Civil War Battles

Fort Sumter

The first shots of the war were located here. The newly found confederacy asked for access to the fort located in Charleston, South Carolina. As South Carolina was the first state to secede from the union they had full access. President Lincoln disapproved of their request and that led to P.G.T Beauregard (confederacy) shooting at Robert Anderson (union) and his troops after a warship went to give supplies to the union troops stationed at the fort. After Anderson refused to surrender confederate troops took over forcefully.

Robert Anderson

Union war leader during Fort Sumter. He refused to surrender to P.G.T Beauregard.

Who was the Confederate leader during the Fort Sumter Battle?

P.G.T Beauregard

New York City draft riots

In New York City a group of Irish Immigrants started riots in protest of the war and the national draft law that was ordered by President Lincoln. The Irish Immigrants wanted no part in the draft for the war because they feared that the war would free all African Americans and allow them to take their jobs.

Battle of Antietam

Located in Washington D.C. Lincoln allowed the emancipation proclamation (declared slaves free in the Confederate states) after the war had ended.

First Battle of Bull Run

Very disappointing war for the union side. Many believed the union would win, therefore leading to the end of the war. The confederacy won with a sudden attack to the union. McDowell (union) confidently marched towards the confederacy making swift attacks, to counter that, Beauregard made a swift attack. Beauregard's attack allowed the union to understand the importance of the war and that it wouldn’t be brief.

Who was the Confederate leader during the First Battle of Bull Run?

P.G.T Beauregard

Who was the Union leader during the First Battle of Bull Run?

Irvin McDowell

Battle of Wilson’s Creek

Claiborne Jackson and other state governors wanted to secede from the union; they made a big ruckus around and spread a lot of the ideals. Nathaniel Lyon came in an attempt to put a stop to it. Nathaniel Lyon ended up dying in battle, leading to a confederacy win. Although the confederacy won the union they made a dent in their forces and decreased their power.

Who was the Union leader during the Battle of Wilson’s Creek?

Nathaniel Lyon

Who was the Confederate governor during the Battle of Wilson’s Creek?

Claiborne Jackson

Who was involved in making West Virginia apart of the Union?

George McClellan

West Virginia

McClellan invaded the western portion of Virginia. Through the invasion it created a separate union state rather than the confederacy.

Who was involved in making New Orleans apart of the Union?

David Farragut

New Orleans

Farragut led warships that went passed the confederacy. He was able to capture the territory with no resistance. It was one of the South’s largest cities so it was considered very strategic and valuable to the Union. The city surrendered under Farragut.

What confederate officer was involved in Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?

Albert Sidney Johnson

What union officer was involved in Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?

Ulysses Grant

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

Confederate officer Albert Sidney Johnson stretched his troops upon the two forts to maintain control. Since Fort Henry controlled the Tennessee River the Union wanted control over the forts. Ulysses Grant forced the confederacy to surrender and it ended in a union victory.

Battle of Shiloh

Narrow union victory. Ulysses Grant was making his way towards Shiloh, Tennessee when he was met by Beauregard and Johnson. Then the Battle commenced. On the first day Grant lost his ground on the area he was fighting for. On the second day he was able to make a comeback and reclaim the land and defeat Johnson and Beauregard. Although a narrow victory, the Union was able to get a large portion of the Mississippi River.

What union officer was involved in the Battle of Shiloh?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate officers were involved in the Battle of Shiloh?

Beauregard and Johnson

Corinth

A crossroads of two major railroad stations. After the union victory in the Battle of Shiloh the union set a goal to capture Corinth as well. Rosecrans was the main officer involved in capturing. It was a union victory and their goal to stop confederate movements was a success.

What union officer was involved in Corinth?

William Rosecrans

Who was the Confederate officer involved in the Battle of Murfreesboro?

Braxton Bragg

Who was the union officer involved in the Battle of Murfreesboro?

Don Carlos Buell

Battle of Murfreesboro

Bragg and Buell both wanted control over the area. They fought one another. The battle was a stalemate and led to no clear victory on either side because of how violent it was for both groups.

Peninsular Campaign

McClellan wanted to capture Richmond, Virginia which was the confederate capital during the time. He advanced up the coast and challenged Lee’s forces. Lee was able to counterattack McClellan and forced him to retreat, it was a fail on the union side.

Who proceeded with the Peninsular Campaign?

George McClellan

Who stopped the union from capturing Richmond in the Peninsular Campaign?

