What happened from 1861-1865 in the civil war?

Answer 1

Eleven Southern states seceded from the USA to form the Confederate States of America.

They were, in order of secession, as follows:

Seven states seceded by February 1861:

South Carolina (December 20, 1860)

Mississippi (January 9, 1861)

Florida (January 10 1861)

Alabama (January 11 1861)

Georgia (January 19, 1861)

Louisiana (January 26 1861)

Texas (February 1 1861)

After Lincoln called for troops, four more states seceded:

Virginia (April 17, 1861)

Arkansas (May 6, 1861)

North Carolina (May 20 1861)

Tennessee (June 8 1861)

Superficially, they looked as though they might win - a warlike people of natural riders and shooters, fighting for their rights, inspired to defend their homeland against the invader, and rich enough to exchange their cotton for any amount of weapons and other war supplies from abroad.

The reality was a bit different - starting with the US naval blockade, which soon ended hopes of importing weapons. Their manufacturing capacity was almost nil. Their small population was largely slaves (who were banned from service), so they were always facing a more numerous enemy. They were badly led by their President, Jefferson Davis, an ex-officer who tried to occupy the role of General-in-Chief, with no success. And the feuds at the top were so bad that some Confederate generals seemed to hate each other more than the enemy.

After a shaky start, the US President, Abraham Lincoln, learned to choose and use good Generals, and when he appointed U.S. Grant as General-in-Chief in March 1864, the end was in sight for the Confederates, though their stubborn character ruled out a sensible early surrender. They went on till their rank-and-file were barefoot and starving.