1. Key Battles of the Civil War From Ft. Sumter to Appomattox April, 1861-April, 1865

2. Ft. Sumter April, 1861-Charleston, South Carolina First shots of war fired by CSA at US fort in harbor. Union surrenders and war begins.

3. Bull Run July, 1861-Manassas, Virginia South wins first real ground battle of war in Virginia, near D.C. Bloody future of war could now be seen. “Stonewall” Jackson made famous here.

4. Monitor v. Merrimac March, 1862-Hampton Roads, Virginia Naval battle with no clear winner. Monitor (North) and Merrimac (South) are first iron-clad ships ever used in warfare.

5. Antietam Sept., 1862-Sharpsburg, Maryland McClellan (N) beats Lee (S) for first real Union win. Bloodiest single day of war gives Lincoln power to free slaves in South with “Emancipation Proclamation”.

6. Vicksburg July 4 th, 1863-Mississippi Grant (N) completes series of western battles by attacking river town for six weeks. Town finally surrenders, giving Union control of Mississippi River and splitting CSA in two.

7. Gettysburg July 1 st through 3 rd, 1863-Pennsylvania Meade (N) beats Lee (S) in deadliest battle of war. News breaks the same day as Vicksburg, on the 4 th of July. Seals fate of South…War near an end. Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address” follows.

8. Sherman’s March Sept., 1864-Early 1865 in Georgia Gen. Sherman (N) captures Atlanta and burns his way to Savannah. “Total War” destroys wide area of CSA and splits South again.

9. Appomattox Courthouse April 9 th, 1865-Virginia Lee (S) surrenders to Grant (N) a week after CSA capital of Richmond falls. The war is officially over. Lincoln killed five days later on April 14 th.