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South Carolina Secedes
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Several other states soon followed. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter was attacked by the Confederates. It surrendered on April 13, 1861. -
Virginia Secedes
The state of Virginia was divided on the issue of whether to secede, and in 1861, the state broke into two. West Virginia stayed loyal to the Union, while Virginia joined the Confederacy. -
First Battle of Bull Run
On July 21, 1861 the First Battle of Bull Run occurred. It was also known as Manassas in the South. -
George B. McClellan appointed Commander of the Department of the Potomac
On July 27,1861 George B. McClellan was appointed Commander of the Department of the Potomac.
His weakness was that he was very cautious when it came to battle. -
Peninsula Campaign Begins
The Peninsula Campaign began in March 1862. This was the first major offensive operation of the Civil War. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh took place April 6 through April 7, 1862. It started when Grant rested his troops near a church named Shiloh and the Confederates surprise attacked them. -
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines took place May 31, 1862. It occurred near Yorktown, Virginia. -
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles occurred on June 25 through July 1, 1862. Union casualties were 16,000, while the Confederate casualties were more than 20,000. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
On August 29 through August 30, 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run occurred. This was a Confederate victory. -
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam occurred September 17, 1862. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. -
Ambrose E. Burnside replaces McClellan
On November 7,1862, Abrose E. Burnside replaced McClellan as General. He led the army at the battle in Fredericksburg, Virginia. -
Fredericksburg
On December 13, 1862, a battle occurred in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Union suffered over 12,000 casualties, while the Confederates only suffered 5,000 casualties. -
Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. It stated that all slaves within areas that were rebelling from the Union were free. -
Chancellorsville
On May 1 through May 4, 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville occurred. Although a Confedrate victory, the Confederates lost Stonewall Jackson when he was shot by his own men. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg occurred July 1 through July 3, 1863. It was a Union victory and a turning point in the war. -
Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863. It dedicated a cemetary at the Gettysburg battlefield. -
Ulysses S. Grant appointed General
On March 9, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was appointed General. William Tecumseh Sherman succeeded Grant. -
William T. Sherman captures Atlanta
On September 2, 1864, William T. Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia. He burned a large part of the city. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
From November 15 through December 21, 1864, William T. Sherman marched his army to Savannah. The army destroyed everything in its path. -
13th Amendment Passed
On January 31, 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed. It put an end to all slavery. -
Lee Surrenders at Appomattox
On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant let the officers keep their sidearms, the men keep their horses, and He had the Confederate soldiers fed.
