Civil War Battles
Alex Johnson
Battle of Bull Run
- 1861
- At first the Union army was close to victory
- The Confederate army, aided by reinforcements, was determined to keep Henry Hill House
- The disorganized Union army collapsed and a Confederate counterattack sent them fleeing
- The Confederate troops were too disorganized and exhausted to pursue the Union army though
- Confederate victory
- Total Casualties: 4,900
- Union Deaths: 500
- Confederate Deaths: 400
- Significance: The war suddenly became a serious matter because this was one of the first big battles, the Union was surprised to be defeated, the South gained confidence
Battle of Gettysburg
- July 1863
- Robert E. Lee marched an army north into Pennsylvania
- Advancing Confederates met Union troops on July 1st
- The fighting increased in intensity over the next two days
- Pickett's Charge broke Union lines but suffered thousands of casualties
- Lee is forced to retreat to Virginia on July 4th
- Union Victory
- Total Casualties: 51,000
- Union Deaths: 3,100
- Southern Deaths: 3,900
- Significance: One of the most influential battles of the Civil War, most losses of any battle, a turning point in the war where power was transferred to the Union
Battle of Fredericksburg
- December 1862
- At the news that a Union army is approaching, a Confederate army entrenches themselves behind Fredericksburg
- After the Union laid pontoon bridges over a river the Confederates crossed the river to attack
- The Confederates briefly broke the Union line but were driven back by counterattacks
- Two army generals were killed on each side, so the Confederates called off the offensive and recrossed the river
- Confederate victory
- Total Casualties: 17,900
- Union Deaths: 1,300
- Confederate Deaths: 900
- Significance: This battle ended the Union's campaign to take the Confederate capital, Union lost many soldiers, General Lee gained respect
Antietam (Battle of Sharpsburg)
- September 1862
- Union Army attacked the Confederate army on their flank
- Fighting continued for 2 days as they constantly attacked each other
- The entirety of the southern army was involved in the battle while a portion of the northern army was being used
- Robert Lee retreated back to Virginia after two days
- The battle was inconclusive at the end, but many consider it a Union victory
- Total casualties: 22,700
- Union Deaths: 2,100
- Confederate Deaths: 1,600
- Significance: This was the first battle fought on Union soil, and Lincoln used the victory as a means to announce the Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Vicksburg
- May 1863
- Union forces under Grant assault Confederates stationed at Vicksburg
- After two assaults with heavy losses for the Union, Grant surrounded the Confederate forces
- After a month, the Confederates finally surrendered the position the same week that the north won the Battle of Gettysburg
- Union victory
- Total Casualties: 37,500
- Union Deaths: 800
- Confederate Deaths: 700
- Significance: The Union gained control of the Mississippi, it became extremely difficult for the South to maintain the fight, and General Grant gained a lot of respect
Surrender and Appomattox Courthouse
- April 1865
- Before the surrender Lee abandoned the southern Capital city and hoped to escape to meet up with other forces
- Ulysses S. Grant cut off his escape and forced him to surrender
- General Robert E. Lee surrendered troops to General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of Wilmer McLean's home in Virginia
- This essentially ended the Civil War
- Union victory
- Total Casualties: 700
- Union Deaths: 200
- Confederate Deaths: 500
- Significance: It was the last battle of the Civil War, and General Lee signed formal documents of surrender here