American Civil War ends
In an event that is generally regarded as marking the end of the Civil War Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith commander of Confederate forces west of the Mississippi signs the surrender terms offered by Union negotiators.With Smiths surrender the last Confederate army ceased to exist bringing a formal end to the bloodiest four years in U.S.history.The American Civil War began on April 12 1861 when Confederate shore batteries under General Pierre G.T.
Beauregard opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolinas Charleston Bay.During 34 hours 50 Confederate guns and mortars launched more than 4000 rounds at the poorly supplied fort and on April 13 U.S.Major Robert Anderson commander of the Union garrison surrendered.
Two days later U.S.President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75000 volunteer soldiers to help quell the Southern insurrection.Four long years later the Confederacy was defeated at the total cost of 620000 Union and Confederate dead.
