The Civil War began on April 12, 1861. On this date, the Confederate forces fired upon fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Northerners Refused to give up the fort, so the confederates attacked . The fighting lasted for approximately 12 hours. The only casualty of the battle was a horse. It was quiet and not so bloody opening to the bloodiest war in American history.
The first Major battle took place in Virginia-in the town of Manassas junction. It was fought by a creek called Bull Run. The Northern Army had a major advantage in terms of manpower, but the Southern army had a better advantege-they had the best Generals. In this battle, General Thomas Jackson earned the name "Stonewall," as he refused to give up his position and a key role in the Southern victory..
The war continued. Battle after battle, the southern army continued to score victories. This was unusual, as the North outnumbered them 2 to 1 in almost every battle. It appeared that the war that some thought would last 90 days was going be along and bloody one..
In Jully of 1863, Southern General Robert E. Lee decided to attack the North. He knew that a Souther victory would result in a Northern surrender and freedom for the confederacy. He attacked the Northern Army in a small town called Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Lee's strategy failed, and the North won the 3 day battle. Lee had to retreat back into Virginia. Gettysburg was the turning point of the war..
little by little, the Noth continued to win. General U.S. Grant was now in charge of the entire Northern Army and he kicked some serious butt. General Lee knew he couldn't win, as his troops were starving and morale was down. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The war had lasted nearly 4 years and claimed over 600,000 lives. It is still the bloodiest war we have fought as a country, as Americans killed each other.