Major Battles of the Civil War

Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 South Carolina Casualties: Union - 11 Confederacy - 4 The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Major Robert Anderson of the United States Army had moved his troops to the base because he feared a Confederate attack. In the early morning of April 12, 1861, the Confederates launched an attack. Northern troops under Anderson’s command returned fire, but were ineffective. The Confederacy continued its attack with prolonged gunfire, and the Union troops in the fort surrendered a day later. One Confederate soldier and four Union soldiers were killed in the battle.

First Bull Run/Manassas July 21, 1861 Virginia First Bull Run/Manassas July 21, 1861 Casualties: Union – 2,896 Confederacy – 1,982 The First Battle of Bull Run took place on July 21, 1861. General Irvin McDowell led the Union army toward Richmond, Virginia. General P.G.T. Beauregard’s Confederate troops intercepted them. The battle lasted about five hours. Confederate forces began to retreat due to losses, except General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson who continued to fight until reinforcements arrived. The reenergized Confederates pushed McDowell’s forces out of the area. Union casualties were high, almost three thousand; and the Confederates suffered two thousand casualties.

The War at Sea The Battle of the Ironclads also is known as the Battle of Hampton Roads and the Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack. This battle was fought off Sewell’s Point near Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was the first naval battle between two ironclad ships, the Union’s USS Monitor and the Confederacy’s CSS Virginia, which was rebuilt from the USS Merrimack. The battle took place over two days, and the Virginia destroyed many of the Union’s wooden ships. The next day, the two ironclads clashed at sea, and the Virginia was damaged. Neither side claimed victory in this battle, but the battle revealed the future of naval warfare. Ironclad, steam-driven ships were at a decisive advantage against wooden sailing vessels. Casualties: Union – 240 & 2 ships Confederacy - 25

Antietam September 17, 1862 Maryland Casualties: Union – 12,401 Confederacy - 10,134 The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was fought on September 16–18, 1862. It was a confrontation between Union and Confederate forces under Generals George McClellan and Robert E. Lee. Federal armies brutalized the Confederacy; the combined casualties were more than twenty-three thousand. The Union pushed Lee and his troops back to Antietam Creek, but the stubborn Confederate general counterattacked with all his troops. The two sides fought to a standstill, and both armies withdrew.

Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 Virginia Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 Casualties: Union – 12,600 Confederacy – 5,300 Fredericksburg was the site of a battle in December 1862. Union General Ambrose Burnside led a march on Richmond, but was delayed for more than two weeks because of late-arriving supplies. General Lee positioned his army, deploying snipers to pick off Federal troops. Confederate artillery decimated Union forces in their attempts to capture Marye’s Heights. Many Union soldiers were left in the open after crossing military pontoon bridges, and they became easy prey for Confederate troops. Burnside had no choice but to retreat with the remnants of his army.

Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 Casualties: Union – 23,000 + Pennsylvania Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 Casualties: Union – 23,000 + Confederacy – 28,000 + The Battle of Gettysburg began as the Battle of Vicksburg was ending. Confederate General Lee forced federal troops, under General George C. Meade’s command, to lose ground as the Confederate forces attempted to take the city. Lee planned several attacks, including attacks at Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den. The Union army fought back, repelling Confederate attacks and sending them back to Culp’s Hill. Lee was relentless and sent his army back into battle, but to no avail. He eventually began a retreat toward Williamsport.

Vicksburg May 2-July 9, 1863 Mississippi Casualties: Union – 9,000 + Confederacy – 9,000 + The lengthy Battle of Vicksburg began in Warren County on May 13, 1863. The North and the South considered Vicksburg an important stronghold. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched massive assaults on Vicksburg and terrorized the inhabitants. Confederates achieved a minimal victory at Milliken’s Bend against untrained black troops. Federal troops pushed Confederate forces back as the size of the Union forces continued to increase. Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 3, 1863.

Sherman’s March to the Sea November 15-December 20, 1864 Casualties: Union – 2,100 + Confederacy – 1,000 + Union General William T. Sherman already had captured Atlanta, but he wanted to leave sixty thousand troops there while he marched the rest of his army to the Atlantic Ocean through Savannah, Georgia. During this time, Confederate General John Hood had led troops in a raid on Tennessee, leaving Sherman’s soldiers to face fewer than five thousand Confederate soldiers. Sherman’s troops burned buildings and infrastructures along the way, destroying many towns and cities. Sherman’s troops defeated the depleted Confederate army and took Savannah on December 22, 1864. As the Union army moved through the South, they destroyed train tracks by heating the rails and bending them into a bow. This became known as “Sherman’s Neckties”

Surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865 Virginia Surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865 Casualties: Union – 1,312 Confederacy -8,200 – 28,231 surrendered General Lee surrendered his Confederate army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. Lee’s army had diminished, which contributed to Union General Grant’s many victories near the end of the war. In a sign of respect, Grant allowed Lee to keep his saber and horse. General Joseph Johnston was the last Confederate general who continued to fight. He still believed that the South could win the war. Johnston’s troops eventually fell to federal troops, and he surrendered to General Sherman on April 26, 1865.