Civil War – Year by Civil War – Year by YearYear

Steps to SecessionSteps to Secession Nov. 1860 – Nov. 1860 –

– 66thth - Lincoln elected president. - Lincoln elected president. A A number of southern states had number of southern states had threatened secession if he won.threatened secession if he won.

– Later that month, the General Later that month, the General Assembly sets aside money to Assembly sets aside money to defend the state defend the state and calls for and calls for secession conventionsecession convention

December 1860December 1860– 77th - th - Gov. Joseph Brown writes letter Gov. Joseph Brown writes letter

to Georgians stating he was more to Georgians stating he was more concerned about Republicans being concerned about Republicans being in power than Abraham Lincolnin power than Abraham Lincoln

– 2020thth – South Carolina becomes the – South Carolina becomes the first state to secede (leave the first state to secede (leave the Union.)Union.)

January 1861January 1861– 1616thth - delegates met in Milledgeville - delegates met in Milledgeville

(by now the 4(by now the 4thth capital) for a capital) for a secession convention. secession convention. 4 states had 4 states had already seceded – South Carolina, already seceded – South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, and AlabamaMississippi, Florida, and Alabama

– 1919thth – Georgia officially seceded from – Georgia officially seceded from the United States.the United States.

February 1861February 1861– Delegates from 7 southern states – Delegates from 7 southern states –

including GA – met in Montgomery including GA – met in Montgomery and formed a new country named and formed a new country named the Confederate States of America the Confederate States of America or the Confederacy.or the Confederacy.

– Jefferson Davis was president of the Jefferson Davis was president of the CSA and Alexander Stephens (from CSA and Alexander Stephens (from Georgia) was the vice-president.Georgia) was the vice-president.

18611861

April 12 - First shots of the Civil April 12 - First shots of the Civil War were fired at Ft. Sumter, War were fired at Ft. Sumter, South CarolinaSouth Carolina

First actual battle – near railroad First actual battle – near railroad junction of Manassas, Va., right junction of Manassas, Va., right outside of Washington DCoutside of Washington DC

18621862

JUNEJUNE Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee

named named commander of commander of Confederate Confederate army, renaming army, renaming it the Army of it the Army of Northern VirginiaNorthern Virginia

18621862 SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER

Battle of Antietam (Maryland) is the Battle of Antietam (Maryland) is the bloodiest one-day of the Civil War – bloodiest one-day of the Civil War – 26,000 casualties26,000 casualties– This was Lee’s first attempt to invade This was Lee’s first attempt to invade

the Norththe North Lincoln issues the Emancipation Lincoln issues the Emancipation

Proclamation to take effect Jan. 1, Proclamation to take effect Jan. 1, 18631863

18631863

JanuaryJanuary Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation

issued to “free” all slaves; issued to “free” all slaves; actually got rid of loopholes that actually got rid of loopholes that kept blacks from enlisting in kept blacks from enlisting in Union armyUnion army

18631863 First week of July = turning First week of July = turning point of the war for the Unionpoint of the war for the Union

11stst – 3 – 3rdrd – Battle of Gettysburg. – Battle of Gettysburg. – Lee’s second – and last – attempted Lee’s second – and last – attempted

invasion of the north. This battle invasion of the north. This battle had the most casualties of any in the had the most casualties of any in the war.war.

44thth - Vicksburg (Miss.) surrenders - Vicksburg (Miss.) surrenders to Union forces after 6-week siege to Union forces after 6-week siege left city in ruinsleft city in ruins

18631863 SeptemberSeptember

Battle of Chickamauga (Georgia) – Battle of Chickamauga (Georgia) – Confederate forces hold off attempted Confederate forces hold off attempted invasion of Georgia and send Union invasion of Georgia and send Union troops retreating to Chattanooga. troops retreating to Chattanooga. This was the last decisive This was the last decisive Confederate victory of the war. Confederate victory of the war.

NovemberNovember Lincoln delivers Gettysburg AddressLincoln delivers Gettysburg Address Rebels attempt to seize Chattanooga Rebels attempt to seize Chattanooga

but Union keeps the city in its controlbut Union keeps the city in its control

Spring/Summer 1864 – Spring/Summer 1864 – The Atlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign

The ConfederacyThe Confederacy Joseph E. Johnston Joseph E. Johnston

– commander – commander (replaced (replaced Braxton Bragg)Braxton Bragg)

60,000 troops 60,000 troops made up his made up his strong Army of strong Army of TennesseeTennessee

Spring/Summer 1864 – Spring/Summer 1864 – The Atlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign

The UnionThe Union Led by Gen. Led by Gen.

William T. William T. ShermanSherman

100,000 troops100,000 troops ““I will make I will make

Georgia howl.”Georgia howl.”

Spring/Summer 1864 – Spring/Summer 1864 – The Atlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign

Sherman captures Atlanta in Sherman captures Atlanta in Sept. and telegraphs the Sept. and telegraphs the president – “Atlanta is ours and president – “Atlanta is ours and fairly won.”fairly won.”

With the capture of Atlanta, the With the capture of Atlanta, the Union has gained control of the Union has gained control of the last supply center of the south.last supply center of the south.

Spring/Summer 1864 – Spring/Summer 1864 – The Atlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign

The March to the SeaThe March to the Sea Sept. – Nov. – Sherman and his Sept. – Nov. – Sherman and his

troops stay in Atlanta until troops stay in Atlanta until November. They stay long enough November. They stay long enough to have plenty of supplies brought to have plenty of supplies brought in before burning the city – and for in before burning the city – and for the the 1864 presidential election1864 presidential election to be decidedto be decided

Nov. 21 – Sherman begins the Nov. 21 – Sherman begins the March to the Sea with 62,000 March to the Sea with 62,000 troopstroops

What was the March to What was the March to the Sea?the Sea?

The March to the Sea was the The March to the Sea was the Union’s destruction of rural Georgia Union’s destruction of rural Georgia by marching from Atlanta to by marching from Atlanta to Savannah – a distance of 250 miles. Savannah – a distance of 250 miles. Troops attacked the Troops attacked the civilian civilian infrastructureinfrastructure – homes, crops, – homes, crops, animals. They cut a path 60 miles animals. They cut a path 60 miles wide, causing $100 million in wide, causing $100 million in damage.damage.

The March to the SeaThe March to the Sea

The March to the SeaThe March to the Sea

Sherman divided his troops into two Sherman divided his troops into two columns – each following a major rail columns – each following a major rail line through the stateline through the state

One of the most famous souvenirs One of the most famous souvenirs from the march were “Sherman’s from the march were “Sherman’s neckties”neckties”

Sherman arrived in Savannah on Dec. Sherman arrived in Savannah on Dec. 21 and presented the city to President 21 and presented the city to President Lincoln as a Christmas present.Lincoln as a Christmas present.

18651865 MarchMarch

President Lincoln is inaugurated for his 2President Lincoln is inaugurated for his 2ndnd term; Lee launches his last offensive term; Lee launches his last offensive against Grant but it failsagainst Grant but it fails

AprilApril 99thth – Robert E. Lee surrenders to U.S. Grant – Robert E. Lee surrenders to U.S. Grant

at Appomattox. Grant agrees to generous at Appomattox. Grant agrees to generous terms of surrender for Confederate officers terms of surrender for Confederate officers and soldiersand soldiers

1414thth – Lincoln is assassinated by John – Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes BoothWilkes Booth