Battles of the American Civil War
Fort Sumter
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The Battle of Fort Sumter is where the American Civil War began. Fort Sumter, a Northern fort isolated on an island, was in need of resupplying. As South Carolina was against the North's occupation of the fort, refused to supply the fort. The Confederacy eventually demanded the evacuation, and The Union refused, so the Confederate Army opened fire, with Lieutenant Henry S. Farley firing the first shot of the Civil War. The Union quickly lost and evacuated, however this battle marked the beginning of what would be the darkest moment of American history.
“We shall be in one of the bloodiest civil wars that history has recorded.” - Alexander Stevens
“We shall be in one of the bloodiest civil wars that history has recorded.” - Alexander Stevens
First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)
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This battle was the first major land battle of the Civil War. July 16, 1861 in Virginia, the Union Army led by Brig. General Irvin McDowell. The Union Army was prepared to crush the South, and effectively end the war before it began. Once the Union Army marched onto the Confederacy, the Southern Army retreated, later arriving with reinforcements. After the reinforcements arrived, the North was pushed back by the Confederate Army, and the South won again. This battle proved that neither side was about to fall apart, and that this would be a very long war.
"Then, Sir, we will give them the bayonet!"- Stonewall Jackson's reply to Colonel B.E Bee when he reported that the enemy were beating them back.
"Then, Sir, we will give them the bayonet!"- Stonewall Jackson's reply to Colonel B.E Bee when he reported that the enemy were beating them back.
Battle of Gettysburg
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The Battle of Gettysburg was a 3 day battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania led by Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant for the Confederacy and Union. The main goal was for the Confederate Army to cut off the Union Army's contact with Washington D.C. On the first day, both sides were cautious, and the North was slowly pushed back. On the second day, Union reinforcements arrived to take the higher ground on Cemetery Ridge. This led to the North resisting all Southern attacks. In the final day, General Lee ordered the South to charge the North in what would become the infamous Pickett's Charge, which led to the slaughter of the Confederate Army, and was the turning point for the entire war as the North won the Battle of Gettysburg.
"We entered Gettysburg in the afternoon, just in time to meet the enemy entering the town, and in good season to drive him back before his getting a foothold."-John Buford
"We entered Gettysburg in the afternoon, just in time to meet the enemy entering the town, and in good season to drive him back before his getting a foothold."-John Buford
Sherman's March to the Sea
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After the Battle of Gettysburg, Ulysses S. Grant planned to quickly finish the South. On the orders of Grant and Abraham Lincoln, William Tecumseh Sherman set on a quest with 10,000 troops through the south to ruin their strength and demand attention from the Confederate Army while Grant attacked Richmond. While practicing total warfare, Sherman decimated Atlanta and Savannah, forcing civilians to leave the Confederate cause. He then moved towards the Carolinas, destroying everything in his path and giving the final, fatal blow to the south and effectively ending the war. Sherman's brutal war left the south destroyed and in desperate need of rebuilding. The war would end shortly after that, but the process of entirely reconstructing the south was just about to begin.
“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