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The civil war began.
The civil war started when General Beauregard attacked Union soldiers at Fort Sumter. -
Battle of Shiloh
The battle of Shiloh happened when general Johnston surprise attacked Grant. Johnston was wounded, allowing Grant to counterattack. The confederates were forced to retreat. -
General Lee is given command of the confederate army.
General Lee gains control of the confederate army. He is the force between Grant and the confederate capital. -
The battle of Antietam
The battle of Antietam, which is the bloodiest battle of the United States, happens on September 17. Over 26,000 people are dead or wounded on both sides. This battle stops Lee from advancing further into the Union. -
The battle of Fredricksburg
The Union army, with general Burnside leading them, suffers a loss of 13,000 causalities. The Union had made fourteen attacks on entrenched confederate soldiers. -
Congress does the first Draft in American history.
Congress does a draft that requires each man to join the army unless he has someone who will go for him. Either that, or he has to pay 300 dollars to not join the army. People were not happy with this, considering they were forced to go to war. -
The battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. It marked a turning point. The rebels were forced back, farther away from the Union. Meade led this charge. -
The battle of Vicksburg
After a lengthy siege made by general Grant, he takes over Vicksburg. This means the Union controls the whole Mississippi River, and it cuts the confederacy in half. -
Drafting riots happen
Riots break out on the drafting issue. 120 people are killed before Union soldiers restore order. -
Grant takes over the whole of the Union's army.
Lincoln no longer had to search for a good commander to lead the Union's armies. Lincoln gives Grant command over the Union's armies. -
Battle of Sylvania
Grant suffers heavy losses in the battle of Sylvania. However, in the end, he forces Lee backwards, closer to the capital Richmond. -
The battle of Cold Harbor
Grant was ready to attack Cold Harbor, but part of his men were too tired. He postponed the attack, which allowed Lee to make trenches. When Grant attacked, he gained nothing but almost 13,000 dead Union men. -
Congress abolishes slavery
The Union officially abolishes slavery- it would, from then on, be illegal. -
Richmond, Virginia is captured
The people of Richmond evacuated before it was captured, destroying anything the Union could have used. Lee surrendered and Grant took over the city. -
President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated
John Wilkes Booth assassinates Lincoln just five days after the end of the Civil War.
