The CWSAC (Civil War Sites Advisory Commission) rated the military significance of the battles into four classes, as follows:

Class A – Decisive A general engagement involving field armies in which a commander achieved a vital strategic objective. Such a result might include an indisputable victory on the field or be limited to the success or termination of a campaign offensive. Decisive battles had a direct, observable impact on the direction, duration, conduct, or outcome of the war.

Class B – Major An engagement of magnitude involving field armies or divisions of the armies in which a commander achieved an important strategic objective within the context of an ongoing campaign offensive. Major battles had a direct, observable impact on the direction, duration, conduct, or outcome of the campaign.

Class C – Formative An engagement involving divisions or detachments of the field armies in which a commander accomplished a limited campaign objective of reconnaissance, disruption, defense, or occupation. Formative battles had an observable influence on the direction, duration, or conduct of the campaign

Class D – Limited An engagement, typically involving detachments of the field armies, in which a commander achieved a limited tactical objective of reconnaissance, defense, or occupation. Limited battles maintained contact between the combatants without observable influence on the direction of the campaign.

1. Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) July 1-3, 1863 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 71,699 Casualties: 23,231 Union Commander: George Meade Forces: 93,921 Casualties: 23,055 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 46,286 VICTOR: Union Designation: A

2. Seven Days Battle (Battle of Oak Grove – Virginia) June 25-July 1, 1862 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 92,000 Casualties: 23,231 Union Commander: George McClellan Forces: 93,921 Casualties: 20,204 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 43,435 VICTOR: Inconclusive/Confederate Designation: D

3. Battle of Chickamauga (Georgia) September 19-20, 1863 Confederate Commander: Braxton Bragg Forces: 65,000 Casualties: 18,454 Union Commander: William Rosecrans Forces: 60,000 Casualties: 16,170 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 34,624 VICTOR: Confederate Designation: A

Battle of Spotsylvania (Virginia) May 8-21, 1864 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 52,000 Casualties: 13,421 Union Commander: Ulysses S. Grant Forces: 100,000 Casualties: 18,399 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 31,820 VICTOR: Inconclusive Designation: A

5. Battle of Chancellorsville (Virginia) May 1-4, 1863 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 60,892 Casualties: 13,303 Union Commander: Joseph Hooker Forces: 133,868 Casualties: 17,197 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 27,500 VICTOR: Confederates Designation: A

6. Battle of the Wilderness (Virginia) May 5-7, 1864 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 61,025 Casualties: 11,125 Union Commander: Ulysses S. Grant Forces: 101,025 Casualties: 17,666 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 28,791 VICTOR: Inconclusive Designation: A

7. Battle of Stones River (Tennessee) December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863 Confederate Commander: Braxton Bragg Forces: 35,000 Casualties: 11,739 Union Commander: William Rosecrans Forces: 41,400 Casualties: 12,906 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 24,645 VICTOR: Union Designation: A

8. Battle of Shiloh (Tennessee) April 6-7, 1862 Confederate Commander: Albert Sidney Johnston; P.G.T. Beauregard Forces: 44,699 Casualties: 10,699 Union Commander: Ulysses S. Grant Forces: 66,812 Casualties: 13,047 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 23,746 VICTOR: Union Designation: A

Battle of Antietam (Maryland) September 17, 1862 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 38,000 Casualties: 10,316 Union Commander: George B. McClellan Forces: 75,500 Casualties: 12,401 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 22,717 VICTOR: Inconclusive/Union Designation: A

10. Second Battle of Bull Run (Virginia) August 29-30, 1862 Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee Forces: 50,000 Casualties: 8,300 Union Commander: John Pope Forces: 62,000 Casualties: 10,000 TOTAL CASUALTIES: 18,300 VICTOR: Confederate Designation: A

A little perspective between the Civil War and the War in Afghanistan:

A Few Stats on the Afghanistan War By November 2012, we will have been in the war 12+ years. We are nearing the 2,000 death. At present, are averaging 1 death a day. More than 80,000 troops are still in Afghanistan.