The American Civil War

April 12, 1861

Confederate forces attack Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, officially starting the American Civil War.

Fig. 1. A map of the United States showing Union states in dark blue, Confederate states in maroon, and the Upper South, Indian Territory, and border states in yellow; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:13.

July 21, 1861

The First Battle of Bull Run, or the First Battle of Manassas, takes place near Manassas, Virginia. It is the first major land battle of the Civil War and ends in a Confederate victory.

Fig. 2. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, Confederate gains in pink, Missouri in dark orange, Missouri occupations in orange, Missouri gains in light orange, and the Indian Territory and border states in yellow; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:33.

April 6-7, 1862

At the Battle of Shiloh in southwestern Tennessee, Union forces rallied from near defeat to drive back the Confederates. The staggering toll, including more than 13,000 Union and 11,000 Confederate casualties, left both sides immobilized for the next three weeks.

Fig. 3. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 1:25.

September 17, 1862

The Battle of Antietam in Maryland remains the bloodiest single day in American history, with over 22,700 casualties. Although the battle was a Union victory, the devastating toll prompted President Lincoln to shift the focus of the war to freeing enslaved people in the Confederacy.

Fig. 4. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 1:57.

January 1, 1863

President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that enslaved people in the rebellious states were free. This shift turned the Civil War into a crusade against slavery, allowing Black men to serve in the Union army and effectively blocking European intervention for the Confederacy.

Fig. 5. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 2:18.

July 1-3, 1863

The Battle of Gettysburg is a major turning point in the war. After the Union won the battle, the Confederates were forced onto the defensive.

Fig. 6. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 2:55.

July 4, 1863

The Confederates surrender Vicksburg, Mississippi, after a siege by General Ulysses S. Grant. This leaves the Mississippi River in Union hands and splits the Confederacy in half.

Fig. 7. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 2:55.

September 2, 1864

General William T. Sherman captures Atlanta, Georgia, an important railroad hub that provides supplies to the Confederate armies. Sherman adopts a strategy of “total war” on his march through Georgia and the Carolinas. His troops destroy crops, supplies, railroads, bridges, and many small industries to weaken support for the war.

Fig. 8. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, and Confederate gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 4:20.

April 9, 1865

General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, ending four years of war.

Fig. 9. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, Confederate gains in pink, and surrendered states in brown; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 5:04.

April 14, 1865

John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The president dies the next day, and Vice President Andrew Johnson becomes president. This makes unification between the Union and the Confederacy more difficult.

Fig. 10. A map of the United States showing Union states and ships blocking trade in dark blue, Union occupations in blue, Union gains in light blue, Confederate states in maroon, Confederate occupations in red, Confederate gains in pink, and surrendered states in brown; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The American Civil War: Every Day," YouTube, 5:05.

Bibliography

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "American Civil War Timeline." Encyclopedia Britannica. October 2, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/summary/American-Civil-War-Timeline.