Civil WarCivil War

1861-18621861-1862

April 1861 - Attack on Fort April 1861 - Attack on Fort SumterSumter

► When President Lincoln planned to send supplies to Fort When President Lincoln planned to send supplies to Fort Sumter, he alerted the state in advance, in an attempt to Sumter, he alerted the state in advance, in an attempt to avoid hostilities. South Carolina, however, feared a trick; the avoid hostilities. South Carolina, however, feared a trick; the commander of the fort, Robert Anderson, was asked to commander of the fort, Robert Anderson, was asked to surrender immediately. Anderson offered to surrender, but surrender immediately. Anderson offered to surrender, but only after he had exhausted his supplies. His offer was only after he had exhausted his supplies. His offer was rejected, and on April 12, the Civil War began with shots fired rejected, and on April 12, the Civil War began with shots fired on the fort. Fort Sumter eventually was surrendered to South on the fort. Fort Sumter eventually was surrendered to South Carolina Carolina

July 1861 – First Battle Of Bull July 1861 – First Battle Of Bull RunRun

► Public demand pushed Public demand pushed General-in-Chief General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to Winfield Scott to advance on the South advance on the South before adequately before adequately training his untried training his untried troops. Scott ordered troops. Scott ordered General Irvin McDowell General Irvin McDowell to advance on to advance on Confederate troops Confederate troops stationed at Manassas stationed at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Junction, Virginia. McDowell attacked on McDowell attacked on July 21, and was July 21, and was initially successful, but initially successful, but the introduction of the introduction of Confederate Confederate reinforcements reinforcements resulted in a Southern resulted in a Southern victory and a chaotic victory and a chaotic retreat toward retreat toward Washington by federal Washington by federal troops. troops.

► Suddenly aware of Suddenly aware of the threat of a the threat of a protracted war and protracted war and the army's need the army's need for organization for organization and training, and training, Lincoln replaced Lincoln replaced McDowell with McDowell with General George B. General George B. McClellan McClellan

July 1861 - General McDowell Is July 1861 - General McDowell Is Replaced Replaced

July 1861 - A Blockade of the July 1861 - A Blockade of the South South

► To blockade the coast of To blockade the coast of the Confederacy the Confederacy effectively, the federal effectively, the federal navy had to be improved. navy had to be improved. By July, the effort at By July, the effort at improvement had made a improvement had made a difference and an difference and an effective blockade had effective blockade had begun. The South begun. The South responded by building responded by building small, fast ships that small, fast ships that could outmaneuver Union could outmaneuver Union vessels.vessels.

The Civil War in 1862.The Civil War in 1862.

January 1862-January 1862- Abraham Abraham Lincoln Takes Action.Lincoln Takes Action.

► On January 27, On January 27, President Lincoln President Lincoln issued a war order issued a war order authorizing the authorizing the Union to launch a Union to launch a unified aggressive unified aggressive action against the action against the Confederacy. Confederacy. General McClellan General McClellan ignored the order.ignored the order.

March 1862- McClellan Loses March 1862- McClellan Loses Command.Command.

► On March 8, President On March 8, President Lincoln -- impatient with Lincoln -- impatient with General McClellan's General McClellan's inactivity -- issued an inactivity -- issued an order reorganizing the order reorganizing the Army of Virginia and Army of Virginia and relieving McClellan of relieving McClellan of supreme command. supreme command. McClellan was given McClellan was given command of the Army command of the Army of the Potomac, and of the Potomac, and ordered to attack ordered to attack Richmond. This marked Richmond. This marked the beginning of the the beginning of the Peninsular Campaign. Peninsular Campaign.

April 1862- The Battle of April 1862- The Battle of Shiloh. Shiloh.

