This document provides instructions for creating a timeline of key Civil War battles and events, listing 14 significant battles and events to include on the timeline. For each entry, the instructions specify including a one-sentence description of the event and a small illustration related to the battle's significance. An example timeline entry is provided for the Battle of Stone's River, including details about the battle, commanders, date, location, and strategic outcome, along with a proposed illustration of a Tennessee landscape with agricultural symbols and the words "Union" and "CONTROL" to represent the Union victory.

1. CIVIL WAR BATTLES
Creating a
Vertical
Timeline

2. PLOT THE FOLLOWING
BATTLES/EVENTS
ON THE TIMELINE
TEMPLATE• Fort Sumter
• First Battle of Bull Run
• Fort Henry and Fort
Donelson
• Shiloh
• Antietam
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Fredericksburg
• Chancellorsville
• Gettysburg
• Vicksburg
• Chickamauga
• Chattanooga/Lookout Mtn.
• Sherman’s March to the Sea
• Appomattox Court House
FOR EACH EVENT, YOU SHOULD INCLUDE: A ONE-SENTENCE
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT AND A SMALL ILLUSTRATION
THAT RELATES TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BATTLE/EVENT
OR SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE BATTLE/EVENT

3. An example:
Stone’s
River
Remember the
example from
last class.
What:
Rosecrans had come in from Nashville and set up camp near
Bragg’s troops. On Dec. 26, the Confederates successfully
raided Union forces in the early morning, but found it hard to
hold on to early victories. The battle was called the “Slaughter
Pen” by Rosecrans’ troops because it reminded them of the
slaughterhouses back in Chicago. In the end, Bragg retreated
fearing too many casualties (there were 24,000 casualties from
both sides) and Union reinforcements. On Jan. 3, the victorious
Union forces marched into Murfreesboro.
Who:
Union Army of the Cumberland, headed by General William
Rosecrans
General Braxton Bragg’s CSA Army of Tennessee.
When: December 26, 1862 – January 3,
1863
Where: Stone’s River is near
Murfreesboro, TN
Why:
Union victory gave them control of Middle Tennessee and its
farmland and set up a supply center, named after Rosecrans.

4. PLOTTING THE EXAMPLE:
STONE’S RIVER
The picture that I
have included is a
picture of
Tennessee that has
the images of corn,
tomato and a cow
(believe it or not!).
The word Union is
in blue because
that was the
“UNION” color and
the word
“CONTROL” is in

5. • Fort Sumter
• First Battle of Bull Run
• Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
• Shiloh
• Antietam
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Fredericksburg
• Chancellorsville
• Gettysburg
• Vicksburg
• Chickamauga
• Chattanooga/Lookout Mountain
• Sherman’s March to the Sea
• Appomattox Court House