civil war By lennags Apr 12, 1861 The war begins with the attack on Fort Sumter Jul 21, 1861 First battle of Bullrun Period: Apr 6, 1862 to Apr 7, 1862 Battle of Shiloh Sep 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam Period: Jul 1, 1863 to Jul 3, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg Jul 4, 1863 Capture of Vicksburg Apr 9, 1865 Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Period: May 1, 1865 to May 31, 1865 Remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends Jul 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth shoots the president Lincoln Dec 6, 1865 Slavery is abolished.