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xxii Chronology of the Civil War Era April 6 The Battle of Shiloh, the fi rst major battle in the West and the second major engagement of the war, begins. Union forces, led by Ulysses S. Grant, are attacked on the banks of the Tennessee River and are almost defeated. By the next day, Grant had organized a counterattack that pushed the Confederate forces back. The casualties sustained by both sides during the battle were over 23,000 men, the highest thus ever recorded for American wars. There were over 3,500 men who died during the battle. April 11 Fort Pulaski (near Savannah, Georgia) is recaptured by Union forces. April 16 Slavery is abolished in Washington, D.C. June 1 Confederate general Robert E. Lee assumes overall command of the Army of Northern Virginia. June 25–July 1 Battle of Seven Days, in Virginia. Confederate forces, initially led by General Joseph Johnston until he is se- riously wounded, engage and defeat Union forces, led by General George McClellan. This defeat forced the Union forces to stop their offensive against the Con- federate capital in Richmond, Virginia, and head back to their own capital in Washington, D.C. McClellan is relieved of his command of Union forces. Gener- al Robert E. Lee replaces General Johnston as the direct combat commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. August 28 The Second Battle of Bull Run. This battle ends as another decisive defeat for the Union Army of North- ern Virginia, commanded by General John Pope. McClellan is returned as overall Union commander. September 11 The Battle of Antietam. Although this battle ends in a tactical draw, Lee is forced back to Virginia and ends his fi rst offensive into Union territory. Casualties for the battle are estimated at over 22,000 men for both armies with over 3,000 killed, the results of only one day of battle, and the worst day ever in American military history. These staggering losses at Antietam, which was in close proximity to Washington, D.C., shocked the nation into recognizing just what the cost it would take to fi nish the war.