Dagaalku wuxuu bilaabmay weerarkii Confederate ee Fort Sumter bishii Abriil 12, 1861, oo ah qalcaddii Midowga ee dekedda Charleston, South Carolina. Ma jirto dowlad shisheeye oo si rasmi ah u aqoonsatay Confederation inay tahay dal madaxbannaan, in kasta oo Ingiriiska iyo Faransiisku ay siiyeen xaalad dagaal, taas oo u oggolaatay wakiillada Confederate inay qandaraas la galaan walaacyada gaarka loo leeyahay ee hubka iyo sahayda kale. Horraantii 1865, ka dib afar sano oo dagaal culus ah oo horseeday 620,000<unk>850,000 oo dhimasho ciidan ah, dhammaan ciidamada Confederate-ka ayaa is dhiibay oo Confederation-ka ayaa baaba'ay. Dagaalku wuxuu la'aa dhammaad rasmi ah; ku dhowaad dhammaan ciidamada Confederate-ka ayaa lagu qasbay inay is dhiibaan ama si ula kac ah u kala baxaan dhammaadkii 1865, taas oo ay ugu wacan tahay hoos u dhaca awoodda dadka iyo khasaarida khayraadka Mareykanka.
12-kii Abriil 1861