Battles and Events of the Civil War

1st Battle of Manassas

Jun 21, 1861

Leaders:
Confederacy - P. G. T. Beauregard, Stonewall Jackson, Joseph E. Johnston
Union - Winfield Scott, Irvin McDowell, Robert Patterson Casualties:
Confederacy - 1,982
Union - 2,708 Outcome:
Confederate victory
Union feared a Confederate advance Significance:
Marked the beginning of major battles in the Civil War

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Leaders:
Confederacy - Albert Sidney Johnston, P. G. T. Beauregard
Union - Ulysses S. Grant, Don Carlos Buell Casualties:
Confederacy - 10,699
Union - 13,047 Outcome:
Union victory
Heavy casualties for both sides
Grant criticized for poor leadership during battle Significance:
Significant victory for the Union in the south, marked their push south

Seven Days Battles

Jun 25, 1862

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee
Union - George B. McClellan Casualties:
Confederacy - between 20,050–20,100
Union - 15,849 Outcome:
Confederate victory
Confederate morale rose greatly while Union morale plummeted Significance:
Confederates regained control of the area near the Potomac, repelled the Union from invading for a while

2nd Battle of Manassas

Aug 29, 1862

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee
Union - John Pope Casualties:
Confederacy - 7,298
Union - 14,462 Outcome:
Confederate victory
Significant Union casualties favored the Confederates Significance:
Allowed Robert E. Lee to begin the Maryland Campaign

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee
Union - George B. McClellan Casualties:
Confederacy - 12,051
Union - 12,410 Outcome:
Inconclusive victor
Arguable strategic victory for the Union Significance:
Allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
Ended Lee's first attempt of invading the north

Siege of Vicksburg

Jun 4, 1863

Leaders:
Confederacy - John C. Pemberton
Union - Ulysses Grant Casualties
Confederacy - 32,697
Union - 4,835 Outcome:
Union victory
Fall of Vicksburg into Union control Significance:
Marked the completion of the Anaconda Plan
Allowed Union access to the Mississippi

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 3, 1863

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, Richard S. Ewell, A.P. Hill, J.E.B. Stuart
Union - George G. Meade, John F. Reynolds, Winfield S. Hancock, and more Casualties:
Confederacy - est. 23,000–28,000
Union - 23,049 Outcome:
Union victory
Heavy casualties on both sides (bloodiest battle of the war) Significance:
Pickett's Charge marks the turning point of the war into Union favor

Sherman's March to the Sea

Dec 21, 1864

Leaders:
Confederacy - William Hardee, Joseph Wheeler
Union: William T. Sherman Casualties:
Unknown, but many homes, farms, and other infrastructure destroyed Outcome:
Weakening of Confederate supply lines, destruction of Georgian infrastructure Significance:
Nail in the coffin for Confederacy, important in the reconstruction

Siege of Petersburg

Apr 2, 1865

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee, P.G.T. Beauregard
Union - Ulysses Grant, George Meade, Benjamin Butler Casualties:
Confederacy - 28,000
Union - 42,000 Outcome:
Union victory Significance:
Led into the Appomattox Campaign, which would end in the surrender of the Confederacy

Battle of Appomattox Courthouse

Apr 9, 1865

Leaders:
Confederacy - Robert E. Lee, Henry L. Benning, John Gordon
Union - Ulysses Grant, Thomas M. Harris, George G. Meade, Philip Sheridan, Edward O.C. Ord Casualties:
Confederacy - 195
Union - 164 Outcome:
Union victory, surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia Signifiance:
De facto end of the war