| In this next installment of the US Civil War we're | | | | In May of 1862 General Stonewall Jackson attacked |
| going to take a look at the year 1862. This was the | | | | the Union forces towards the end of the month in |
| year that the war really became an all out war as | | | | the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson defeated them and |
| Lincoln realized that he had to take action against the | | | | caused the Union troops to retreat across the |
| South in a way he never thought imaginable. What | | | | Potomac. Because of this, the Union troops had to |
| follows is the timeline of one of the worst years in | | | | be rushed to protect Washington, DC. |
| the war itself. | | | | In June of 1862 was the Battle of Seven Pines. The |
| In January of 1862 Lincoln realized that this war | | | | battle actually began on May 31 but lasted until the |
| needed some serious action to be taken. So on | | | | next day. It was only because of last minute |
| January 27, 1862, he issued an actual war order, or | | | | reinforcements that the Union army was spared a |
| declaration of war against the Southern states. He | | | | terrible defeat. However, the command of the |
| ordered General McClellan to take aggressive action | | | | Northern Army in Virginia did fall to General Robert E. |
| against the Confederacy but McClellan ignored his | | | | Lee of the Confederacy. |
| order. | | | | In July of 1862 was fought the 7 Days Battle, which |
| At first, Lincoln tried to show patience with General | | | | actually began on June 26. This was actually a series |
| McClellan but finally in March of 1862 he lost his | | | | of battles after which, finally on July 2, the |
| patience and relieved General McClellan of his | | | | Confederate Army retreated to Richmond, Virginia. |
| command. Lincoln order the Virginia army to be | | | | In August of 1862 was the second Battle of Bull Run. |
| reorganized during this time. McClellan was instead | | | | The Union Army was defeated at this battle. The |
| given command of the army of the Potomac and | | | | blame fell on General Fitz-John Porter because he |
| was ordered to attack Richmond. | | | | didn't commit his troops quickly enough. He was |
| In March of 1862 was the famous naval battle of the | | | | eventually forced out of the army in 1863. |
| Monitor and the Merrimac. The Union Monitor fought | | | | In September of 1862 was the Battle of Antietam. |
| the Merrimac to a draw but not before the Merrimac | | | | The battle took place on September 17 and up to |
| was able to sink two Union ships just off of Norfolk, | | | | that time was the bloodiest of the war. Over 11,000 |
| Virginia. | | | | troops on each side were either killed or wounded. |
| In April of 1862 was the Battle Of Shiloh. The battle | | | | There was really no winner of this battle but because |
| happened on April 6, 1862. On this day the | | | | General Lee withdrew to Virginia, General McClellan of |
| Confederate troops attacked the Union troops at | | | | the Union Army was declared the winner. |
| Shiloh, Tennessee, who were under the command of | | | | In December of 1862 was the Battle of |
| General Ulysses Grant. By the time the day had | | | | Fredricksburg. General McClellan was replaced by |
| ended the Union troops were almost defeated. But | | | | General Ambrose E. Burnside. Burnside's forces were |
| reinforcements arrived and eventually the | | | | soundly defeated at this battle and he was then |
| Confederate troops were driven back. By the battle's | | | | quickly replaced by General Joseph Hooker. |
| end, over 13,000 Union troops and 11,000 | | | | In our next installment we look at the year 1863. |
| Confederate troops were killed. | | | | |