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The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was important because it was the first battle of the civil war. The Union was holding a fort in southern territory and the South fired upon the fort when the North refused to leave. The North surrendered on April 14 and were allowed to leave.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/fort-sumter.html -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was a plan by Lincoln to end the war quickly by taking out the Confederates and going to the capital of the South, Richmond. The North was forced to retreat and the general, McDowell, was relieved of his duties and replaced by George B. McClellan. The battle ended on July 22nd.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/bullrun.html?tab=facts -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the biggest battle in U.S history when it was fought. The South marched upon the Union and it was a surprise attack. Theu Union at first retreated, but the South wasted many resources and men on attacking a position called the Hornet's nest. The Union won the battle on April 7, 1862.
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1879613?sid=276435&useConcept=False -
Second Manassas
The Battle of Second Manassas was a Union defeat. The South crushed their right flank and they retreated. Only a successful rearguard position saved the Union. The battle ended on August 30.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/second-manassas.html -
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a Union assault. The South held for a long time, but Union reinforcements came. The Confederates retreated and Lincoln enforced the Emancipation Proclamation. The battle ended on the same day it started. This was the bloodiest single day battle in U.S history.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a document that freed all of the slaves in the South. The document didn't techincally free any slaves from conquered Confederate teritory because of another document freeing all captured contraband. Abraham Lincoln signed the document on September 22, 1862, but it did no take effect untill January 1, 1863.
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1879613?sid=254234&useConcept=False -
Stones River
The Battle of Stone River was a strategic victory for the North. The South attacked the right flank and the North retreated. The South was told that the North had retreated so they stayed put. The Union then received reinforcements so the South retreated. The battle ended on January 3.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/stones-river.html -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was fought from May 1 to May 4. The Union had 70,000 more troops but they lost. It was a major victory for the South, but Stonewall Jackson, a general, was accidentally shot by one of his own men. It was a huge blow for the morale of the South.
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1879613?sid=252724&useConcept=False -
Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga was the 2nd bloodiest battle of the civil war. General Bragg's Confederate forces attacked the Union but they held. The Union retreated after losing. The battle ended on September 20.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chickamauga.html -
The Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness was the 4th bloodiest battle in U.S History. The results of the battle were unconclusive. It was the first battle that the Union troops believed in Grant as a general. The battle ended on May 7 when Grant decided to retreat.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/the-wilderness.html?tab=facts -
Spotsylvania
The Battle of Spotsylvania was a battle in which the Union hoped to get the Confederates into the open to take advantage of their numbers. The Confederates had 1 defendable position left, Lauren Hill. The Confederates held and the Union retreated. The battle ended on May 18.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/spotsylvania-court-house.html?tab=facts -
Sherman's March To The Sea
The March To The Sea was a Union campaign to destroy Confederate supplies and capture Savannah, an important Southern port. The campaign was led by William Sherman. When the North entered Savannah the Confederates retreated and the North captured the city. The march ended on December 21, which seperated the Upper South from the Lower South.
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1879613?sid=253312&useConcept=False -
The Battle and Surrender at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee's army was retreating from General Ulysses S. Grant's army. The Confederacy was tired and surrounded, so Lee decided to surrender to save the lives of his men. He met with Grant at Appomattox Courthouse and surrendered. This ended the war in Virginia.
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/end-of-war/battle-and-surrender-appomattox.html -
Abraham Lincoln Assasinated
President Abraham Lincoln was assasinated just five days after Robert E. Lee surrendered. Lincoln was attending a play with his wife when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was rushed to a house nearby and put on a bed too small for him. He died the next morning.
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/end-of-war/lincoln-assassinated.html -
General Kirby Smith Surrenders the Trans-Mississippi Forces
General Kirby's forces were the last organized army of the Confederacy to surrender. Kirby heard of Robert E. Lee surrendering, but he wanted to continue to fight. He decided to take a stagecoach to recruit more men, but while he was gone his men surrendered. The surrender of General Kirby ended all organized Confederatacy armies.
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/end-of-war/smith-surrenders.html
