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Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln gets elected president. Despite his promise not to touch slavery laws, southern democrats began exponentially calling for secession from the union. -
Secession of Southern States
Fearful of the new republican president, Abraham Lincoln, abolishing slavery, South Carolinian politicians meet and decide to secede from the union. This encouraged 10 other slave states to secede: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina. -
Foundation of the Confederate States of America
The newly seceded slave states agreed to form a new nation known as, "The Confederate States of America". The president of the confederacy was Jefferson Davis, who specifically filled his cabinet with members of every state in the new union. Leading the army was the Virginian, Robert E. Lee, a revered war commander that previously commanded for the union. -
Bombardment of Fort Sumter
Confederate forces fire upon Fort Sumter after Major Robert Anderson moved troops there. The confederates demanded the surrender of the Union troops fortified there and began firing upon the fort for days. This is considered the start of the civil war, and ignited skirmishes across the country. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Union forces attempting to seize Richmond, Virginia, were intercepted by a large confederate force that had been warned of the oncoming attack by spies in Washington. Despite initial success, the Union was forced to return to Maryland after Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson rallied his forces to defend Henry hill. The battle drew civilian spectators who did not realize the seriousness of the conflict and fled after a confederate bayonet charge. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The first battle in the Western theatre of the American Civil war. Missouri governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, collaborated with confederate forces to attack Union troops camped in Springfield, Missouri. The battle was a victory for the confederates and granted them control of Southwest missouri. -
Grant's Victories in Tennessee
Union general Ulysses S. Grant scored multiple union victories in Tennessee including the battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. These battles boosted northern morale and proved the union could stand up to the south despite the failures of other union commanders. -
Battle of Shiloh
Confederate forces launched a large assault on general Grant's army in Shiloh, Tennessee. Grant, determined to achieve victory, sent his troops towards the outnumbering confederates and won. The battle resulted in the most casualties in US history up until then, and Grant began receiving criticism for getting nearly twice the casualties than were suffered by the South. -
Capture of New Orleans
The Union navy capture New Orleans, Louisiana, giving the north a key foothold in the very south of the continent and allowing access to the Mississippi. The capture of New Orleans was one of many naval successes around this time in 1862, while on land, the union continued to suffer. -
Battle of Richmond
Union general George McClellan, after laying siege to Yorktown, began an assault on Richmond, Virginia. Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jackson led a series of quick, close combat, attacks which forced McClellan back to Washington D.C. -
Battle of Antietam
After a multitude of successes for the confederacy, General Lee advanced his army towards Washington D.C. However, the Union had discovered the South's plan and General McClellan's army met Lee's at the battle of Antietam. Northern morale was at an all time low, and it was looking increasingly likely that the Confederacy would win, but McClellan's victory was a major turning point in the war. The battle of Antietam resulted in the highest loss of American life even today. -
Emancipation Proclamation
After a decisive victory at the battle of Antietam and the war turning in favor of the north, Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. This act outlawed all slavery and freed millions of enslaved people, at least in the eyes of the US government. The war was now undoubtedly about slavery and morals. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
New union general Burnside led his army to Fredericksburg in another attempt to take Virginia. General Lee amassed a larger force while the Union awaited river fairing supplies. During the battle waves of Union troops marched into lines of confederate fire. The battle was a massacre and the North was forced yet again to retreat to Washington D.C., plummeting Northern moral and Lincoln's popularity. -
Siege of Vicksburg
Union Generals Grant and Sherman traveled their armies down the Mississippi river to defeat the Confederate forces at Vicksburg. Grant used cavalry and Sherman's army to confuse confederate forces, and traveled further down the river to surround the city. The capture of Vicksburg was a key point in the war as it gave the Union full control of the Mississippi river, and were able to ship supplies and troops with ease. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
With the southern economy crumbling and the war growing ever unpopular, Confederate General Lee moved his army north to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in an attempt to take control of Washington D.C. Over a hundred thousand men fought in the battle. Union forces lead by General Meade fortified on the tops of hills and defended waves of confederate troops. General Lee retreated to Virginia and the north celebrated a desperately needed victory. -
Siege of Petersburg.
After a long and bloody campaign by union general Grant to take control of the east from the confederates, he attempted to take Richmond by maneuvering through Petersburg, Virginia. Confederate general Lee, too, moved his forces to Petersburg and Grant was forced to lay siege. -
Siege of Atlanta
Union General Sherman lead his army south from Tennessee and fought Confederate general Johnston all the way to Atlanta where southern forces fortified and forced Sherman to lay siege. This assault was part of a larger plan by General Grant to attack the south on all fronts and force the war to an end before the election of 1864. General Sherman eventually cut off the confederate supply line and captured the city, a major victory for the union. -
Election of 1864
Republican Abraham Lincoln and democrat George McClellan run for presidency in 1864. McClellan promised to end the war, which by this time had become very unpopular in the North and it seemed likely that McClellan would win the election, and that the confederacy would win the war. The success in the siege of Atlanta gave Lincoln the public support that he needed, and he won in a landslide, ensuring that the Union would remain in the war. -
Savannah Campaign
In an attempt bring the war to an end with as few possible casualties, General Sherman marched his army through Georgia, wreaking havoc amongst southern infrastructure and agriculture to suffocate the confederate army. Once Sherman reached Savannah, he turned his army north to meet confederate general Lee in Virginia. -
The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
Confederate general Lee abandoned Richmond, Virginia, after the 9-month siege of Petersburg. The union army of the Potomac, led by general Grant, met the confederates for a final battle at Appomattox. The confederates, exhausted, and low on supplies and men, surrendered. The document of unconditional surrender was signed in the parlour of Wilmer McLean's house. The end of the war saw the 11 confederate states return to the union, and millions of slaves were freed.