Robert E. Lee

Valley Campaign

In Shenandoah Valley, Virginia ‘Stonewall’ Jackson fought against union forces. Jackson was able to use the geography of the nearby area to his advantage and for his attacking strategies. McDowell fought against Lee but was ultimately defeated, leading to a significant Confederate victory.

What Confederate general was involved in the Valley Campaign?

Robert E. Lee

What union general was involved in the Valley campaign?

Irvin McDowell

Battle of Fair Oaks

Confederate leader Johnston was trying to stop McClellan from advancing in Richmond, Virginia. The union army was large in comparison to Johnston’s troops. While the battle began between the two generals and their troops; the confederacy called for additional troops from Lee’s army and that led to a more even situation. This then led to another battle where they fought with the additional troops.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Fair Oaks?

George McClellan

What Confederate general was involved in the Battle of Fair Oaks?

Joseph Johnston

Battle of Seven Days

McClellan, still wanting to gain control over Richmond, Virgina, tried to gain control over the territory. In the midst of trying, Lee’s troops had aggressive counterattacks. It was a series of attacks throughout the one battle. The union was eventually forced to retreat.

What union general was involved in the Battle of the Seven Days?

George McClellan

What Confederate general was involved in the Battle of the Seven Days?

Robert E. Lee

Second Battle of Bull Run

Pope and McClellan planned on joining forces with one another to create a larger army. Pope, without thinking, decided to attack Lee’s troops without waiting for McClellan and his additional troops to come. Lee threw back many assaults towards Pope. The union was forced to flee because Pope couldn’t do anything to fight back against Lee. Pope’s bad decision led to the confederacy boosting their moral and him losing his position.

What Confederate officer was involved in the Second Battle of Bull Run?

Robert E. Lee

What union officer was involved in the Second Battle of Bull Run?

John Pope

Harpers Ferry

During a campaign ‘stonewall"‘ Jackson led his troops to capture this area with high strategy. McClellan tried to stop him but was unable to ultimately leading to a Confederate victory.

Who captured Harpers Ferry

‘Stonewall’ Jackson

What union general tried to stop the confederacy from obtaining Harpers Ferry?

George McClellan

Battle of Antietam Creek

One of the bloodiest single day battles of all time. McClellan had a large army force in comparison to Lee’s Confederate army. McClellan repeatedly attacked Lee’s troops leading to heavy casualties on both sides. The Confederate soldiers came from Harpers Ferry to join along with Lee and his troops. McClellan had the opportunity to defeat Lee but consequently let him escape.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Antietam Creek?

George McClellan

What Confederate general was involved in the Battle of Antietam Creek?

Robert E. Lee

Battle of Fredericksburg

The battle was between the army of the Potomac, led by Ambrose Burnside, and the Confederacy, led by Robert E. Lee. Burnside and his troops were attempting to cross over the Rappahannock River. Many union soldiers were either killed or injured. The union was forced to withdraw due to their major losses and strong attacks on the confederacy side.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Fredericksburg?

Ambrose E. Burnside

What confederate general was involved in the Battle of Fredericksburg?

Robert E. Lee

Battle of Chancellorsville

Robert E. Lee and ‘Stonewall’ Jackson attacked the union forces. Lee decided to divide the Confederate forces which led to ‘Stonewall’ Jackson surprising Hooker. The union was forced to retreat. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson was heavily injured and later died of pneumonia a few days later.

Which two confederate officers were involved in the Battle of Chancellorsville?

Robert E. Lee and ‘Stonewall’ Jackson

What union officer was involved in the Battle of Chancellorsville?

Hooker

Vicksburg

The location was an important Confederate city in Mississippi. Ulysses Grant made a goal to take control over the area and make it a union territory. Grant led a route attacking areas around the location and getting rid of supply routes that would go to the confederacy. They were able to defeat the confederacy, gain control of not only the area but a portion of the Mississippi River, and was able to split the confederacy.

What union general was involved in Vicksburg?

Ulysses Grant

Port Hudson

This area was defended by confederate forces. The Union wanted to capture the area and gain control in order to gain full control over the Mississippi River. They wanted to create a larger victory along with the victory the Union had prior in Vicksburg. The union troops were faced with resistance. The union was able to make the confederacy surrender and their last major stronghold was now gone and in union control. This contributed to splitting the confederacy.

Battle of Gettysburg

One of the most celebrated battles in the war. Meade and Lee met up, then launching attacks to one another. Lee had a strategic plan that involved two different steps. One was at Cemetery Ridge, the other being Pickett’s Charge. Lee failed both attempts. The confederacy was extremely outnumbered and had a lot less power in comparison to the union. Ultimately, Lee was forced to surrender. His surrender made him and the entire confederacy look like a joke; the union would never take another threat against them seriously.

