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Lincoln's Election (1st term)
On this day the 16th president of the United States of America was elected. Lincoln is called one of the greatest presidents of all time. He will later become the president that is responsible for ending slavery. -
The Confederate States of America are Formed.
On this day representatives from the seven seceded states came together and decided to form the Confederate States of America. The first and only president of the Confederates would be Jefferson Davis. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter was the battle that started the Civil War, General Beuregard demanded for the Union to surrender the fort and they refused the bombardment bagan. Although there were no casualitites due to the fighting the bombardment forced the Union soldiers were forced to surrender the fort, -
The First Battle of Bull Run
This battle was the first ajor battle of the Civil War and it set the tone for the rest of the war as well. Most Northerners expected this war to be short and an easy win. When the rebels changed positions from defense to offense in this battle and end up sending the Union troops into a chaotic retreat it gave the Conderates a surge of confidence and the Union a huge reality check and made them realize that this war was not going to be quick or easy. -
The Battle of Pea Ridge
The battle started with a Confederate offensive attack. But the union learned of their plans and met them and launched a counter-attack. The union troops pushed the rebels back aand forced them to retreat. -
The USS Monitor vs. The CSS Virginia
The iron clad war ships were a new war technology which changed over water battles forever, The CSS Virginia had lowed through normal Union warships the day before and expected the same thing on this morning as well. But when she met up with the USS Monitor she was in a surprise. The two ships battles ruthlessly at point blank range but neither of the ships sustained significant damage. -
The Battle of Shiloh
Confederate forces surged out of the woods in a surprised against Ulysses S Grant and his troops driving them away from their camps. The Union soldiers established a position that they had to hold. This position became known as the Hornets Nest and hold it they did because of reinforcments. This battle was the bloodiest battle of its time. -
The Union Captures New Orleans
The loss of this major city was a huge blow to the Confederacy, Once the union had captured New Orleans the Mississippi River was open for the Union to control. Controlling the Mississippi River split the Confederacy in half giving the Union a huge advantage in the war. -
The Second Battle of Bull Run
The Union soldiers were camped out waiting for reinforments so they could make an offensive attack. Lee decided to make the first move he sent Stonewall Jackson to lead Confederate troops into battle surprisisng the Union. The Union troops led by General Pope fought back but were forced to retreat back to Washington that night. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day of the war, General McClellan confronted Lee's army at Sharpsburgh, Maryland. Eventually the Union gained the upper hand but at the last moment reinforcements came from Harpers Ferry and heled push the Army of the Potomac back. The battle ended in a draw but the Union won a strategical victory. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was originally a offensive attack by the Union. But the Confederates undr the lead of Stonewall Jackson held them off with a multitude of counter-attacks. The batle eventually ended in the Union retreating. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was given by Abreham Lincoln after the victory at Antietam so as to be in a position of power. It said that all slaves in the Confederate States were now free, Although this worried some Northerners because they were afraid what was going to happen when all the free slaves came up to the North. Although this document didn't neccessarily have power over whom it affected it is probably one of the biggest reasons the Union won the war. -
Siege of Vicksburgh
Ulysses S. Grant and his troops started a bombardment of Vicksburgh and the Confederate troops inside the city who were under control of General Pimberton. The siege lasted severl days and the people in the city bacame so starved that they resorted to eating horses, rats, and various other foods that they would not normally eat. The siege ended in Pimberton surrendering. -
West Virginia Becomes a State
This certain part of Virginia did not agree with what they were doing so they seceded from Virginia and became West Virginia. The Union then accepted West Virginia as a state. -
The Battle of Gettysburgh.
On this day Lee decided to take the incentive and attack the Union forces at Getysburbh. Lee gained a small advantage against Meade, but on the second day of the battle Lee charged the Union troops again on Cemetery Hill. Lee failed in the skirmish and sustained heavy losses. This skirmish bacame known as Pickett's Charge. -
The Gettysburgh Adress
The Gettysburgh Adress was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln to honor the men and soldiers that died during the Civil War. Although at the time it wasnt a famous speech and was practicly forgotten it is now one of the most famous speeches ever written. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
This was the only battle in the war thaat Grant said that he wished he hadn't fought. The Confederate army kept launcinng offensive attacks and the Union kept throwing them back the Union eventually lost. -
Lincoln is Re-Elected for President
Some groups of people in the US were starting to doubt Licoln, the war was entering its fourth year, it didn't look like it was going to come to an end anytime soon and almost eveyone was tired of fighting. The Democrats nominated George McClellan for the Democrat candidate. Even though some had lost faith in Lincoln, he still won the election by a land slide. -
Surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse
General Lee was determined to make one last attempt at winning this war by reaching his supplies at Lynchburgh. The arrival of the Union infantry stopped this attack in its tracks. Lee, being surrounded on three sides finally surrendered himself and his army. This engagement ended the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln's Assasination
One of the most terrrible deaths in US History at this time happened on this day. John Wilkes Booth took matters into his own hands to do what he thought was right. He shot President Lincolln in the head while he was at a theatre.
