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Fort sumpter attacked
At 4:30 a.m. Confederates under General Pierre open fire upon Fort Sumter. The Civil War begins. This is a important event, because it is the event that started the Civil war. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Robert E. Lee is commander of most of the Confederate soldiers
Robert Lee rejoins the United States Army. Lee then goes to Richmond, Virginia and is offered command of the military and naval forces of Virginia, and accepts it. This is a important event, because it is a event that brings a big problem to the Union. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Union loses battle at Bull Run
The Union Army under General Irvin McDowell suffers defeat at Bull Run close to Washington. Confederate General Thomas Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," because he defeated the strong Union soldiers. Union troops fall back to Washington. President Lincoln realizes the war will be a long one. This is a important event, because it is a terrible lose for the Union and a great win for the Confederacy. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
George B. McClellan becomes Commander of the Department of the Potomac
President Lincoln makes George McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac, replacing General McDowell. This is a important event, because it is when the Union makes a famous General apart of the Potomac. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
McClellan is commander in chief
President Lincoln makes McClellan general-in-chief of all Union forces after the retirment of old Winfield Scott. Lincoln tells McClellan, "the supreme command of the Army will have a vast labor upon you." McClellan responds, "I can do it all." This is a important event, because it puts a great General in full comand of the Union. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Confederate surprise attack
Confederate surprise attack on General Ulysses Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates killed. That is more men than in all previous American wars combined. This is a important event, because it is a event that shows the confederacy will not be a easy enemy. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Union defeats Robert E. Lee and the confederate armies in Antietam
The bloodiest day in U.S. military history was when General Robert Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam by McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. Lee then withdraws to Virginia. This is a important event, because it is a big turn around for the Union. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Union loses battle at Fredericksburg
The Union army under Gen. Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. "We might as well have tried to take hell," a Union soldier remarks. Confederate losses are 5,309. This is a important event, because the Union loses their third battle. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
The Union is badly defeated by general Lee
The Union Army under General Hooker is badly defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. The Confederates, 13, 000 out of 60,000. This is a important event, because a good confederate General is wounded and another lose for the Union is devastating. -
The Union defeats the Confederate at Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg. This is a important event, because it was a gruesom win for the Union. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
The first negro regiment
'Negro troops of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Robert Shaw assault fortified Rebels at Fort Wagner. Col. Shaw and half of the 600 men in the regiment are killed. This is a important event, because it is the first negro regimen in the United States. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
The Confederacy traps General William S. Rosecrans' Union army in Chattanooga
A smart Confederate victory by General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee at Chickamauga leaves General William S. Rosecrans' Union Army of the Cumberland trapped in Chattanooga under Confederate siege. This is a important event, because the Confederacy has trapped a Union regimen. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
The Union escapes Chattanooga and defeats General Braxton
The Rebel attack of Chattanooga ends as Union forces under Grant defeat the siege army of General Braxton Bragg. Union soldiers attack Missionary Ridge without orders and sweep the Rebels from the area. This is a important event, because the Union escapes and attacks the Confederacy. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
The Union fails to protect Cold Harbor
A terrible mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during an offensive battle against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor. This is a important event, because it is a bad lose for the Union and it is a lose, because of a mistake from a great General. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ -
Confederate General Robert Lee surrenders
General Robert Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to General Ulysses Grant at the village of Appomattox in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their guns and permits soldiers to keep their horses and mules. This is a important event, because it is a lose of a great Confederate General. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/
