Fort Sumter: The First Shot
The Battle of Fort Sumter is considered the start of the Civil War. Fort Sumter was a Union fort on an island off of the coast of South Carolina. At this time, South Carolina was seceding from the Union, and becoming the first state to enter the Confederacy. Becasue of their opposing viewpoints, South Carolina did not want the Union inhabiting their Confederacy land. When the Union needed to be resupplied with nourishment and ammunition, South Carolina refused, and demanded the evacutation of the Northern army from Fort Sumter. The Union declined to vacate the island, causing the angry Confederates to fire on the fort. After a very short battle, the Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander for the Union forces that occupied Sumter, surrendered due to lack of supplies, among other stressors. South Carolina captured the fort and the North retreated. Although this was not a particularly bloody or lengthy battle, it is the famous start to the American Civil War.
"Our Southern brethren have done grievously, they have rebelled and have attacked their father's house and their loyal brothers. They must be punished and brought back, but this necessity breaks my heart."— Major Robert Anderson
"Our Southern brethren have done grievously, they have rebelled and have attacked their father's house and their loyal brothers. They must be punished and brought back, but this necessity breaks my heart."— Major Robert Anderson
The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first legitimate battle of the Civil War, and the also the first of multiple battles to take place at Manassas, where the Battles of Bull Run were fought. After their defeat at Sumter, the Union wanted to demolish the center of Confederate forces. They planned to march to Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate States of America at the time. They were apprehended by the Southern army on their journey to Richmond, but had them retreating. When Thomas J. Jackson arrived at the battle with reinforcements for the Confederate troops, the Union hastily retreated towards Washington. The Northern army's retreat earned Thomas Jackson the nickname "Stonewall", and the result of this battle showed the humbled Northern forces that the Civil War was not going to be a one-sided war, leaving the South triumphant and the North wanting for revenge.
“Yonder stands Jackson like a stone wall; let’s go to his assistance!"
-Barnard E. Bee, Jr.
“Yonder stands Jackson like a stone wall; let’s go to his assistance!"
-Barnard E. Bee, Jr.
The Gettysburg Battle
The battle that took place in Gettysburg was the last battle of the Civil War that had a major impact. General Lee wanted to cut between Washington D.C. and the Union forces, to isolate the Northern army and force them into a fight. As both forces continue further north, they met at Gettysburg. When the armies arrived, one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War began. It raged for three days, and turned the tables of the Civil War. General Lee commanded his forces to begin the fight carefully, as the total number of Union soldiers was unknown to the Confederacy. At the end of the first day, the Union had been pushed back, and was beginning to falter. Salvation came in the form of reinforcements on the second day of the Gettysburg battle.
When they arrived, the Union relocated to higher ground in Gettysburg, called Cemetery Ridge. This significantly hindered the Confederate's strategy. Little Round Top was a small hill where some of the Union defensive lines were located. The Southern army attempted to flank them at this site, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt to break defensive lines. Confederate General Lee made one final offensive attack on the third and last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He sent the entirety of his forces to charge the Union, with General George Pickett as the leader. They ran straight across an open field, and were easy pickings for the Union shooters. As a result, many soldiers died on Pickett's Charge. This was the final straw for the Confederates occupying Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was over, and Union forces were the victors.
"Rations were scarcely issued, and the men about preparing supper, when rumors that the enemy had been encountered that day near Gettysburg absorbed every other interest, and very soon orders came to march forthwith to Gettysburg."
-Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
When they arrived, the Union relocated to higher ground in Gettysburg, called Cemetery Ridge. This significantly hindered the Confederate's strategy. Little Round Top was a small hill where some of the Union defensive lines were located. The Southern army attempted to flank them at this site, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt to break defensive lines. Confederate General Lee made one final offensive attack on the third and last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He sent the entirety of his forces to charge the Union, with General George Pickett as the leader. They ran straight across an open field, and were easy pickings for the Union shooters. As a result, many soldiers died on Pickett's Charge. This was the final straw for the Confederates occupying Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was over, and Union forces were the victors.
"Rations were scarcely issued, and the men about preparing supper, when rumors that the enemy had been encountered that day near Gettysburg absorbed every other interest, and very soon orders came to march forthwith to Gettysburg."
-Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Sherman's March to the Sea (1864-1865)
While Union General Ulysses S. Grant was attempting to capture Richmond, Virginia from the Confederacy, William Tecumsuh Sherman was sent to "clear" the South- on Grant's orders. Sherman was merciless in his torture of the South. He pursued weary Confederate forces endlessly, hoping to goad them into a fight. When they would finally stop running and fight, Sherman's forces would demolish the Confederates. Sherman terrorized the South- he destroyed everything in his path- he plundered, looted, and burned towns, houses, and mostly plantations. 100,000 of his troops gained control of Alabama in 1864, and promptly burnt half of the city to the ground. After this, the forces continued to Savannah on the coast of the Atlantic, and turned north to the South and North Carolinas. His harsh tactics were the last, humiliating blow to the South. They had lost the Civil War, and most of the South had been ruined by Sherman. Sherman's March was a bloody and cruel Northern victory.
“War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.”
― William T. Sherman
“War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.”
― William T. Sherman