Civil War Key Battles

APUSH—Kind Name _______________ Civil War—Events & Battles While all of the battles listed in the table below are important, those in bold are key to understanding the Civil War. You will be held responsible for these. For more information consult, the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) web page Civil War Battle Summaries by Campaign on-line at: Event Date Lincoln elected president November 1860 South Carolina secedes Confederacy formed Lincoln inaugurated December 1860 February 1861 March 1861 Location South Carolina Montgomery, Alabama Washington, D.C. Charleston, Ft. Sumter attacked April 1861 South Carolina 1st Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) July 21, 1861 Northern Virginia Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson February 1862 Tennessee rivers Monitor vs. Merrimac March 1862 Off Hampton Roads, Virginia Shiloh (Pittsburgh April 1862 Tennessee Landing) New Orleans April 1862 Louisiana Peninsular Campaign March-July Southern (Yorktown, Seven 1862 Virginia Days' Battle, Fair Oaks) Bull Run (Manassas) 2nd battle August 1862 Northern Virginia Significance Though winning in the electoral college, Lincoln's lack of a popular majority (1.9 million out of 4.7 million votes cast) indicates problems he would face with a divided nation On news of Lincoln's election, South Carolina (site of nullification fight in 1830s) secedes Seven states form Confederacy, write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts. Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot. Gen. McDowell leads 30,000 men against Gen. Johnston's 22,000 Southern troops in an attempt to crush the rebels and go "On to Richmond." South scores victory as Union troops flee back to Washington in disarray. McDowell replaced by Gen. McClellan Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South Farragut seizes New Orleans for Union after boldly attacking Southern position. 11 Southern ships sunk After continual prodding by Lincoln, McClellan decides to attack Richmond via the South. He moves his large army down the Potomac, marches on Richmond, and then assumes a defensive position rather than pushing for victory. Gen. Lee takes command of Southern troops McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan Antietam September Maryland 1862 Emancipation Proclamation September Washington, 23, 1862 D.C. Fredericksburg Chancellorsville December Central 1862 Virginia Northern May 1863 Virginia Vicksburg July 1863 Mississippi Gettysburg July 1863 Pennsylvania Chattanooga November Tennessee 1863 Grant promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops Wilderness & Spotsylvania March 1864 May 1864 Washington, D.C. Central Virginia Petersburg South of June 1864-Richmond, April 1865 Virginia Atlanta to Savannah SeptemberDecember Georgia 1864 Lee surrenders April 9, 1865 Appomattox Court House, Virginia Heavily outnumbered, Lee's troops face McClellan in bloody fighting. Over 23,000 casualties (more than all previous American wars combined). Lee retreats to Virginia With victory at Antietam, Lincoln announces that on 1/1/63, all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. Does not affect border states. Forces European nations to recognize that choosing sides in the Civil War is to take a stand on slavery Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000). Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed. After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control Over 165,000 soldiers participate in the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere. After three days of fighting, Lee retreats, leaving 4,000 dead Confederates. Total casualties: 23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederates Reinforced with troops from the East, Grant is able to push Southern troops back and prepare for assault on Atlanta and the heart of the Confederacy Grant prepares for assault on Richmond. When Lincoln's Cabinet complains that Grant is a drunk and seeks to interfere with his command, Lincoln gives him unconditional support and asks not to notified of his plans. Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to Richmond. Though suffering huge losses (55,000 men to South's 31,000), Grant states "I propose to fight on this line if it takes all summer" Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication outside Richmond. Long siege of Petersburg begins with troops living in trenches which stretched for 50 miles Gen. Sherman destroys Atlanta and then sends troops on 300 mile destructive march to the sea. Railroads torn up, buildings destroyed, crops burned in an attempt to break the will of the South Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender