Battles of the Civil War

Battle of Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Leaders-
Union: Major Robert Anderson
Confederacy: General PGT Beauregard This Confederate win sparked the start of the Civil War There were no casualties, and the Union surrendered more out of convenience than out of defeat.

1st Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Leaders-
Union: General Irvin McDowell
Confederacy: General PGT Beauregard and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson This Confederate win changed how the war was viewed. The Union realized that this war would be longer than they thought, and the Rebels thought this war would be an easy win.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Leaders-
Union: General Ulysses S. Grant & William "Tecumseh" Sherman
Confederacy: General Beauregard By winning this the battle, the Union made notable progress by securing control of the Mississippi River.

Fall of New Orleans

Apr 25, 1862

Leaders-
Union: Captain David Farragut There is no Confederate leader for this Union win, because the North caught the Rebels by surprise. This confirmed Union control of the Mississippi, blocking off an important Southern port.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Leaders-
Union: General McClellan
Confederacy: General Lee Antietam was particularly important because the prodigal amount of bloodshed inspired the Emacipation Proclamation. The Union win of Antietam also kept the South from moving the war into the North.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 13, 1862

Leaders-
Union: General Ambrose Burnside
Confederacy: General Lee During this Confederate win, the North attempted to attack Richmod, the Southern capital, but were intercepted at Fredericksburg, where the Southern forces were entrenched and had an easy victory over the Union.

Battle of Chancellorsville

May 1, 1863

Leaders-
Union: General Joseph Hooker
Confederacy: General Lee & General Jackson This Confederate win was a two pronged ambush with Lee's forces attacking from the front and Jackson from the back at the same time.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Leaders-
Union: General Meade
Confederacy: General Lee & General George Pickett This Union win, called "The Day the South Died", signified the turning point of the war. The South could no longer hope for help from abroad. The South's Pickett lost three fourths of his men and Lee retreated. It was the bloodiest battle in the Civil War (different from Antietam, the bloodiest day, because Gettysburg lasted three days).

The Vicksburg Siege

Jul 4, 1863

Leaders-
Union: General Ulysses S. Grant
Confederacy : Everyone This Union win split the Confederacy in half, cutting Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas off from each other.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Feb 1, 1864

Leaders-
Union: General Sherman This was less of defeating the Confederates and more of completely annihilating them. Sherman burned, pillaged, and destroyed the South's land and supplies, freeing slaves as they went. Sherman wanted to break the spirit of the South. It's pretty safe to assume that he succeeded.

Wilderness Campaign

May 5, 1864

Leaders-
Union: General Grant
Confederacy: General Lee This Union win lasted six weeks. There were 50,000 Union deaths and Grant was called "a butcher".

Farragut at Mobile Bay

Aug 5, 1864

Leaders-
Union: David Farragut This Union win resulted in the taking of the last Southern port, separating it from any outside help or resources.

Fall of Richmond/Surrender at Appomattox

Apr 2, 1865

Leaders-
Union: General Grant The Southern capital Richmond was already destroyed by the time the Union, who won, arrived. Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president, did not want the Union to see the documents or have access to the weapons.
Lee surrendered to Grant, who was gracious, allowing the Confederates to keep their weapons, horses, and have a safe journey home. Grant even gave them food.