The Major Battles of the Civil War.
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The Major Battles
Fort Sumter- General P.G.T Beauregard was in command of the Confederate garrisons around Charleston Harbor. He ordered that his troops open fire on the Union held fort, Fort Sumter, on April 12, 1861. A day later, April 13, 1861, at 2:30 pm Major Robert Anderson and his garrison of troops holing out in the fort surrendered, They evacuated the next day, on April 14, 1861. They had evacuated after a long hard fight to keep the fort. The Soldiers were tired and weary after the battle, but none really knows what happened to them after the evacuation.
Antietam- General George McClellan, commander of the “Army of the Potomac”, launched a series of assaults against Robert E. Lee and his confederate forces near the city of Sharpsburg in Maryland on September 17, 1862. The Confederates launched vicious counterattacks against the Union forces, taking Millers Cornfield and the West Woods. The Union took Sunken Road after a long fight and pierced the center of the Confederate army. On the final assault took place to get the Union across the bridge, but they failed and the battle ended in a draw.
Vicksburg- Major General Ulysses S. Grant Converged on Vicksburg in May and June of 1863, which invested the city and trapped the Confederate army commanded by Lieutenant General John Pemberton. On Independence Day, July 4, 1863 Vicksburg surrendered after long siege operations. This battle resulted in the Confederate forces being effectively split in half.
Gettysburg- Confederate General Robert E. Lee concentrated his army around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to await the approach of the Union General George Meade and his forces. On July 1, 1863 the early Union success faltered as the Confederates push back against the Iron Brigade and showed a weakness in the federal line Barlow’s Knoll. On the following day Lee hit the union flanks, which lead to heavy battle, but the Confederates failed to get rid of the Union forces. On the Final day, the fighting raged sat Culp’s Hill and the Union regained a lot of lost ground while Lee’s troops were attacked by a massive artillery bombardment, and started a counter attack. Howerver it failed thanks to what it caused, Pickett’s Charge
Sherman’s March to the Sea-The Confederate General John Bell Hood, was hoping to drive the Union Major General, William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops outside of Atlanta. ON July 21, 1864 Hood ordered Lieutenant General William J. Hardee’s troops to make a 15 mile away night attack on the left flank of the Union soldiers. Union Major General James McPherson suspected this move and held his army to counteract. Hoods Confederate army failed to break through. The Union took Atlanta shortly after this attack. Shortly after this, Sherman ordered his troops to do a March from Atlanta to Savanna and burn everything in their path.
Fort Fisher- General Alfred Terry was put in command of the troops that attacked the fort. He attacked with 60 ships full of troops and supplies. The fort was bombarded by Rear Admiral David D. Porter and the Union soldiers landed to prepare to attack the fort on January 13, 1865. On January 15, 1865, a select force moved on the fort from the rear. The attack commenced in the afternoon. shortly after the main force landed, the Confederates in the fort surrendered.
Appomattox Courthouse- Robert E. Lee ran from the Union and eventually came to Appomattox County on April 8, 1865. He headed south for the Appomattox station where he could get food and supplies, but they were cut off again and surrounded by the Union near the small village of Appomattox Courthouse. He tried a final attempt to escape, but he failed and his army was trapped. Robert E. Lee surrendered his remaining troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the McLean House on the afternoon of April 9, 1865, thus ending the American Civil War.
Sources
Civilwar.org,. 'Civil War Battlefields - Learn About The American Civil War | Civil War
Upload.wikimedia.org,. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.