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Battle of Fort Sumter
Confederate forces were set on capturing Fort Sumter which was near Charleston, South Carolina. The Confederates bombarded the fort with artillery shells for over 30 hours. The Union troops tried to fight back but they were underpowered compared to the confederates. Eventually the Union forces surrendered the fort. The battle marked of the beginning of the civil war. -
First Battle of Bull Run
Union General Irvin McDowell marched with his men to Virginia from Washington D.C. to capture the capital which is Richmond. They ran into a confederate force commanded by General Pierre G. T. Beauregard. The Confederate force was defending an important railroad junction in Manassas, Virginia. McDowell and his troops pushed back the confederates at first, but southern reinforcements came and pushed the Union troops back. This was the first major battle of the civil war. -
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Battle of Fort Donelson
This was one of the first major victories for the Union in the civil war. Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured the fort which was next to the Cumberland river in Tennessee. At first the confederates were holding off the Union gunboats and planned to counterattack to try to escape. The confederate's plan was working until they retreated back to the fortifications. The Confederate generals fled and left behind about 13,000 Confederate soldiers that surrendered to the Union. -
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Battle of Shiloh
This was one of the first major engagements of the civil war. It was started by the Confederates launching a suprise attack on Union troops in southwest Tennessee. The suprise attack was working at first but with many troops having no battle experience before this, the Confederate troops were soon pushed back leading to a Union victory. -
Battle of Antietam
Confederate General. Robert E. Lee and his men invaded Maryland to try to knock the Union back. Major General George McClellan and his men were sent by President Lincoln to intercept them. The forces met in a cornfield near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Eventually the fighting moved to Antietam creek on a stone bridge. Union troops had to storm a confederate position 3 times before they took it over. Even though it was a draw it had given Lincoln enough confidence to issue the emancipation proclamation. -
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Battle of Chancellorsville
General Lee achieved one of the greatest wins for the Confederates. Lee split his men and sent Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson to go through a thick forest to flank the Union troops. After a few days the Union troops had to retreat. But the victory came with a cost. Thomas J. Jackson, who was one of the Confederates best officers was shot by friendly fire and he passed away 4 days after the battle ended -
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Siege of Vicksburg
Vicksburg was a very important confederate railroad hub and fortress port on the Mississippi river. During May, 1863 Gen. Grant sent forces several times to attack the fort but they couldn't get through the heavy defenses. Because of this Grant started a siege on the fort. Union troops used artillery to bombard the fort. Many southerners in the fort hid underground in tunnels dug below it. In early July the confederates defending it had surrendered and the Union gained control of the fort. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
General Lee and his men invaded the Union to get supplies for his men and try to put pressure on Washington D.C.. Lee's army was chased by Union men led by Maj. Gen. George Meade. The forces met in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Confederates were holding off the Union troops but the confederates couldn't break through the Union line to make any advancements. On July 3rd Confederate Gen. George Pickett led an attack on the Union position, but it failed and resulted in 60% Confederate casualties. -
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Battles for Chattanooga
The battles for Chattanooga were a series of battles in Tennessee. Union troops defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Lookout Mountain and the Battle of Missionary Ridge. These loses forced the Confederate troops back into Georgia. The Union forces took control of the railroad station in Chattanooga. This victory made way for the Union to take over Atlanta in 1864. -
Battle of Atlanta
Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army of troops to Atlanta. When they arrived the Confederates try to launch an attack but it failed. This battle was the bloodiest part of capturing Atlanta. Eventually the Union forces surrounded the city. After beseiging the city for all of the August, all of the Confederate troops fled the city and Union troops took control. This capture gave Lincoln the support he needed to to win the next election.