The Civil War (1861-1865)

Fort Sumter Federal fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina Federal troops stationed there were running out of food and supplies and had no way of getting them after South Carolina seceded. Lincoln refused to surrender the fort to SC and ordered a relief expedition to resupply them. April 12 – 13, 1861 Confederates fired the first shot

Fort Sumter Although no casualties were caused by the firing on the fort, one Union soldier was killed during the surrender ceremony when a canon backfired. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln asked each state to provide militia to help suppress the rebellion. This request led 4 more Southern states to secede.

Confederate States: (total: 11) Joined after Fort Sumter South Carolina Alabama Florida Georgia West Virginia broke away from Virginia in 1863 to join the Union Virginia Arkansas North Carolina Tennessee Louisiana Mississippi Texas

Border States: slave states that stayed in the Union Total 20 Maine Vermont New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island New York Connecticut New Jersey Pennsylvania Ohio Indiana Illinois Wisconsin Michigan Iowa Minnesota Kansas Oregon California Border States: slave states that stayed in the Union Missouri Kentucky Maryland Delaware West Virginia broke away from Virginia in 1863 to join the Union

Battle of Bull Run On July 21, 1861, Union troops left Washington D.C. for Richmond, VA. They ran into Confederate soldiers soon after starting out, at Bull Run Creek, VA. In the end, the Union troops retreated, with some not stopping until they reached Washington D.C. Confederate Victory General Thomas Jackson received his famous nickname “Stonewall” here, as he rallied the Confederate troops in the face of the Union army.

A bridge running over Bull Run Creek. The Battle of Bull Run showed that this would be a long and bloody fight. It also showed the leaders on both sides that their troops needed training.

Battle of Antietam Jefferson Davis and Lee decided that the best way to end the war was to invade the North. General Lee went on the offensive, marching 45,000 men into Maryland. He wanted to get a win on northern soil, which he hoped would lower Union morale. Date: September 17, 1862 Maryland Antietam battlefield

Lee’s plan was found out by the Union. But, thinking that Lee had far more troops than he really did, Union General McClellan did not act right away. He waited 18 hours before responding to the intelligence.

Total 23,000 casualties Union 12,401 casualties - 2,108 dead - 9,540 wounded - 753 captured/missing - 25% of the Union force. Total 23,000 casualties Confederacy 10,316 casualties - 1,546 dead - 7,752 wounded - 31% of the Confederate force. Union can claim victory because the South had invaded the North and retreated.

The Battle of Antietam lasted from dawn until about 4 P.M. 3 phases More Americans died on this day than on any other day, including D-Day and September 11, 2001. There was no clear victor but the Union claimed victory. This battle would lead Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation Union can claim victory because the South had invaded the North and retreated.

Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 Lee met Ambrose’s army outside Fredericksburg, VA. Lee’s army dug into the crest of a hill, which is an ideal defensive position. As the Union soldiers climbed the hill, the Confederate guns mowed them down. This was one of the Union’s worst defeats. Confederate Victory

But the town of Fredericksburg did not get away unscathed But the town of Fredericksburg did not get away unscathed. Much of the town was reduced to charred remains after the buildings burned all night.

The battle for the Mississippi War in the West The battle for the Mississippi The Union already controlled New Orleans and Memphis Vicksburg, MS was also necessary to gain control of the Mississippi River, because it sits high on cliffs overlooking the river in the middle of the Mississippi

Ulysses S. Grant For six weeks during the summer of 1863, Gen. Grant laid siege to the city, trying to force the Confederate soldiers into surrendering. They finally did on July 4, 1863.

The Union now controlled the Mississippi and the Confederacy was now split into two parts with Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas cut off from the rest of the states.

Turning Point The turning point of the war was the 3-day Battle of Gettysburg.

General Lee led his troops on his second invasion into the North. He moved into Pennsylvania. Union General George Meade met Lee’s troops outside Gettysburg, PA July 1, 1863. Gen. George Meade The battle lasted three days. July 1 – 3, 1863.

The final Confederate attack of the Battle of Gettysburg was known as Pickett’s Charge. Maj. Gen. George Pickett

The final Confederate attack of the Battle of Gettysburg was known as Pickett’s Charge. Maj. Gen. George Pickett During the charge, 15,000 men had to charge across 1,000 open yards. Maj. Gen. George Pickett ordered his men to cross the field and climb Cemetery Ridge where Gen. Mead’s Union army was located.

The Battle of Gettysburg 50,000 men dead or wounded This is the deadliest battle of the war Turning Point The Confederacy would not invade the North again.

Gettysburg National Cemetery

Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.

General William Sherman’s goal was to head to Atlanta, Georgia and then onto the Atlantic Ocean. General Philip Sheridan’s goal was to head to the fertile farming land of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864. Sherman’s March to the Sea On his way through Georgia, the soldiers ripped up railroad tracks, built bonfires to burn the ties, then heated and twisted the rails. They killed livestock and tore up fields, burned barns, homes, bridges and factories. This victory in Atlanta also helped to increase Lincoln’s chances of being reelected.

When Richmond fell Lee knew he had to surrender. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant. At the house of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

Lee was expecting Grant’s terms to be very tough. Terms of Surrender Lee was expecting Grant’s terms to be very tough. soldiers must turn in their rifles, but officers were allowed to keep their pistols. soldiers that had horses could keep them, as they needed them for farm work back home. All men could return to their homes without being disturbed by the U.S. authorities.

When the terms were signed the Union soldiers began to cheer, Grant ordered them silent saying that the rebels were countrymen again, not enemies.