Events with tag - Union Army

April 12, 1861

Battle of Fort Sumter

The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marked the beginning of the American Civil War. After 34 hours of artillery fire, the Union garrison surrendered the fort, catalyzing the nation's descent into full-scale civil war.

July 21, 1861

Matthew Brady's Civil War Photography

Matthew Brady transformed wartime documentation by pioneering battlefield photography during the American Civil War, receiving special permission from President Lincoln to capture the conflict through his lens. His work marked the first systematic attempt to document American warfare through photography.

July 21, 1861

First Battle of Bull Run

The First Battle of Bull Run was a pivotal engagement of the American Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas Junction, Virginia. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory and shattered both sides' illusions of a quick war.

August 10, 1861

Battle of Wilson's Creek

The Battle of Wilson's Creek was a crucial Civil War engagement that took place near Springfield, Missouri. As the first major battle west of the Mississippi River, it resulted in over 2,500 casualties and the death of Union General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the war.

April 6, 1862

Battle of Shiloh

A pivotal two-day battle of the American Civil War fought on April 6-7, 1862, near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, resulting in a crucial Union victory and over 23,000 casualties.

September 17, 1862

Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American military history, resulting in over 23,000 casualties. This pivotal Civil War engagement near Sharpsburg, Maryland, ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North and gave President Lincoln the political backing to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

December 11, 1862

Battle of Fredericksburg

A devastating Civil War battle fought from December 11-15, 1862, where Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee decisively defeated Union forces led by Ambrose Burnside, resulting in massive Union casualties during repeated unsuccessful assaults on Marye's Heights.

January 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation

President Abraham Lincoln's executive order that declared freedom for all enslaved people in Confederate states during the American Civil War, transforming the conflict into a fight for human freedom and enabling Black Americans to join the Union military forces.

January 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in Confederate states to be free. This historic executive order transformed the Civil War into a fight for human freedom and laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.

April 30, 1863

Battle of Chancellorsville

A significant Civil War battle fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee achieved a remarkable victory against Union forces despite being outnumbered more than two to one, though the victory was overshadowed by the loss of Stonewall Jackson.

June 29, 1863

Custer Becomes Youngest Union General

George Armstrong Custer made history by becoming the youngest brigadier general in the Union Army at age 23, marking one of the most remarkable promotions in American military history.

July 1, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, resulting in over 50,000 casualties. This decisive Union victory under Major General George Meade against Confederate General Robert E. Lee's forces marked a turning point in the war.

July 18, 1863

Battle of Fort Wagner

A pivotal American Civil War battle where Union forces launched two major assaults against Confederate Fort Wagner near Charleston. The battle is particularly notable for featuring the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first African American regiments, in a heroic charge that helped change perceptions of Black soldiers.

September 19, 1863

Battle of Chickamauga

A major Civil War battle fought near Chickamauga Creek, Georgia, between Union forces under Major General William Rosecrans and Confederate troops led by General Braxton Bragg, resulting in over 34,000 casualties and a Confederate victory.

November 19, 1863

Gettysburg Address

President Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic 272-word Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, transforming a simple dedication into a powerful statement about democracy, human equality, and national purpose during the American Civil War.

April 12, 1864

Fort Pillow Massacre

Confederate forces under Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked Fort Pillow in Tennessee, killing hundreds of surrendering Union soldiers, predominantly African American troops. This event became one of the most controversial atrocities of the American Civil War.

May 31, 1864

Battle of Cold Harbor

A devastating Civil War battle fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864, near Mechanicsville, Virginia, resulting in massive Union casualties during Grant's Overland Campaign. The battle marked a significant turning point when Union forces suffered over 12,000 casualties against Confederate defensive positions.

June 9, 1864

Siege of Petersburg

A pivotal 292-day military campaign during the American Civil War where Union forces under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant besieged Confederate forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee at Petersburg, Virginia, ultimately leading to the Confederate surrender.

July 22, 1864

Battle of Atlanta

A pivotal Civil War battle fought on July 22, 1864, where Union forces under General Sherman defeated Confederate troops led by General Hood, leading to the capture of Atlanta and helping secure President Lincoln's reelection.

November 15, 1864

Sherman's March to the Sea

A devastating 285-mile military campaign during the American Civil War, where Union forces under General Sherman marched from Atlanta to Savannah, implementing total war tactics that targeted both military and civilian infrastructure.

December 15, 1864

Battle of Nashville

The Battle of Nashville (December 15-16, 1864) was a decisive Union victory during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General George H. Thomas defeated Confederate forces led by General John Bell Hood, effectively destroying the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

April 3, 1865

Fall of Richmond

The capture of Richmond by Union forces on April 3, 1865, marked a decisive turning point in the American Civil War. Confederate forces evacuated the city, setting fire to military supplies which led to a devastating fire destroying much of the business district.

April 9, 1865

Surrender at Appomattox

The historic surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House effectively ended the American Civil War in the eastern theater and symbolized the beginning of national reconciliation.

November 11, 1865

First Woman Receives Medal of Honor

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker made history as the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor for her extraordinary service as a civilian surgeon during the Civil War. Her medal was presented on November 11, 1865, at the War Department in Washington, D.C.