Important People of the Civil War

Jefferson Davis President of the Confederate States of America.

Robert E. Lee Confederate General in charge of the Army of Northern Virginia Prolonged the Civil War for four years by winning battles he was expected to lose.

Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States. President during the Civil War. Kept our country together through it’s darkest times.

Ulysses S. Grant Union General that took control of the Mississippi River, when he captured Vicksburg, Miss. in 1863. Took Command of the Army of the Potomac in 1864, and then defeated Robert E. Lee, to end the Civil War.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson Confederate General in the Army of Northern Virginia. Strong leader and great tactician. Earned the nickname “Stonewall” at the First Battle of Bull Run.

William Tecumseh Sherman Union General that waged “Total War” on the South near the end of the war. His army cut a 60 mile wide, 300 mile long path of destruction in “Sherman’s March to the Sea”

Clara Barton Union Battlefield Nurse during the Civil War. Nicknamed “The Angel of the Battlefield.” After the war, she founded the American Red Cross

John Wilkes Booth Actor and southern sympathizer who assassinated Lincoln 4 days after the war ended.

William Carney Medal of Honor Recipient during Civil War. Fought in the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts (aka the Buffalo Soldiers)

Philip Bazaar Medal of Honor winner

Andrew Johnson Lincoln’s Vice President S. Democrat, seen as too lenient

Hiram Revels-Rhodes 1st African American to serve in the US Congress Spoke to Racial equality and amnesty to former Confederates

Civil War Battles Is often called the “Civil War” in the North and the “War Between” the States in the South. The citizens of the United States could not agree on the issues of slavery and states rights.

More than 2,000 engagements were fought Some changed the morale while others represented brilliant strategy. Others showed new military inventions.

Where were the first shots of the civil war fired? Who started it?

Fort Sumter 1st battle of Civil War April 12, 1861 Charleston Harbor Confederates fired upon the fort and Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort after a long seige. Won by the south

1st Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861 Manassas, Virginia Won by South Victory thrilled South, North realized it underestimated the South. The war was going to be longer than both sides expected.

Battle of Shiloh April 16, 1862 Shiloh, Tennessee Won by North(Western Battle) Ulysses S. Grant won when the South retreated, Very heavy casualties: North lost 13,000 men and the South lost 10,000 men.

Seven Days Battle June 25 – July 1, 1862 On the peninsula south of Richmond, Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia, under Gen Lee forced the larger Union Army, under Gen. McClellan to retreat; saves Richmond Gen. McClellan is incapable of winning for the Union

Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland Lee’s 1st Invasion of the north Bloodiest day of the Civil War, Lee decides to retreat back to Virginia, McClellan fired by Lincoln for letting Lee escape. Victory inspires Lincoln to issue Emancipation Proclamation

Fall of New Orleans April 25, 1862 New Orleans, Louisiana Won by North Lowered the South’s morale while the North controlled the mouth of the Mississippi River. Part of the Anaconda Plan (Take the Mississippi)

Siege of Vicksburg May 22 – July 4, 1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi Won by North Ulysses S. Grant takes control of the Mississippi River and splits the Confederacy in two. Lincoln later puts Grant in charge of Union armies.

Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Lee’s 2nd invasion of the North Won by North, Turning point of the war Southern army devastated by the amount of casualties, will not be able to go on offensive again

Grant’s Virginia Campaign May 1864 – April 1865 Around Richmond, VA Grant’s Campaign to destroy the south’s ability to fight. Grant and Lee fought a series of battles that caused heavy casualties on both sides, but Grant knew he had more people and could win in the end.

Sherman’s “March to the Sea” May 1864 – December 1864 Georgia Waged “Total War” on the South. His army cut a 60 mile wide, 300 mile long path of destruction. He took Atlanta and Savannah ,Georgia.

Appomattox Courthouse Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia April 9, 1865 Gen. Lee surrenders to Grant, ending the war. Grant offered gracious terms to help heal the nation. Lee urged his men to go home and live in peace.