoln. -
Battle of Palmito Ranch
The Battle of Palmito Ranch happened in Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is considered the last battle of the Civil War. It started with a disagreement. Then a Rebel camp was reported General Barrett went out to confront the rebels he was shot at and retreated at first. He went back and defeated the rebels. This was important because it was the official last battle of the Civil War and showed the tension that still existed after the surrender.
