| The United States of America. The greatest country | | | | Lincoln was going to send supplies to the fort and |
| in the world, or at least so they say, has had its | | | | warned the state of South Carolina in advance. But |
| share of bloodshed on its own soil. The US Civil War | | | | they thought this was a trick. The commander of the |
| was one of the bloodiest wars of all time. Below is | | | | fort offered to surrender but his offer was refused. |
| the first year's timeline of how the war went. | | | | The first shots of the Civil War were fired in Fort |
| Nobody alive today is going to know this unless | | | | Sumter on April 12, 1861. |
| they've studied it in history class. But there was a | | | | In June of 1861 several things happened. A new |
| time not too long ago, when people who were | | | | state, West Virginia, was created and four of the |
| around during this terrible time probably had long | | | | slave states decided to stay in the Union. These |
| conversations about it with your parents or | | | | states were Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland and |
| grandparents. Sadly, only in one on one conversations | | | | Missouri. They were divided in their loyalties but |
| can you truly understand the horror of what | | | | ultimately decided to stay in the Union. |
| transpired during this five year period. | | | | In July of 1861 was the first Battle Of Bull Run. |
| In January of 1861 the southern states seceded | | | | General McDowall was ordered to attack the South |
| from the Union. The election of Abraham Lincoln was | | | | even though his troops were not properly trained. |
| pretty much the cause, as the South felt that he | | | | The attack occurred on July 21. While it was initially |
| would free the slaves, thus taking away their source | | | | successful, Confederate reinforcements caused the |
| of labor on the plantations. Yes, this was a war of | | | | Union troops to retreat back towards Washington. |
| economics. Aren't they all? | | | | Also in that same month there were some shakeups |
| In February of 1861 the southern states created their | | | | in the Union command. Lincoln realized that there was |
| own government and created their own Confederate | | | | a need for organized military training so he replaced |
| Constitution. It was similar to the US constitution but | | | | General McDowall with General George B. McClellan. |
| gave more autonomy to each individual state. | | | | Also during the month of July the Union started a |
| In March of 1861 Lincoln was inaugurated as President | | | | large blockade of Confederate ports so that they |
| of the United States. He stated at his address that | | | | couldn't get supplies. In response to this, the South |
| he had no plans to abolish slavery but he would also | | | | just built smaller and faster ships that could |
| not accept the South seceding from the Union. He | | | | outmaneuver the Union ships. |
| said he hoped that he would be able to resolve this | | | | The war was now in full swing. |
| problem without going to war. | | | | In our next installment we look at the year 1862. |
| In April of 1861 was the attack on Fort Sumter. | | | | |