Vicksburg May 2-July 9, 1863 The lengthy Battle of Vicksburg began in Warren County on May 13, 1863. The North and the South considered Vicksburg an important stronghold. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched massive assaults on Vicksburg and terrorized the inhabitants. Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 3, 1863. Battle completed Anaconda Plan; south was divided and the Union controlled the Mississippi River

Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 Most important battle of the War Lee attacked Union Army under Meade, and had small successes. Better supplied Union pushed Lee back, and forced Lee to retreat. Meade failed to follow the retreating Confederate Army; again, failure to seize on opportunity to end war early. Confederate Army never again went into Union territory.

The Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863 Lincoln’s most important speech; considered one of the most important in American History. Only 273 words Stressed his main desire of keeping the Union together.

Photograph of Lincoln at the Gettysburg Battlefield, where he gave the address.

Wilderness May 5-7, 1864 Union General Grant continued his march to Richmond, Virginia, planning to use three armies to lay siege to the city. He wanted to cut Lee’s food and artillery supply lines and to block a Southern retreat. Because of gunfire and the Wilderness’ dry land, forest fires were sparked. Confederates achieved some success and inflicted Union casualties. Grant refused to retreat and continued his march to Richmond.

Union tries to capture Richmond Two Battles/Sieges: Cold Harbor Petersburg

Cold Harbor

Cold Harbor May 31-June 12, 1864 Hanover County, Virginia Long battle with heavy casualties on both sides. Union General Sheridan and Grant lost many soldiers. Grant’s Army too small to capture Richmond, so instead tried to capture nearby Petersburg to regroup and resupply.

Siege at Petersburg June 9 1864-March 25, 1865 Located south of Richmond Long series of trench warfare; Union would attack, then dig trenches (this tactic common in WW I). Supplies cut off to Lee, so he abandoned Petersburg and Richmond.

Sherman’s March to the Sea November 15-December 20, 1864 - Union General William T. Sherman already had captured Atlanta, but he wanted to leave sixty thousand troops there while he marched the rest of his army to the Atlantic Ocean through Savannah, Georgia. - During this time, Confederate General John Hood had led troops in a raid on Tennessee, leaving Sherman’s soldiers to face fewer than five thousand Confederate soldiers. Sherman’s troops burned buildings and infrastructures along the way, destroying many towns and cities. Sherman’s troops defeated the depleted Confederate army and took Savannah on December 22, 1864.

Sherman’s March to the Sea November 15-December 20, 1864

Surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865 - General Lee surrendered his Confederate army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. Lee’s army had diminished, which contributed to Union General Grant’s many victories near the end of the war. In a sign of respect, Grant allowed Lee to keep his saber and horse. - General Joseph Johnston was the last Confederate general who continued to fight. He still believed that the South could win the war. Johnston’s troops eventually fell to federal troops, and he surrendered to General Sherman on April 26, 1865.

Assassination of Lincoln April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at the end of the Civil War. He was killed on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two other people. Lincoln was watching Our American Cousin when John Wilkes Booth shot him in the back of the head. Booth was a loyal Confederate, and he thought the Confederacy could triumph if Lincoln were dead. Booth jumped off the balcony and broke his ankle, but managed to escape the theater. Lincoln died of his fatal wound the next morning.

The Trial and Execution of the Conspirators The conspirators in the assassination of President Lincoln were Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerdot, Michael O’Laughlen, Samuel Arnold, Edman Spangler, and Dr. Samuel Mudd. They were tried in a military tribunal court because the government deemed the nature of the case required the use of this court. A majority vote would result in a guilty verdict, while a two-thirds majority would result in a death sentence. All eight were found guilty. Surratt, Powell, Herold, and Atzerdot were sentenced to death by hanging. O’Laughlen died in prison. President Andrew Johnson pardoned Arnold, Spangler, and Mudd.

Legacy of the War Civil War was bloodiest war in U.S. History. Also called “The War Between the States,” “The Brother’s War,” and the “War of Northern Aggression.” 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments follow within 5 years of the end of the war. Racially biased laws persist until the 1960’s and even into the 1970’s