A brief overview of major events on the battlefield, leading up to The Battle of Gettysburg.

1. Journey toward Gettysburg
Dr. Bruce Clary
Monday, January 10, 2011

2. April 12

3. April 15
Following the firing
upon Fort Sumter,
President Lincoln issues
a call for 75,000
militiamen to put down
the rebellion

4. July 21
1st Battle of Bull Run
(1st Manassas)

5. July 21
1st Battle of Bull Run
(1st Manassas)
• 3,000 Union casualties; 2,000 Confederate
casualties

6. July 21
1st Battle of Bull Run
(1st Manassas)
• 3,000 Union casualties; 2,000 Confederate
casualties
• Thomas Jackson earns his nickname, Stonewall

7. July 21
1st Battle of Bull Run
(1st Manassas)
• 3,000 Union casualties; 2,000 Confederate
casualties
• Thomas Jackson earns his nickname, Stonewall
• After the defeat, Lincoln issues an order for
another 500,000 recruits

8. 1862

9. February 6-8
The Union and Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant claim
their first significant
victories at Fort Henry
and Fort Donelson in
western Tennessee

10. April 6-7
Battle of Shiloh
(Southwest Tennessee)

11. April 6-7
Battle of Shiloh
(Southwest Tennessee)
• 13,000 Union casualties; 10,700 Confederate
casualties

12. April 6-7
Battle of Shiloh
(Southwest Tennessee)
• 13,000 Union casualties; 10,700 Confederate
casualties
• Union surprised on Day 1

13. April 6-7
Battle of Shiloh
(Southwest Tennessee)
• 13,000 Union casualties; 10,700 Confederate
casualties
• Union surprised on Day 1
• Courageous efforts by Grant and Sherman push
Confederates back on Day 2

14. April 24 New Orleans taken
This political, commercial, and strategic prize was taken without
a battle in the city, meaning its rich cultural heritage survived
intact.
June 25-July 1 Seven Days Battle
Lee drives back a Union invasion at high cost: 16,000 Union
casualties; 20,000 Confederate casualties
August 29-30 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Union decisively beaten when Longstreet’s Corp finally pushes
through Thoroughfare Gap (held for 6 hours by the cavalry
commanded by John Buford) to reinforce Stonewall Jackson.
10,000 Union casualties; 8,300 Confederate casualties.

15. April 24 New Orleans taken
This political, commercial, and strategic prize was taken without
a battle in the city, meaning its rich cultural heritage survived
intact.
June 25-July 1 Seven Days Battle
Lee drives back a Union invasion at high cost: 16,000 Union
casualties; 20,000 Confederate casualties
August 29-30 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Union decisively beaten when Longstreet’s Corp finally pushes
through Thoroughfare Gap (held for 6 hours by the cavalry
commanded by John Buford) to reinforce Stonewall Jackson.
10,000 Union casualties; 8,300 Confederate casualties.

16. April 24 New Orleans taken
This political, commercial, and strategic prize was taken without
a battle in the city, meaning its rich cultural heritage survived
intact.
June 25-July 1 Seven Days Battle
Lee drives back a Union invasion at high cost: 16,000 Union
casualties; 20,000 Confederate casualties
August 29-30 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Union decisively beaten when Longstreet’s Corp finally pushes
through Thoroughfare Gap (held for 6 hours by the cavalry
commanded by John Buford) to reinforce Stonewall Jackson.
10,000 Union casualties; 8,300 Confederate casualties.

17. September 17
Battle of Antietam
(Sharpsburg, Maryland)
Missouri Compromise of 1820

18. September 17
Battle of Antietam
(Sharpsburg, Maryland)
• Union repels Lee’s invasion of the North
Missouri Compromise of 1820

19. September 17
Battle of Antietam
(Sharpsburg, Maryland)
• Union repels Lee’s invasion of the North
• The bloodiest single day in the war with 23,000
casualties, 12,400 Union and 10,400
Confederate
Missouri Compromise of 1820

20. September 17
Battle of Antietam
(Sharpsburg, Maryland)
• The church in the background of this famous
photograph is a Dunker Church. Members of the
Church of the Brethren, with which McPherson
College is associated, were known as Dunkers.
Missouri Compromise of 1820

21. December 11-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
(Fredericksburg, Virginia)

22. December 11-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
(Fredericksburg, Virginia)
• One of the war’s most one-sided battles

23. December 11-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
(Fredericksburg, Virginia)
• One of the war’s most one-sided battles
• Under pressure from Washington, the new
commander of the Army of the Potomac,
Ambrose Burnside, orders senseless, repeated
charges up well-defended Marye’s Heights

24. December 11-15
Battle of Fredericksburg
(Fredericksburg, Virginia)
• One of the war’s most one-sided battles
• Under pressure from Washington, the new
commander of the Army of the Potomac,
Ambrose Burnside, orders senseless, repeated
charges up well-defended Marye’s Heights
• 12,700 Union casualties; 5,400 Confederate

25. 1863

26. Manifest Destiny
January 1
The final Emancipation Proclamation frees the slaves in seceded states. The
proclamation served as official acknowledgement that the war was not just
about preserving the Union; it was a war to end slavery in the U.S.

27. May 1-4 Manifest Destiny
Battle of Chancellorsville
(Chancellorsville, Virginia)

28. May 1-4 Manifest Destiny
Battle of Chancellorsville
(Chancellorsville, Virginia)
• Outnumbered 134,000 men to 61,000, R. E. Lee
had his greatest victory here

29. May 1-4 Manifest Destiny
Battle of Chancellorsville
(Chancellorsville, Virginia)
• Outnumbered 134,000 men to 61,000, R. E. Lee
had his greatest victory here
• Gen. Jackson is accidentally shot by his own
men. He dies of complications of his wounds on
May 10.

30. Mexican-American War 1846-48
June 3
Lee begins marching his army northward toward Pennsylvania