3 Important Civil War Battles
that changed the war. by Mari Wisner
3 Crucial Battles
Antietam
~The deadliest single day of fighting during the civil war occurred in phases at Antietam,MD with over 6,000 killed and 17,000 injured in one day. Union soldiers under General McClellan found General Lee's plans for Confederate troops, Lee's plan had been to split his army into four groups and travel different ways to confuse McClellan. After the Union discovered the plans they did not attack right away and the Confederate troops regathered and marched through a cornfield towards them. With both sides unable to see the other, the Union fired randomly into the corn, the Confederates then emerged from the corn and both sides were standing point blank from each other and opened fire. The Union then retreated past the sunken rode and when the Confederates followed the Union turned and opened fire down upon them.
~This victory for the Union led to the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all enslaved people in areas "in rebellion against America" freed.
~This victory for the Union led to the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all enslaved people in areas "in rebellion against America" freed.
Gettysburg
~Although Gettysburg,PA was a small town and not a key location, it became the site of the deadliest and largest battle in the war, about 51,000 men died during this battle. Confederate troops under General Lee entered the town to look for supplies not fighting, however there they encountered Union troops under General Meade. The battle carried on for 3 days until in a desperate attempt Confederate troops made an attack that later came to be called Pickett's Charge, this attack failed and the Union won the battle.
~Losing this battle meant the Confederates had lost all hope of gaining help from either France or Britain in the war.
~4 months after the battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln gave a 2 minute speech, later to be know as the Gettysburg Address, to honor the battle and in 272 words had presented one of the most powerful speeches in American history.
~Losing this battle meant the Confederates had lost all hope of gaining help from either France or Britain in the war.
~4 months after the battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln gave a 2 minute speech, later to be know as the Gettysburg Address, to honor the battle and in 272 words had presented one of the most powerful speeches in American history.
Vicksburg
~The same day as Lee retreated from Gettysburg the Confederacy lost the important river of Vicksburg,MS. 77,000 Union troops led by U.S. Grant, lay siege on Vicksburg where 30,000 Confederate troops were located. During the 47 day siege, there were more than 9,000 Confederate and 10,000 Union casualties and many soldiers died from disease and starvation.
~By gaining control of this river the Union had split the confederacy in two, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Union.
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