As the war ends, Lincoln is assassinated, Confederate leaders are captured, and the Union begins the process of Reconstruction and healing a divided nation. April 10, 1865 - May 30, 1865

The Confederacy collapses as Sherman’s forces move north through the Carolinas and Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox, effectively ending the Civil War. January 1, 1865 - April 9, 1865

Sherman captures Atlanta and embarks on his destructive "March to the Sea," while Grant continues the siege of Petersburg, strangling the Confederacy’s resources. June 15, 1864 - December 31, 1864

Grant begins his Overland Campaign against Lee's forces in Virginia, marked by brutal battles at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, while Sherman advances toward Atlanta. February 1, 1864 - June 14, 1864

Union victories at Chickamauga and Chattanooga secure Tennessee, positioning the Union for further offensives into the Southern heartland. September 1, 1863 - January 31, 1864

The Union's victory at Gettysburg marks a turning point in the war, while Ulysses S. Grant’s siege of Vicksburg gives the Union control of the Mississippi River. May 15, 1863 - August 31, 1863

The Union suffers defeats at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, while General "Stonewall" Jackson is fatally wounded, shifting the momentum back to the Confederacy. December 1, 1862 - May 14, 1863

The Union captures New Orleans and fights brutal battles at Shiloh and Antietam, with the latter leading to President Lincoln issuing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. April 1, 1862 - November 28, 1862 

August 1, 1861 - March 31, 1862 Battles like Wilson’s Creek and Fort Donelson unfold as both sides prepare for a long conflict, with Union forces gaining early victories in the Western Theater.

The Civil War begins with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, leading to the first major land battle at Bull Run, where Confederate forces secure a surprising victory. April 12, 1861 - July 21, 1861