Following the fall of Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861, the guns fell silent for a while. But there was still plenty of action. The first battle of Civil War at Bull Run, VA, just outside of D.C. shocked Americans. Many spectators packed picnic lunches to go and watch as it was unfathomable that Americans would go to battle against each other. People were shocked when Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson's troops advanced so aggressively towards Union soldiers that the crowds and many Union troops dispersed! 5,000 soldiers does in the First Battle of Bull Run. Lincoln appointed Gen. George McClellan to lead the Union Army in the East, called the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln ordered a naval blockade of the south which reduced southern trade by 2/3. Both sides built ironclad warships. The battle between Southern warship the Merrimack & Northern warship the Monitor marked a new age in naval warfare. The Union was determined to split the Confederacy by gaining control of the MS & TN Rivers. Union operations in the West were led by Gen Ulysses S. Grant whose victories helped secure the lower TN River, drove the South out of border state KY, and enabled Union troops to advance on TN, AL & MS. The Battle of Shiloh in MS, April 6, 1862 lasted 2 days. The Union won, but there were over 20,000 casualties. After Shiloh, Union forces gained footholds in MS, TN and was on it's way to controlling the MS River. On April 25, 1862 Union naval forces under David Farragut captured New Orleans. LA. The North now controlled the MS River delta. In the North, Union Gen. McClellan led the Peninsular Campaign with a goal to capture Richmond. Lincoln kept urging McClellan to attack as his delays were allowing the Confederates to build defenses & the North did not take Richmond. The Confederates won Second Battle of Bull Run on Aug. 29, 1862. Both sides clashed again at the Battle of Antietam, MD on Sept. 17, 1862. There were close to 6,000 casualties, 17,000 wounded and Gen. Lee made a quick retreat. Lincoln was furious with Gen. McClellan. Lincoln placed Gen. Ambrose Burnside in command. Antietam changed Northern war aims. Pres. Lincoln used the battle to take action against slavery.