The Civil War, much like a roller coaster, had several ups and downs that changed the course of events. However, one dramatic turning point in the war stands out above all others, The Battle of Gettysburg. From the beginning, the Union was destined to become victorious through superior military tactics and a more industrialization. However, several things must first happen to lead up to this dramatic battle.The Civil War began at Ft. Sumter on April 12, of 1861(Military). Negotiations for peace had ended that day and CSA Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard gave the orders for the Southern troupes to fire on the North-occupied Fort. The bombardment continued for 33 hours before Ft.Sumter surrendered (Military). The Civil War of the United States had begun. This was only the beginning of a war that would drag out for years to come. Immediately after these shots were fired on Ft.Sumter, the recently elected President of the Union, Abraham Lincoln, responded with determination (Nash 502). On April 15, Lincoln issued a proclamation that called up a total of 75,000 militia from the states (Military). At the same time, calls for troops were sent to the governors of all states that had remained in the Union. On April 19 a second proclamation announced that Southern ports would be blockaded. A third proclamation, dated May 3, called for 42,000 three-year volunteers for the regular army and for 18,000 volunteers to serve one to three years in the navy (Military).The South responded with equal determination. Virginia and the rest of the upper South seceded. The Congress of the Confederacy authorized President Davis to wage the war now beginning (Nash 499). The border slave states of Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware never seceded. However, thousands of men in Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland volunteered for service in the Confederate armies (Military).Both the North and South raised troops as quickly as possible and struggled with...
