American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States that was from 1861 to 1865, and was fought between the Union and the Confederacy. The war started in April 1861 at the Battle of Fort Sumter, and officially ended on April 9, 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union forces

Tensions
Tensions existed between the northern and southern states due to the issue of slavery; the northern states supported the emancipation of slaves, while the southern states did not. Abraham Lincoln, who was elected president in 1860, supported the emancipation of slaves. The southern states viewed this as a violation of their constitutional rights, and began to secede from the Union. However, according to the Constitution, states cannot secede from America, so the Confederacy was still technically apart of America. Eleven states would secede from the Union by July 1861, including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Battle of Fort Sumter
"Construction of Fort Sumter was still underway when South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860. Despite Charleston's position as a major port, at the time only two companies of federal troops guarded the harbor. Commanded by Major Robert Anderson, these companies were stationed at Fort Moultrie, a dilapidated fortification facing the coastline. Recognizing that Fort Moultrie was vulnerable to a land assault, Anderson elected to abandon it for the more easily defensible Fort Sumter on December 26, 1860. South Carolina militia forces would seize the city's other forts shortly thereafter, leaving Fort Sumter as the lone federal outpost in Charleston. Knowing that Anderson and his men were running out of supplies, Lincoln announced his intention to send three unarmed ships to relieve Fort Sumter. On April 11, 1861, militia commander P.G.T. Beauregard demanded that that Anderson surrender the fort but Anderson refused. In response, Beauregard opened fire on the fort shortly after 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861...With his stores of ammunition depleted, Anderson and his Union forces had to surrender the fort shortly after 2:00 PM in the afternoon. No Union troops had been killed during the bombardment, but two men died the following day (April 13, 1861) in an explosion that occurred during an artillery salute held before the U.S. evacuation. The bombardment of Fort Sumter would play a major part in triggering the Civil War." -The History Channel

First Battle of Bull Run
"Also known as the Battle of Manassas, the First Battle of Bull Run marked the first major land battle of the American Civil War. It occurred on July 21, 1861 when Union and Confederate troops clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia. It began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run. After fight for most of the day, the rebels rallied, sending the Federals into a chaotic retreat towards Washington." -The History Channel

Siege of Yorktown
Also known as the Battle of Yorktown, this event lasted from April 5, 1862 to May 4, 1862. The battle was fought in York County and Newport News, Virginia, and was apart of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. The result was inconclusive, as the Confederates withdrew to Williamsburg.

Battle of Shiloh
Also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, this battle went on from April 6-7, 1862 in southeastern Tennessee. It is known as one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman managed to defeat Albert Sidney Johnston (which serves as a major blow to Confederacy) as well as other Confederate generals. This battle resulted in a Union victory.

Battle of Antietam
This battle was known as one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War as well as American history, taking place on September 17, 1862 in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The battle ended the invasion of Maryland and resulted in a Union victory. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation five days later on September 22.

Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought from December 11, 1862 to December 15, 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This was a battle with many Union casualties, and it boosted the Confederacy's hope for a victory.

Battle of Gettysburg
This was the turning point of the war as Robert E. Lee's plan to invade the North and force an immediate end to the war failed. The battle was fought from July 1-3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and resulted in a Union victory.

Siege of Vicksburg
Taking place from May to June 1863, Mississippi gave Ulysses S. Grant complete control over the Mississippi River, and resulted in a Union victory.

Sherman's March
From May to December 1864, William Tecumseh Sherman marched through much of the South, ripping up railroad lines, destroying factories, burning buildings and crops, and devastating the South. Sherman believed that the South should be punished.

Surrender at Appomattox Court House
On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, officially ending the American Civil War and resulting in a Union victory.

Casualties

 * Union: 365,000+ deceased, 282,000+ wounded, 181,193 captured
 * Confederacy: 290,000+ deceased, 137,000+ wounded, 436,658 captured

John Hatfield
John Myers Hatfield served in the 7th Missouri State Militia Calvary as a private, and was later promoted to corporal. He fought on the side of the Union.