The American Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Eleven southern states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. The Confederates fought against the United States federal government, which comprised all the free states and the five border slave states.

The American Civil War was a trans formative conflict in the history of the United States. Despite having ended well over 100 years ago, the war is a permanent part of the national consciousness. It had implications that echo today in conversations about Civil Rights, partisan politics and the power of a federal government.

After the Union loss at the first battle of Bull Run, Confederate troops set up gun emplacements along the Potomac to blockade the river. On the 3rd of January 1862, Union gunboats shelled emplacements at Freestone Point.

On the 6th and 7th of April troops under Confederate generals Johnston and Beauregard launched a surprise attack on the Union Army of Ulysses Grant. The attacking Confederate troops were forced to withdraw from the bloodiest battle in US history (at that time), The Battle of Shiloh.

From the 1st of July to the 3rd of July 1863 the armies of General Robert E Lee and General George G. Meade clash near the town of Gettysburg. Confederate troops are unable to break the Union line and Lee's invasion of the north is ended. This battle is often referred to as the high water mark of the Confederacy.

On the 19th of November 1863, four months after the Union victory at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln gives the Gettysburg address, summarizing the war in ten sentences and delivering what is considered the finest piece of public oratory in US history.

On the 25th of January, 1864 100 Unfortified Union defenders in Athen, Alabama held out against a Confederate force of 600 cavalrymen.

On the 9th of April, 1864 Robert E Lee surrendered the army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia.

On the 12th of April the army of Northern Virgina was disbanded and a ceremony marked the parole of it's officers and men. This effectively ended the American Civil War.

On the 12th of April 1861 Lieutenant H. S. Farley, a confederate officer in command of a battery of mortars on James Island, fired the first shots of the American Civil War.http://www.cannonade.net/entry.php?id=1406

21st of July 1861 Union and Confederate armies clashed when advancing Union troops crossed the Bull Run creek. A poorly executed flank attack by Union troops left the Confederates at an initial disadvantage, but a stalwart defense and subsequent counter attack pushed the inexperienced Union troops into full retreat.

On the 19th of November 1861 Confederate troops clashed with Opothleyahola indians near Yale, Oklahoma.