The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate soldiers assaulted Fort Sumter before the United States could provide supplies. Days later, Lincoln dispatched troops to quell the uprising. The states of the Upper South had to select where their loyalty lay during the next few months. During the Civil War, both the South and the North anticipated that the conflict would be brief and that their respective sides would win. These hopes sprang from their belief in the cause, the right to separate from the union, and the need to keep the union together. However, they were also a result of their side's distinct advantages. Over 350 military engagements were fought in the Civil War between 1861 and 1865, following the shelling of Fort Sumter. The great bulk of the battles took place in the southern states, with some also taking place in the territories and northern states. The following engagements stand out as being particularly important among all of them. Following the secession of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, members of the newly formed Confederate government worked to project a moderate image to win over reluctant southerners in other states, secure the new nation's future, and avoid a costly
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate soldiers assaulted Fort Sumter before the United States could provide supplies. Days later, Lincoln dispatched troops to quell the uprising. The states of the Upper South had to select where their loyalty lay during the next few months. During the Civil War, both the South and the North anticipated that the conflict would be brief and that their respective sides would win. These hopes sprang from their belief in the cause, the right to separate from the union, and the need to keep the union together. However, they were also a result of their side's distinct advantages. Over 350 military engagements were fought in the Civil War between 1861 and 1865, following the shelling of Fort Sumter. The great bulk of the battles took place in the southern states, with some also taking place in the territories and northern states. The following engagements stand out as being particularly important among all of them. Following the secession of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, members of the newly formed Confederate government worked to project a moderate image to win over reluctant southerners in other states, secure the new nation's future, and avoid a costly