United States History
THE CIVIL WAR
Welcome to my United States History - The Civil War page. The Civil War of course was anything but civil, with something like 600 000 people being killed as a result of the war.
What's on This Page:
INTRODUCTION:
UNFOLDING OF THE CIVIL WAR - CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:
The Civil War as a result of the secession of the southern states of the United States became a certainty with the election of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) to the presidency. Yet it is not as simple as that, there being many underlying reasons for the war, including the notorious issue of slavery.
Lincoln (See picture at left below) was sworn in as the 16th president of the United States on the 4th March 1861. Prior to his inauguration, seven states had already left the Union and set up their own government and confederacy. These were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. During his inauguration speech, Lincoln made clear what his own thoughts were toward the Confederate States of America by saying that 'no state upon its own mere motion can lawfully get out of the Union.' Civil War appeared the only way forward.
The southern Confederacy had already sworn in Jefferson Davis (1808-1889 See picture at right below) as its president some two weeks prior to Lincoln being sworn in. The southern 'country' was to be called the Confederate States of America.
ABOVE: Abraham Lincoln |
ABOVE: Jefferson Davis |
Soon Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas joined the Confederate States of America by seceding from the United States of America.
The following is an unfolding of events during the Civil War (a chronology):
- CIVIL WAR SERIES - The Guns of Bull Run: A Story of the Civil War's Eve - Joseph A Altsheler
Fort Sumter:
In Charleston, in South Carolina, one of the few remaining outposts in the southern states of northern rule held out at Fort Sumter. The small garrison of Unionist troops had abandoned Fort Moultrie and were now entrenched in Fort Sumter in Charleston harbour. On the 9th January 1861 an attempt was made by the 'Star of the West' steamship to re-supply the fort, but it was fired upon by Confederate forces and forced to abandon its mission.
On the 11th April 1861, Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard, commander of the 500 strong Provisional Confederate Forces at Charleston, demanded the immediate surrender of Fort Sumter. On the 12th April 1861, the Civil War exploded into being as the Confederate guns were concentrated on Fort Sumter, all under the curious eyes of Charleston's populace. Fort Sumter, under the command of Major Robert Anderson, surrendered at 2.30pm on the 13th April 1861. Fort Sumter was defended by only 80 Union troops.
Though there was a period of siege and bombardment, only one man was killed during the engagement and that came after the surrender when a canon was being fired in salute during the evacuation of the fort.
Upon his surrender, Major Anderson and his men were allowed to leave and board the 'Baltic' (which had come to re-supply the fort) and fall back to the northern United States. On the 15th April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called into service 75 000 militia and the massive mobilisation of the north had begun.
Beginnings of the War:
On the 19th April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered the blockade of southern ports. On the same day the Virginian militia seized Harper's Ferry and the Union arsenal stationed there. Also the 6th Massachusetts Regiment on its way to Washington was attacked by an angry mob in Baltimore. Four soldiers were killed in the violence, along with a dozen or so of the mob.
Small outbreaks soon began to occur as the move towards total war gained speed. On the 18th and 19th May 1861, two US gunboats sought to enforce the blockade of southern ports at Norfol City in Virginia. Confederate batteries on Sewell's Point engaged the two US gunboats. On the 29th May 1861, 3 US gunboats engaged Confederate batteries at Aquia Creek in Virginia.
Western Viginia had declined to be part of the Confederate States of America after Virginia had seceded and joined the United States. Soon a Union force under Major General George B. McClellan cleared West Virginia of Confederate forces. On the 3rd June 1861, US ground forces engaged Confederate forces at Philippi in West Virginia. Colonel Thomas A. Morris, then in command of US forces in West Virginia led the attack which dislodged the small Confederate force from the town.
On the 10th June 1861, 3 500 US troops engaged 1 200 Confederate troops in the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia. Major General Benjamin F. Butler dislodged the Confederate forces from Little Bethel, forcing them back to Big Bethel. The pursuit was led by Brigadier General Ebenezer Pierce down the road and was forced to retreat. The 5th New York Zouaves tried to flank the Confederate force, only to be repulsed and their leader Colonel T. Wynthrop was killed.
The attempt to secede Missouri to the Confederacy was effectively prevented by the occupation of Boonville on the 17th June 1861. Union forces led by Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon ousted the enemy forces led by Colonel John S. Marmaduke.
On the 2nd July 1861, the Battle of Hoke's Run in West Virginia was fought, with the forces of US Major General Robert Patterson defeating the Confederate forces led by Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson. This initial success however was soon mishandled when Patterson withdrew his forces to Haper's Ferry, allowing the Confederate forces to regroup in the Shenandoah Valley and to eventual reinforce the Confederate forces of Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard massing at Manassas Junction.
On the 4 July 1861, the United States congress called for 500 000 men to fight the secessionist south.
On the 5th July 1861, the tide began to turn to the Confederates favour. At Carthage in Missouri, Confederate forces led by Governor Claiborne Jackson defeated the US forces led by Colonel Franz Sigel. Though little was accomplished, the Confederate forces did bring about the retreat of Sigel.
On the 11th July 1861, Major General McClellan, Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans and Brigadier General T. S. Morris led their forces against the Confederate forces of Lieutenant Colonel John Pegram and Brigadier General R. S. Garnett. On the 11th July 1861, the Confederates were engaged near Rich Mountain, with Lieutenant Colonel Pegram and his forces surrendering on the 13th July 1861. Brigadier General Garnett was killed during the retreat on July 13. On the 22nd July 1861, McClellan was ordered to return to Washington where he took command of the Army of the Potomac in defence of Washington following the fiasco of Bull Run.
Soon 60 000 troops had been raised for the protection of Washington. President Davis of the Confederate States of America had called for 100 000 troops and established the capital of the south in Richmond, Virginia.
The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run):
The First Battle of Manassas is probably better known as the Battle of Bull Run. It was a complete debacle for the forces of the Unionist North, despite initial successes. It was the first major battle of the war.
General-in-Chief Winfield Scott ordered General Irvin McDowell to advance and take Manassas Junction in Virginia. Some 35 000 Union troops marched from Washington to battle the Confederate forces massing at Manassas Junction. Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard had some 22 000 troops guarding the fords of Bull Run.
McDowell attempted to cross at Blackburn's Ford on the 18th July 1861 but was repulsed by the Confederate force. On the 21st July 1861, Union forces crossed Sudley Ford and attacked the left flank of the Confederate forces on Matthews Hill, driving them back to Henry Hill. However, reinforcements from the Shenandoah Valley soon broke the Union right flank and the action soon became a rout. Being reinforced, the Confederate Army reversed what appeared to be a Union victory, turning the advancing Union troops around and forcing a chaotic retreat all the way back to Washington D.C.
During the battle, Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson earned the famous name of 'Stonewall,' when he refused to allow the US advance to continue and held it. As a result of the fiasco of Bull Run, Brigadier General Irvan McDowell lost his command to Major General George B. McClellan.
For more information and/or resources on First Manassas (Bull Run) see:
BOOKS:
The following books are recommended on the United States Civil War:
- CIVIL WAR, THE - A Narrative (Volume 1) - Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote.
- STONEWALL JACKSON AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (Volumes 1 and 2) - G. F. R. Henderson
FURTHER RESOURCES:
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