1. First Shots of the Civil War
Fort Sumter
First Shots of the Civil War

2. The fall of Fort Sumter
Commander Anderson sent a message to Lincoln that the fort was low on supplies & Confederate leaders demanded its surrender.
Lincoln sent unarmed group with supplies and stated he would not surrender nor attack first.
Jefferson Davis orders a surprise attack before supplies could arrive : April 12th, 1861
No help came for the Union – high seas kept ships away
April 14th, 1861 – Union Surrendered – No deaths
Lincoln calls for troops! – Volunteers quickly signed up
VA, NC, TN, AK voted to join the CSA in reaction to Lincoln’s call

3. The Rush to war Union response Confederate Response
Lincoln calls for 7500 volunteers
Northerners rush to enlist
The remaining southern states must now chose a side
4 more states leave the union rounding off the Confederate States of America
Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, & North Carolina.
Confederate states ready to call up men

4. The Border states Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, & Missouri
Maryland critical
Washington, D.C., as risk surrounded by Confederate territory
Missouri important
Strategic access to the lower Mississippi River. Divided loyalties but not enough to pick one side over the other.
Kentucky necessary
The Ohio River border left the Union open to invasion – Government refused to take sides until later when they were invaded.
These divided loyalties meant citizens fought on both sides.
Brother vs. Brother

5. First battle of the Civil War
Battle of bull Run
First battle of the Civil War

6. Battle of bull run July 21st, 1861
Northern Virginia, (Manassas) near a river called Bull Run
General Irvin McDowell led 30,000 Union soldiers attacked a smaller confederate force, led by General P.G.T Beauregard
Hundreds of spectators watched from a few miles away
Yankees(Union) drove Rebels (Confederate) back
“Stonewall” Jackson – Confederate General –inspired to rally back

7. Bull Run Both sides lacked experience
Confederates unleashed a savage counterattack – sending Union troops back – run into civilians fleeing in panic
Loss shocked Northerners- Realization of long and difficult war
New General – George B. McClellan, Army of Potomac- Train troops
Call for 1 million volunteers for 3 years

8. First battle of the Civil War
Battle of bull Run
First battle of the Civil War

9. Battle of Antietam
Single Bloodiest Day

10. Battle of Antietam
Confederate General Lee splits his army into 4 parts to confuse the Union/McClellan
Ordered each part to move in a different direction
Never had a chance to work – Confederate officer lost his copy – 2 Union soldiers found it- gave to McClellan
September 17th, 1862 – Both sides meet at Antietam in Maryland
Key victory for the Union
Deadliest (bloodiest) single day of fighting in the war
6,000 died – 17,000 wounded
Lee retreated to Virginia because of the losses- strategy failed

11. Battle of Gettysburg
Most Decisive Battle

12. Battle of Gettysburg
Southern Pennsylvania  Most decisive battle of the war
Almost an accidental location
Confederates enter looking for supplies – encounter the enemy
4 days later – Confederate crawl out with 25,000 causalities
Union – Victory – 23,000 causalities
July 1st, 1863
Union outnumbered – retreated to higher ground- Cemetery Ridge
Confederate attack (Pickett’s Charge) designed to destroy the Union worked at first, but the amount of wounded and dead surpassed
No help from Europe – Confederate lose

13. Battle of Vicksburg
Turn of the Tide

14. Battle of Vicksburg
• July 4th, 1863 – Same day as Lee retreated from Gettysburg
• Vicksburg River fell under Union Control by General Grant
• Grant attacked in April – cutting off food & supplies to the Confederates
77,000 Union troops fire into city
• 47 day siege – 9,000 Confederate casualties, 10,000 Union
• Many died from disease or starvation
Fewer than 20 citizens killed
• Confederate lost control of Mississippi – Union split the confederacy in two
• Tide of the Civil War turned