A Timeline of major battleS of the CIVIL WAR

1861 Ft Sumter

The Civil War was a long time in coming but it started when the first shots were fired at Sumter

Sumter was the flashpoint and once it had fallen the North began to mobilize

In one of the first campaigns of the war the Union secured the strategic West Virginia for the Union

The Unions hope for a quick victory ended with their defeat at this battle

The battles of Bloody Kansas were finally resolved when the Union defeated the Confderates in Missouri.

The Union victory at Pea Ridge secured Missouri for the Union

The Union continued its victories in the West with the capture of Ft Henry and Donelson

Union Naval Superiority made capturing Roanoke Island possible

The first battle between Ironclads was won by the Monitor.

The Union won a major battle in the West at Shiloh, it was a bloody day but Union was victorious

The Union hoped to land South of Richmond and move North. Mclellan however was not decisive in moving the army.

The South lost their outlet to the sea when the Union captured New Orleans.

Mclellans Advance on Richmond was thwarted by the superior generalship of Lee

Fought in the same area as the first Battle of Bull Run the Confederates won the battle but were unable to exploit their victory

In bloodiest one day battle in US history the Union defeated the Confederates.

The battle of Fredericksburg was another failed atttempt by the Union to advance

Also known as the Battle of Mufreesboro Union defeated Confederate forces that attacked.

In a replay of the Battle of Fredericksburg the Union once again failed to advance.

The Confederate town on the Misssissippi fell to the Union

The most important and deadliest battlel of the war. Once the Confederates lost the war was effectively over.

Large scale riots broke in New York against the draft.

The Confederates temporarily blocked the advance the Unions in the West at this battle.

The Union broke through Confederate lines at this battle and road to Atlanta was open.

Union advance up the Red River was stoped by the Confederates.

It was a series of battles in which the Union seemed to lose each battle but kept advancing

The last Gulf Coast enclave fell to the Union.

With the fall of Atlanta the heart of the South fell .

The Union used to superior logistic to break the city.

Sherman marched across Georgia destorying everything in his way.

The last of the Western battles it ended the western campaign with the inevitable Union victory.

After the fall of Richmond Lee had no choice but to surrender..

The final sad chapter of the Civil War took place when President Lincoln was assassinated.

A 9 minute summary of the war and on the causes.