Summary of Major Civil War Battles Western & Eastern Campaigns

Fight for Missouri Battle of Wilson’s Creek – Aug. 1861 U: Nathaniel Lyon C: Sterling Price Lyons outnumbered w to 1 1200 casualties Southern half of Miss. Fell to Confeds Battle of Pea Ridge – March 1862 U: Major Gen. Sam Curtis C: Earl Van Dorn Union victory U suffered twice casualties as C Decided fate of Missouri as Union

Grants Early Victories Mill Springs, Jan. 1862 - Kentucky Battles at Ft. Henry and Donelson, Feb.6, 1862 Defensive forts erected by C along Tenn & Cumberland Rivers Engaged his former roomate General Simon Buckner “Unconditional Surrender” Grant

The Battle of Shiloh Southwestern Tenn Pittsburg Landing April 6-7, 1862 U: Grant, 42000 C: Albert Sidney Johnston, Beauregard 2 days of fighting, Union General Buell arrived with reinforcements (@30,000) Nathan Bedford Forest – cavalry charge at Shiloh Union victory @ 23000 casualties, a number greater than all Americans fought in wars combined Southwestern Tenn Pittsburg Landing

The Battle for New Orleans April 25, 1862: Union officer David Farragut led the successful assault on New Orleans Pushed North and captured Natchez, Mississippi By June, only 2 major ports on Miss. River now remain in Confederate hands Vicksburg, MS and Port Hudson, LA

Lincoln’s Generals John Pope Winfield Scott Joseph Hooker McClellan Again Irvin McDowell George Meade George McClellan Ambrose Burnside Henry W. Halleck Ulysses S. Grant

War in the East The Peninsular Campaign – McClellan’s attempt to capture Richmond, VA Efficient military leader, but overly cautious Hit Richmond from Southeast April 1862, lay siege to Yorktown May 1862 Battle of Seven Pines U: McClellan C: Joseph Johnston (Union Vic)

War in East The Seven Day’s Battle (June 25-July 1, 1862) McClellan vs. Lee (Jackson) James Jeb Stuart gatherer on info. McClellan is pushed back from Richmond Peninsular Campaign fails – McClellan is sacked and Halleck takes over U casualties: 16,000 C casualties: 20,000, but Confed. victory

War in the East Second Battle of Bull Run – Aug. 30, 1862 U: General Pope C: Lee, Jackson, James Longstreet Pope encounters Lee on way to Richmond Halleck unable to motivate McClellan to reinforce Pope in timely manner Pope pushed all the way back to Washington D.C U casualties: @13,380 C casualties: @8000 Pope is sacked as Field Commander, Halleck is also sacked. McClellan reinstated!

Battle of Antietam-Sept. 17, 1862 Sharpsburg, MD U: McClellan (Burnside, Hooker) @87,000 C: Lee (Longstreet, Jackson) @ 40,000 Lee’s 1st attempt to invade the North “Bloodiest single day of the War” Very important battle for foreign aid for Confederates Dead and wounded exceed 10,000 for both sides (@ 23-26K) A moment that alters history “the note” – Lee had divided his army to attack Harpers Ferry Lee retreats (loses about 25% of his army) but McClellan fails to pursue him

The Emancipation Proclamation Jan. 1, 1863 Free slaves in confederate states Encouraged AA to enlist in Union army (July 1862 law) Over 180,000 fought in Union army 54th Mass. Infanty

Battle of Fredericksburg, VA – Dec. 11-13, 1862 New General – Ambrose Burnside His strategy: march his 122,000 soldiers straight toward Richmond Despite numerical advantage, Union troops are routed by Lee with severe casualties (Confeds. Had higher ground) Great slaughter pen – Burnside ordered men across open plain 12,000 for Union vs. 5,000 for Confeds.

Battle of Chancellorsville April 30, 1863 Burnside transferred out west & replaced by General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker Union: 134,000 troops, doubled C Hooker’s Daring Plan: divide his large army into 3 parts in order to cut off supply lines and attack flanks Hooker overly hesitant as well Lee’s Perfect battle: divided his army and attacked Union forces from two sides (had @60,000 men) Confederate Victory Jackson killed by friendly fire

Dead at Chancellorsville