CONTENTS: CIVIL WAR LINKS / CONFEDERATE LINKS / UNION LINKS / CIVIL WAR GENERALS / BATTLES / CIVIL WAR QUOTES /

/ NEWS & REFERENCES / UNITED STATES HISTORY / DICTIONARY / GOOGLE SEARCH / AWARDS

U.S. History Education Homepage

"O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle." Confederate Prayer Book

The American Civil War - 1861 to 1865 - was a culminating event in the history of the United States. Since 1619, tensions began to build-up between the Northern industrial states and the Southern plantation states. Slavery, state's rights, political parties, secession, compromises, and abolitionist contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. More than 618,000 men died in the war both Union Blue and Confederate Gray. One cannot understand American History unless he or she understands the causes and the conflicts of the Civil War.

Many infamous battles were fought during this devastating war. Click on Battles in the contents to follow links to: America's bloodiest day at Antietam, Maryland 1862, the turning points of the Civil War Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Vicksburg, Mississippi 1863, not war but murder at Cold Harbor, Virginia 1864, the stonewall brigades at First and Second Bull Run 1861, and Marye's Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg 1862.

You will be amazed at the circumstances these brave and honorable soldiers fought through in these battles and campaigns. Also click on the Civil War Generals tab and read and look at pictures of some of America's most beloved Civil War officers.

General James Longstreet and Colonels Joshua Chamberlain and Henry Burgwyn performed brilliantly in the Civil War under constant pressure and odds; especially at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1-2-3, 1863.

Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, writer, and speaker

Lightning From The West; Purchase from Publish America

Contents of The History Education Homepage

Civil War Reference Links:

CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR by F. Melchiorre

DIFFUSING THE CIVIL WAR - by F. Melchiorre

CIVIL WAR ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE - by F. Melchiorre

AMERICAN CIVILWAR - INDEX

CIVIL WAR CENTER

CIVIL WAR AMERICAN HOMEPAGE

CIVIL WAR HOME CENTER

CIVIL WAR RARE MAP COLLECTION

MY BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG PAGE - by F. Melchiorre

CIVIL WAR EVERYTHING PAGE

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. COM

THE STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE THE UNIION

E History

INTRODUCTION TO THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

Confederate Links

GENERAL A.P. HILL CONFEDERATE LEADER OF THE III ARMY CORP

THE CSS HUNLEY HOMEPAGE - THE WORLD'S FIRST OPERABLE SUBMARINE

REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR BY GENRAL JOHN B. GORDON

Union Links

A TRIBUTE TO TWO COLONELS - SHAW & CHAMBERLAIN - by F. Melchiorre

American History Sites

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

THE HISTORY PLACE - AMERICAN REVOLUTION

AMERICAN HISTORY TIMELINE 1492-1877- by F. Melchiorre

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES

BATTLE OF TRENTON SITE

Ø THOMAS GOVERNMENT SITE – LEGISLATIVE – EXECUTIVE - JUDICIAL

BOSTON MASSACRE - by F. Melchiorre

POLITICAL CARTOONS

HISTORICAL IMAGE PAGE

Back to Top

"Not War, but Murder." Confederate General Evander Law at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1864.

"Bodies were piled one on top of the other all over the cornfield" Confederate soldier at Antietam, Maryland 1862.

"General Pickett form your division, we must reform for a possible attack. General Lee, I have no division!" General George Pickett at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1863.

1861 to 1865

Generals Buford, R.E. Lee, Hancock, Grant, Longstreet, Pettigrew, A.P.Hill, Reynolds.

Key Events and Battles of the Civil War

Follow the BATTLE LINKS on the left side of the chart:

Event

Date

Location

Significance

Lincoln elected president

November 1860

U.S.

Though winning in the electoral college, Lincoln's lack of a popular majority (1.9 million out of 4.7 million votes cast) is an indication of the problems he would face with a divided nation

South Carolina secedes

December 1860

South Carolina

On news of Lincoln's election, South Carolina (site of nullification fight in 1830s) secedes

Confederacy formed

February 1861

Montgomery, Alabama

Seven states form Confederacy, write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation

Lincoln inaugurated

March 1861

Washington, D.C.

Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts.

Ft. Sumter attacked

April 1861

Charleston, South Carolina

Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot.

Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle

July 21, 1861

Northern Virginia

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

Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson

February 1862

Tennessee rivers

Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee

Monitor vs. Merrimac

March 1862

Off Hampton Roads, Virginia

First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained

Shiloh (Pittsburgh Landing)

April 1862

Tennessee

Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South

New Orleans

April 1862

Louisiana

Farragut seizes New Orleans for Union after boldly attacking Southern position. 11 Southern ships sunk

Peninsular Campaign (Yorktown, Seven Days' Battle, Fair Oaks)

March-July 1862

Southern Virginia

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

Bull Run (Manassas) 2nd battle

August 1862

Northern Virginia

McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan

Antietam

September 1862

Maryland

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

Emancipation Proclamation

September 23, 1862

Washington, D.C.

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

Fredericksburg

December 1862

Central Virginia

Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000).

Chancellorsville

May 1863

Northern Virginia

Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed.

Vicksburg

July 1863

Mississippi

After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control

Gettysburg

July 1863

Pennsylvania

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

Chattanooga & Chickamauga

November 1863

Tennessee-Georgia

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 promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops

March 1864

Washington, D.C.

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 be notified of his plans.

Wilderness , Cold Harbor & Spotsylvania

May-June 1864

Central Virginia

Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to RichmondThough 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"

Petersburg

June 1864--April 1865

South of Richmond, Virginia

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

Atlanta to Savannah

September-December 1864

Georgia

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 surrenders

April 9, 1865

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender

AWARDS RECOGNIZING THIS SITE:

COPYRIGHT FEBRUARY © 2000

Fred Melchiorre

SOURCES USED FOR THIS WEB PAGE:

Picture Credits:

Mort Kunstler.Com

Library of Congress

American Civil War Homepage

Book Credits:

Covered in Glory

Joshua Chamberlain, the Soldier and the Man

The Men Stood Like Iron

Where Death and Glory Meet

Internet Resources & Credits:

Event	Date	Location	Significance
Lincoln elected president	November 1860	U.S.	Though winning in the electoral college, Lincoln's lack of a popular majority (1.9 million out of 4.7 million votes cast) is an indication of the problems he would face with a divided nation
South Carolina secedes	December 1860	South Carolina	On news of Lincoln's election, South Carolina (site of nullification fight in 1830s) secedes
Confederacy formed	February 1861	Montgomery, Alabama	Seven states form Confederacy, write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation
Lincoln inaugurated	March 1861	Washington, D.C.	Lincoln enters Washington D.C. in disguise because of unrest. Southerners begin seizing federal posts.
Ft. Sumter attacked	April 1861	Charleston, South Carolina	Lincoln decides to supply Ft. Sumter, but wants the South to fire the first shot.
Bull Run (Manassas), 1st battle	July 21, 1861	Northern Virginia	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
Ft. Henry & Ft. Donelson	February 1862	Tennessee rivers	Gen. Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Confederates forced out of Kentucky and yield much of Tennessee
Monitor vs. Merrimac	March 1862	Off Hampton Roads, Virginia	First ironclad battle in history ends in a draw as the Merrimac withdraws after daylong exchange of fire. Union blockade of South is maintained
Shiloh (Pittsburgh Landing)	April 1862	Tennessee	Grant overcomes Southern forces with heavy losses for each side: 13,000 Union casualties, 11,000 for South
New Orleans	April 1862	Louisiana	Farragut seizes New Orleans for Union after boldly attacking Southern position. 11 Southern ships sunk
Peninsular Campaign (Yorktown, Seven Days' Battle, Fair Oaks)	March-July 1862	Southern Virginia	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
Bull Run (Manassas) 2nd battle	August 1862	Northern Virginia	McClellan replaced by Gen. Pope. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeat Union troops again at Manassas and Pope is replaced by McClellan
Antietam	September 1862	Maryland	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
Emancipation Proclamation	September 23, 1862	Washington, D.C.	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
Fredericksburg	December 1862	Central Virginia	Gen. Burnside attacks Lee's fortified position and suffers 10,000 casualties (to Lee's 5000).
Chancellorsville	May 1863	Northern Virginia	Gen. Hooker defeated by Lee, but Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and killed.
Vicksburg	July 1863	Mississippi	After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control
Gettysburg	July 1863	Pennsylvania	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
Chattanooga & Chickamauga	November 1863	Tennessee-Georgia	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 promoted to Lt. General and given command of all Union troops	March 1864	Washington, D.C.	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 be notified of his plans.
Wilderness , Cold Harbor & Spotsylvania	May-June 1864	Central Virginia	Lee stops Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to RichmondThough 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"
Petersburg	June 1864--April 1865	South of Richmond, Virginia	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
Atlanta to Savannah	September-December 1864	Georgia	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 surrenders	April 9, 1865	Appomattox Court House, Virginia	Lee, refusing to see his troops suffer any further, surrenders to Grant. Southern troops given generous terms of surrender