Civil War Battles - Import

Bull Run

1st real battle, Confederate victory, Washingtonian spectators gather to watch battle, Gen. Jackson stands as Stonewall and turns tide of battle in favor of Confederates, realization that war is not going to be a quick and easy Union win

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

Key victory for Union General Ulysses S. Grant, he gets his nickname "Unconditional Surrender"; Union controls key stretches of Cumberland and TN Rivers

Clash of the Ironclads

CSS Virginia vs USS Monitor. 1st battle between iron fortified Naval vessels; Union victory keeps up blockade of Southern ports

Shiloh

More casualties than all previous American wars combined; Grant realizes it will be a war of conquest; part of the Union's western campaign to get the Mississippi River

New Orleans

• Union wanted to capture this city because it was an important port, and the Union could then send forces up the Mississippi River capturing Baton Rouge, LA and Natchez, MS to join Grant's army advancing from the North

Seven Days

Outside Richmond; McClellan had 100,000 men but was slow to attack, which gave Lee time to strengthen his forces and win

Second Bull Run

Conflict between Lee and General John Pope in August 1862, ending in a decisive victory by Lee that led to increased confidence and his decision to take the fight into the North for the first time

Antietam

the first major battle to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with almost 23,000 casualties. After this "win" for the North, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, and the firing of McClellan because he allowed Lee to retreat to VA

Fredericksburg

Ambrose Burnside led the Union toward Richmond and marched into waiting Confederate troops who shot them down as they marched. Horrible defeat for the Union.

Chancellorsville

the Confederates under Robert E. Lee defeated the Union forces under Joseph Hooker. General Jackson was killed by friendly fire. Confederates were greatly outnumbered and still won. Lee takes the army into the North again!

Vicksburg

6-week siege by Grant; split the Confederacy in two and gave the North control of the Mississippi River.

Gettysburg

Union General George G. Meade led an army of about 90,000 men to victory against General Robert E. Lee's Confederate army of about 75,000; small town in PA; 3-day battle with highest casualties; turning point of the war because Lee never invades the North again. Day 2 = Chamberlain saving Little Round Top with bayonets. Day 3 - Pickett's Charge where he lost half of his division.

Cold Harbor

During Grant's Wilderness Campaign; Grant's army lost 7,000 soldiers in a few minutes when they tried to take this Southern stronghold in Virginia.

Atlanta

Sherman captured this important southern city, then he marched to Savannah destroying everything in his path. This victory helped convince Union voters that the North was making progress in the war and they should vote for Lincoln

March to the Sea

Sherman's march from Atlanta, Georgia, to Savannah, Georgia which cut off Confederate supplies received by the sea. They wanted to destroy the Southern economy (total war) and morale, leading to Southern surrender.

Petersburg

9-month siege outside of Richmond; when this city evacuated, so did Richmond

Appomattox Court House

small town in Virginia where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant ending the Civil War; Southern officers got to keep their sidearms and horses