Unit 10 History Battles

Test Date 5/16/24

Battle of Fort Sumter

Battle of Fort Sumter

April 1861:

• South Carolina fort where Confederates fired first Civil War shots and won against Union, who was trying to secure provisions for the fort. Confederates win.

• This would give North reason to fight back against South; Lincoln calls for 75k militiamen and South sees this as aggression.

First Battle of Bull Run

July 1861: General Irwin McDowell (Union) vs. P. G. T. Beauregard and Thomas Jackson (Confed.)

• North wants to end war/South secession quickly and showcase superiority of Union in this battle. However, because Union doesn't have much preparation/training here, they lose and blood is shed against Confederate "Stonewall" Thomas Jackson's troops, forcing Union retreat.

• This causes North to kick into high gear, realizing the war won't end soon and start preparing hard while South become arrogant and soldiers start ditching.

Peninsula Campaign

March 1862: General George McClellan (Union) vs. Robert E. Lee (Confederate).

• McClellan drills and trains soldiers beforehand, afraid to advance to Richmond but is forced to and eventually meets up with Johnston. Johnston is injured which causes E. Lee to take over.

• Union fails to take Richmond capital (Confed. win) with losses on both sides; E. Lee becomes excellent leader for South boosting Confederate morale while McClellan is fired.

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

February 1862: General Ulysses S. Grant (Union)

• Grantopens the way to Tennessee, Georgia, and Dixie and secures Kentucky to Union by winning a foothold in Tennessee by capturing 2 forts.

• This boosts Union morale and the South realizes war won't be as easy as they originally thought.

Battle of Shiloh

April 1862: General Ulysses S. Grant (Union) vs. Stonewall Jackson (Confederate)

• Grant advances to Shiloh hoping to capture railroads in Mississippi and further Fort Henry/Donelson win, but fails to scout the Shiloh area and is attacked by Confederates. Union gets reinforcements and wins, causing Confed. retreat, but loses a lot of men for no reason in a two day battle.

• Union realizes they are in need of scouts/fortifications and block Confederates from Mississippi.

Battle of Vicksburg

Spring 1862-July 1863: General Ulysses S. Grant (Union)

• Union surrounds and bombs this city for more than a year, wanting the mouth of the Mississippi to control the whole river.

• When they do take control, this is one of Grant's biggest accomplishments back to back with the Gettysburg victory (2 major Confederate losses).

• Fort Hudson, Louisiana later comes under control and now Mississippi River completely in Union hands (Achieves Part 2 of Anaconda Plan). Tides turn for Union.

Second Battle of Bull Run

August 1862: John Pope (Union) vs. Robert E. Lee and A.P Hill (Confederate)

• Easy Confederate win, destroying Pope. Lee takes this time to move into North (Maryland), opening a way for invasion and bid for foreign intervention.

• Lincoln reluctantly puts McClellan back in command.

Battle of Antietam

September 1862: After 2nd Bull Run: McClellan (Union) vs. Lee (Confederate)

• after soldiers discover Lee's dropped battle plans, McClellan manages to pull a bloody but narrow victory (draw militarily).

• Lee retreats, but McClellan decides not to pursue, leading him to be fired again.

• victory Lincoln needs for Emacipation Proclamation

Battle of Fredericksburg

December 1862: General Burnside (Union) vs. Lee (Confederate)

• Burnside, unconfident in his abilities, leads his men across Rappahannock River on temporary bridges but are ambushed by Confederates on high ground → "Burnside's Slaughter Pen."

• The Union lost with many killed men.

Battle of Chancellorsville

April 1863: Joe Hooker (Union) vs. Lee (Confederate)

• Lee's greatest victory: divides troops and send some to Union's rear with Stonewall Jackson's aid. Jackson is killed despite huge victory.

Battle of Gettysburg

July 1863: George Pickett and A.P Hill (Confederate) vs. George Meade (Union)

• Confederacy tries to invade Pennsylvania near a large railroad hub to get shoes, but unexpectedly bumps into Union. E. Lee mistakenly calls for Pickett to undergo "Pickett's Charge" leading to loss for Confederacy.

Wilderness Campaign

Ulysses S. Grant (Union) vs. E Lee (Confederacy) in Virginia in ruthless battles for over a year until E. Lee surrendered after Grant's Richmond capture in April 1865.