What confederate officer was involved in the Battle of Gettysburg?

Robert E. Lee

What union officer was involved in the Battle of Gettysburg?

George Meade

Cemetery Ridge

The first of Robert E. Lee’s attempts to defeat the union in the Battle of Gettysburg.

Pickett’s Charge

The second and last attempt of Robert E. Lee during the Battle of Gettysburg. They confederacy was running up a hill with 15k soldiers while the union officers were shooting them one by one. They went up with 15k and finished with 5k.

Battle of Chickamauga

Rosecrans (union officer) sent his troops to go after Braxton Bragg but Bragg was waiting for them to arrive and cross the Georgia line. For the first time ever the confederate troops had an advantage. The union had to retreat to Chattanooga.

What union officer was involved in the Battle of Chickamauga?

Rosecrans

What confederate officer was involved in the Battle of chicamauga?

Braxton Bragg

Battle of Chattanooga

After the union officers attempted to flee here, Bragg made a goal to seize the land. The confederacy seized high ground and food supplies. Fortunately, Grant came to the rescue to help and was able to bring confederate forces back to Georgia. The union was able to gain control over the Tennessee river. The confederacy was now completely separated from each other and there was no chance of winning by fighting thanks to Grant making an entrance in the battle.

What union officer was involved in the Battle of Chattanooga?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate officer was involved in the Battle of Chattanooga?

Braxton Bragg

Battle of the Wilderness

It took place in a densely wooded area in Virginia between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The battle was characterized by brutal hand-to-hand combat and high casualties on both sides. The wooded terrain severely limited visibility and maneuverability, contributing to the confused and chaotic nature of the fighting. Despite sustaining heavy losses, Grant's forces continued to pursue Lee's army, marking a strategic shift in Union tactics toward aggressive engagement.

What union general was involved in the Battle of the Wilderness?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate general was involved in the Battle of the Wilderness?

Robert E. Lee

Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House

Grant and Lee met up after the Battle of Wilderness. It was a five day bloody battle with a large number of soldiers being killed or wounded. Although there were man losses on the union side Grant kept moving. There were high loses on both sides therefore having no clear winner.

What union soldier was involved in the Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate soldier was involved in the Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House?

Robert E. Lee

Cold Harbor

A battle between Grant and Lee. Grant suffered high casualties on his side causing major losses on the union side. Grant regrets his attack he put upon the confederacy.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Cold Harbor?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate general was involved in the Battle of Cold Harbor?

Robert E. Lee

Petersburg

The battle was created because this area was crucial for the union forces to obtain since this was one of the last areas of land the confederacy had that was very important to them. Grant led many assaults against the confederacy in order to seize the land. He cut of Lee’s resources and was able to surround Richmond, the confederate capital. Over many different battles including battles with train stations the union won.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Petersburg?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate general was involved in the Battle of Petersburg?

Robert E. Lee

Kennesaw Mountain

This was a part of the Atlanta Campaign. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman wanted to destroy Johnston’s army. Johnston and his army were strong and had a strong defense against union forces. They were able to successfully defeat the union army although the union was able to advance towards Atlanta after.

What union general was involved in Kennesaw Mountain?

William Sherman

What confederate general was involved in Kennesaw Mountain?

Joseph Johnston

Battle of Nashville

Sherman was advancing while Johnston was attempting to delay him. Hood tried to draw Sherman out of Atlanta and threatened an invasion towards him. Sherman didn’t take the bait for either people. Northern forces destroyed Hoods army. Johnston scored a victory but was unable to stop the union advance towards Atlanta.

What union general was involved in the Battle of Nashville?

William Sherman

What confederate generals were involved in the Battle of Nashville?

Johnston and Hood

March to the Sea

Sherman led a sixty-mile-wide swath of desolation across Georgia. He was destroying everything in his path and deprived the confederate government from materials while destroying the will of the southern people. This led him to reach Savannah.

What general was involved in the March to the Sea?

William Sherman

Savannah

Sherman was able to reach this area after the March to the Sea. After Sherman had reached the area he made a goal to seize it. He successfully took control.

Who was involved in seizing Savannah

William Sherman

Appomattox Court House

Lee and Grant met up and Lee formally surrendered; this caused the end of the war.

Who union general was involved in the Appomattox Court House?

Ulysses Grant

What confederate general was involved in the Appomattox Court House?

Robert E. Lee