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South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina was always against Union policies and it was rumored that if a republican were to become president they would secede. On December 20, 1860 the state of South Carolina seceded from the Union followed by Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. -
Battle of Bull Run
In July 1861, a Union regiment of 30,000 men were ordered by President Lincoln to end the Confederate rebellion by destroying Richmond, Virginia. Led by General Irvin McDowell then encountered General P.G.T. Beauregard’s 20,000 men near Bull Run, Virginia. The Union launched their attack but the rebels held there own and startled the Union with their counterattack. During their counterattack, the rebels used the infamous “rebel yell” to scare away the Union soldiers. -
Battle of Fort Donelson
The battles of Fort Henry and Donelson put Ulysses S Grant in the spotlight and earned him a promotion. Grant and other Union leaders realized that control of the major rivers would be the key to winning the war in the west. After serveral days of hard fighting with the Confederates and with the help of ironclad ships, the union emergered victorious. With this victory the Union gained control of southern Kentucky and a bunch of middle/western Tennessee and access to the heart of the south. -
Peninsular Campaign
After the defeat at Bull Run, George McClellan became the leading General of the Union Army. He launched a major assault in March 1862 to try and end the rebellion. McClellan lead 100,000 men down the Potomac River. Instead of a quick attack, McClellan took his time which allowed the Confederates to prepare for a counter strike. In June, Confederate General Lee launched a 6 day attack with heavy casualties on both sides. When McClellan didn’t continue thru the losses, Lincoln withdrew the troops -
Battle of Shiloh
After victories at Fort Henry and Donelson, Grant pushed his troops towards Corinth, Mississippi where a vital railroad intersection was. Grant meet Confederate resistance 22 miles NE of Corinth at Pittsburg Landing. Grant was ordered to wait for reinforcements before attacking. Confederate Gen. Johnston saw this and decided to attack. While on the offensive Johnston was shot & killed. More Union troops arrived and forced the Conferates to retreat. This battle showed how bloody the war would be. -
Siege of New Orleans
New Orleans was the financial center and biggest city in the south. It provided troops and supplies to the Con. Army. The siege started with the bombardment of both forts in New Orleans. Although they recieve heavy damage the forts still stood. On April 23 Union warships went up the Mississippi and engaged in heavy fighting with Con. forces to try and isolate the forts from New Orleans. The forts fell on April 28 after being bombarded for 10 days straight. -
Battle of Antietam
General Lee went on the offensive to give the south some breathing room & to humiliate Lincoln. With Jackson leading a regiment of troops they headed north. Lee almost met disaster when a copy of his plans fell into Union hands but McClellan failed to use it to his advantage. Even though they were out numbered Lee kept fighting off McClellan. Jackson then came to the rescue. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle in US history & the north claimed it as a victory when the south retreated -
Siege of Vicksburg
The location of Vicksburg made it desirable for both sides. Part of the Union army led by Grant pushed the Con. forces to Vicksburg. Then Grant didn’t want the Con. Army to have a break so he attacked immediately. Sherman attacked the infamous Stockade Redan & the progress was slow. The Union bombards the city but their attacks are fruitless leaving them with no choice but to siege the city. A month of Union bombardment & supplies running low caused the Con. to surrender, cutting the south in 2 -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lee launched his 2nd invasion of the north hoping to find food/supplies. His led his army across the Potomac to the Susquehanna river in PA in a town called Gettysburg. On the 1st day the Con. Army suprises the Union and pushes them back to Cemetery Hill. The Con. attacked the flanks & gain a little grow but the Union defense still stood. Lee thought that the Union was weakened so he launched a full scale attack but was unsuccessful and he was forced to retreat with thousands of war scared men. -
Battle of Chickamauga
After huge defeats at Gettysburg & Vicksburg, the south was desprite for a win. This win came at Chickamauga but with heavy loses. Thinking that the Con. army would retreat the Union army split into 3. The Con. army met the Union at the Chickamauga river and the fighting began. The Con. army gained ground but didn’t break Union lines. This changed with Con. reinforcements & when a whole appears in the Union line forcing the Union to retreat. This battle was the 2nd bloodiest behind Gettysburg. -
Battle of Atlanta
The Con. defeat at Atlanta opened the door for Shermans march to the sea. Atlanta was the 2nd largest industrial city behind Richmond & connected to the SE states. Shermans 3 armies are split around the city. The army on the east side on Atlanta was vulnerable because it’s left flank was unprotected but the Con. didn’t capitalize on this advantage. When the Con. attacked the flank they were met by more Union troops. Multiple Con. attacks failed & they were forced to retreat. -
Confederate Surrender
Thousands of Con. soliders left the army and the final blow came when the Union gained control of the railroad in Petersburg outside of Richmond. The collapse of Petersburg forced Lee to abandon Richmond and the chase was on. Union troops chased the remaining Con. forces along the Appomattox river. Seeing no way out several Con. leaders tried to escape but were stopped by Union troops. Instead of losing more men Lee decided to surrender at the Appomattox court house, officially ending the war.