Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Civil War, American

CIVIL WAR, AMERICAN, a war in the United States, caused by the attempt of the Southern States to establish an independent government under the name of the Confederate States of America. The first gun was fired, on Jan. 9, 1861, by batteries in Charleston harbor, which drove back the steamer “Star of the West,” bearing supplies to Fort Sumter. The actual outbreak of war, however, is dated from April 12, when Fort Sumter was bombarded. The first blood was shed in Baltimore on April 19 in a street attack on the Sixth Massachusetts regiment, which was on its way to Washington. Bull Run (July 21, 1861) was the first great battle. It resulted in a severe defeat for the Union army; its effect was to encourage the South and raise a determined spirit in the North, and to unify both sections in support of their respective policies. The Mississippi was opened to Union vessels by the capture of New Orleans in April, 1862, and of Vicksburg and Port Hudson in July, 1863. The latter month also saw the Union victory of Gettysburg, by which the Confederate attempt to carry the war into the Northern States was overthrown. From July, 1863, the final victory of the National cause was assured. Sherman's march to the sea in the latter part of 1864, cut through the heart of the Confederacy and did incalculable damage to the Southern cause. The vigorous blows which, in 1864 and the spring of 1865, Grant dealt to Lee's army in Virginia, brought the war to a conclusion. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Johnston's army surrendered on April 26, and within two months more all the Confederate forces had laid down their arms.

The result of the war was to establish the fact that the United States is a nation and not a league of States, and that no State has the right to secede from the Union. It also resulted in the abolition of slavery. The proclamation of emancipation, issued by President Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, declared the freedom of all slaves within certain designated territory which was in rebellion, and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, adopted after the war, extinguished slavery in the United States. During the Civil War there were 2,778,304 men mustered into service on the Union side and about 600,000 on the Confederate. The number of casualties in the volunteer and regular armies of the United States during the war, according to a statement prepared by the Adjutant-General's office, was as follows: Killed in battle, 67,058; died of wounds, 43,012; died of disease, 199,720; other causes, such as accidents, murder, Confederate prisons, etc., 40,154; total died, 349,944; total deserted, 199,105. Number of soldiers in the Confederate service who died of wounds or disease (partial statement), 133,821. Deserted (partial statement), 104,428. Number of United States troops captured during the war, 212,608; Confederate troops captured, 476,169. Number of United States troops paroled on the field, 16,431; Confederate troops paroled on the field, 248,599. Number of United States troops who died while prisoners, 30,156; Confederate troops who died while prisoners, 30,152.