American Civil War

The American Civil War is the main storyline that is portrayed throughout the video games.

War
The American Civil War started when the southern states began to slide away from the anti-slavery states, causing the south to subjugate the southern Union (northern) forts, including Fort Sumter, which was taken by bombardment and then by surrender. This began the war, as in the rest of April, many southern states ceded to the Confederacy. This led to the bloodiest war on American soil.

Richard Gatling invented the Gatling Gun's prototype in 1861, which was used in an attack on Confederate troops at Cold Harbor. However, a few Confederate forces stole the gun from Cold Harbor and put it to production. The May 23 train raid by Stonewall Jackson against the B&O Railroad in Pennsylvania was a hard blow to the Union forces, losing several stations along the Ohio Valley railroads.

Then, on July 21, the Union invaded Virginia under command of Irvin McDowell, resisted by Jackson and Joseph E. Johnston at Bull Run. The Union came close to winning the battle, but a Confederate cavalry attack by Jeb Stuart saved the day. This would prove that the war would not end for several years.

There were no more major battles in that year, but in 1862, the year opened with a series of Confederate victories. However, Ulysses S. Grant seized Tennessee from the Confederacy, then winning a bloody battle at Shiloh. The battle was followed by the Battle of Antietam, which was one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war. It was inconclusive, but Robert E. Lee's invasion of the north was negated. The Union attempted another attack southwards, to Fredericksburg, but were slaughtered and retreated.

In 1863, the Union invaded the south again, but lost at Chancellorsville. However, Jackson was killed by friendly fire during the engagement. The next major battle was the Battle of Gettysburg, which was the worst defeat of the Confederacy. Another invasion of the north was whiplashed by the Union troops, who used Gatling Guns to mow down the charging soldiers. After this battle, Grant and Philip Sheridan moved into Georgia. They suffered a defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga, but won at the Battle of Chattanooga, penetrating into Georgia and moving onto Atlanta.

In 1864, the Union invaded Virginia, engaging in bloody battles such as the Battle of Cold Harbor and the Battle of Petersburg. They suffered a terrible defeat in the first battle, but at Petersburg, the Confederates held until 1865, but surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. Johnston, commander in the south, surrendered later in May, and the last shots were fired in late June.