| The American Civil War was a costly affair for | | | | artillery bombardment and siege. It took place at Fort |
| people on both sides of the conflict. It was also a | | | | Sumter in South Carolina, where Confederate troops |
| defining "moment" in our nation's history that helped | | | | pounded the Union-held fort with mortars and |
| shape our modern identity. So let us take a moment | | | | cannons until Union forces surrender. |
| to look back on some of the noteworthy people, | | | | 5. Many battles from the Civil War have two names. |
| places and events from that conflict. | | | | This is the result of different naming processes |
| 7 Interesting Factoids | | | | between the northern and southern troops. The |
| 1. The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865. | | | | Confederates typically named a battle for the |
| It was largely fought over the issue of slavery. Most | | | | nearest town, whereas the Union forces typically |
| states in the north were anti-slavery. Most states in | | | | named battles after landmarks and geographical |
| the south were pro-slavery. Thus, it is often called | | | | features (rivers, creeks, etc.). Hence we have the |
| the "War Between the States" (among other things). | | | | Battle of Bull Run / Battle of Manassas, and many |
| 2. The term "secede" means to separate or | | | | other battles with two names. |
| withdrawal from an alliance or organization. This is | | | | 6. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry |
| what the southern states did -- they seceded from | | | | Regiment was one of the first all-black units to fight |
| the Union, and were therefore labeled as | | | | in the war. The 54th fought fiercely in many battles, |
| secessionists. South Carolina was the first state to | | | | such as the headlong assault on the heavily defended |
| break away, separating from the Union in December | | | | Fort Wagner in South Carolina. A 1989 film called |
| of 1860. | | | | "Glory" depicted the heroic actions of the 54th |
| 3. After South Carolina seceded, other southern | | | | Massachusetts. It started Denzel Washington, Morgan |
| states were quick to follow. In 1861, ten more states | | | | Freeman, and Matthew Broderick as Colonel Robert |
| would follow suit and leave the Union. In order of | | | | Shaw. |
| secession, they were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, | | | | 7. In September 1862, the bloody Battle of Antietam |
| Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North | | | | Sharpsburg produced nearly 23,000 casualties (killed |
| Carolina and Tennessee. These states formed the | | | | or wounded) in a single day. To put that number into |
| Confederate States of America (CSA), or | | | | perspective, it is around nine times the number of |
| Confederacy for short. | | | | American casualties at D-Day in Normandy (World |
| 4. The first real battle of the Civil War was largely an | | | | War II). |