► On April 6, Confederate forces On April 6, Confederate forces attacked Union forces under attacked Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant at General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. By the end Shiloh, Tennessee. By the end of the day, the federal troops of the day, the federal troops were almost defeated. Yet, were almost defeated. Yet, during the night, during the night, reinforcements arrived, and reinforcements arrived, and by the next morning the Union by the next morning the Union commanded the field. When commanded the field. When Confederate forces retreated, Confederate forces retreated, the exhausted federal forces the exhausted federal forces did not follow. Casualties were did not follow. Casualties were heavy -- 13,000 out of 63,000 heavy -- 13,000 out of 63,000 Union soldiers died, and Union soldiers died, and 11,000 of 40,000 Confederate 11,000 of 40,000 Confederate troops were killed. troops were killed.

May 1862 -- "Stonewall" May 1862 -- "Stonewall" Jackson Defeats Union Jackson Defeats Union

Forces.Forces.► Confederate General Confederate General

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, commanding Jackson, commanding forces in the forces in the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah Valley, attacked Union forces attacked Union forces in late March, forcing in late March, forcing them to retreat across them to retreat across the Potomac. As a the Potomac. As a result, Union troops result, Union troops were rushed to protect were rushed to protect Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

June 1862 -- The Battle of Seven June 1862 -- The Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). Pines (Fair Oaks).

► On May 31, the On May 31, the Confederate army Confederate army attacked federal forces attacked federal forces at Seven Pines, almost at Seven Pines, almost defeating them; last-defeating them; last-minute reinforcements minute reinforcements saved the Union from a saved the Union from a serious defeat. serious defeat. Confederate Confederate commander Joseph E. commander Joseph E. Johnston was severely Johnston was severely wounded, and wounded, and command of the Army command of the Army of Northern Virginia fell of Northern Virginia fell to Robert E. Lee. to Robert E. Lee.

July 1862 -- The Seven Days' July 1862 -- The Seven Days' Battles.Battles.

► Between June 26 and Between June 26 and July 2, Union and July 2, Union and Confederate forces Confederate forces fought a series of fought a series of battles: Mechanicsville battles: Mechanicsville (June 26-27), Gaines's (June 26-27), Gaines's Mill (June 27), Savage's Mill (June 27), Savage's Station (June 29), Station (June 29), Frayser's Farm (June 30), Frayser's Farm (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1). and Malvern Hill (July 1). On July 2, the On July 2, the Confederates withdrew Confederates withdrew to Richmond, ending the to Richmond, ending the Peninsular Campaign. Peninsular Campaign.

August 1862 -- Pope's August 1862 -- Pope's Campaign. Campaign.

► Union General John Pope Union General John Pope suffered defeated at the suffered defeated at the Second Battle of Bull Second Battle of Bull Run on August 29-30. Run on August 29-30. General Fitz-John Porter General Fitz-John Porter was held responsible for was held responsible for the defeat because he the defeat because he had failed to commit his had failed to commit his troops to battle quickly troops to battle quickly enough; he was forced enough; he was forced out of the army by 1863. out of the army by 1863.

September 1862 -- Harper's September 1862 -- Harper's Ferry. Ferry.

► Union General McClellan Union General McClellan defeated Confederate defeated Confederate General Lee at South General Lee at South Mountain and Mountain and Crampton's Gap in Crampton's Gap in September, but did not September, but did not move quickly enough to move quickly enough to save Harper's Ferry, save Harper's Ferry, which fell to which fell to Confederate General Confederate General Jackson on September Jackson on September 15, along with a great 15, along with a great number of men and a number of men and a large body of supplies. large body of supplies.

December 1862 -- The Battle of December 1862 -- The Battle of Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg.

► General McClellan's slow General McClellan's slow movements, combined with movements, combined with General Lee's escape, and General Lee's escape, and continued raiding by continued raiding by Confederate cavalry, Confederate cavalry, dismayed many in the North. dismayed many in the North. On November 7, Lincoln On November 7, Lincoln replaced McClellan with replaced McClellan with Major-General Ambrose E. Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside. Burnside's forces Burnside. Burnside's forces were defeated in a series of were defeated in a series of attacks against entrenched attacks against entrenched Confederate forces at Confederate forces at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Burnside was replaced with Burnside was replaced with General Joseph Hooker. General Joseph Hooker.