The Eastern Theater, 1861-1862

Color the following information listed below:

April 1861 - Fort Sumter, SC (held by the Union) is fired upon from land on both sides by the Confedrate forces. The Union surrenders the fort to the Confederates after 1 1/2 days of cannon fire.

July 1861 - 1st Battle of Bull Run, at Manassas, VA - 35,000 USA forces head to Richmond to capture the CSA capitol. 25,000 CSA forces are camped in Manassas (or Bull Run). Picknickers come from DC to watch the battle. The North starts to win, the South gets reinforcements by rail, the North retreats over the top of the picnickers and heads back to DC. The South wins the first battle.

1st part of the Union's Anaconda Plan - The USA starts to blockade the CSA seaports. The Union has very few ships. The Southerners have many ships leaving to sell cotton to England. At this time the plan is ineffective - 9 out of 10 CSA ships get through.

March 1862 - The Ironclads meet at Hampton Roads, VA -

Marrimac (CSA) - Had been sunk by the Union, then was raised by the CSA. An iron ram and 4 inch iron armor was added and she was renamed "The Virginia". The ship was slow and clumsey - it took 30 minutes to turn her around.

Monitor (USA) - New ship design - smaller, faster, and 8 inch armor. But, it was still easier to maneuver.

They met at Hampton Roads, VA and fought for 3 hours, actually touching a few times. Both ships were badly battered in the end, and both had to withdraw. The first fight of the Ironclad ships was a draw - both sides claimed victory.

Return to Civil War Diaries home page