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Shiloh
On April 6, 1861 the battle of Shiloh began. The Confederate retrenchment was a surprise, although a pleasant one, to the Union forces, and it took Grant, with about 40,000 men, some time to mount a southern offensive, along the Tennessee River, toward Pittsburg Landing.By the next morning, the combined Federal forces numbered about 40,000, outnumbering Beauregard’s army of less than 30,000.
Casualties:Union(13,047)COnf.(10,699)US Victory -
Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861 Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 pm, April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely while firing a salute during the evacuation on April 14.
Casualties:none -
First Battle of Bull Run
On July 16, 1861, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill.July 22 the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington.
Casualties:Union(2,950) Conf.(1,750)Conf. Vic -
Antietam
It all started on September 16, 1862, Maj. George B. McClellan confronted Lees Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. At dawn September 17, Hooker’s corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank that began the single bloodiest day in American military history. On Sept. 18th Lee ordered the battered Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley. -
Fredericksburg
Started on December 11, 1862. On November 14, Burnside, now in command of the Army of the Potomac, sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg.On December 11, Union engineers laid five pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock under fire. On the 12th, the Federal army crossed over, and on December 13, Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye’s Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. Casualties:Union(13,353), Conf.( 4,576)CS Vic -
Hampton Roads
On March 8, 1862, from her berth at Norfolk, the Confederate ironclad Virginia steamed into Hampton Roads where she sank Cumberland and ran Congress aground. On March 9, the Union ironclad Monitor having fortuitously arrived to do battle, initiated the first engagement of ironclads in history. The two ships fought each other to a standstill, but Virginia retired.
Caualties: Union (409) Conf. (24) tie -
Chancellorsville
Started on April 30, 1863. Passing the Rapidan via Germanna and Ely’s Fords, the Federals concentrated near Chancellorsville on April 30 and May 1. On the morning of May 2, Lt. Gen. T.J. Jackson directed his corps on a march against the Federal left flank, which was reported to be “hanging in the air.”
Casualties: Union (14,000) Conf. (10,000) CS Victory -
Vicksburg
In May and June of 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s armies converged on Vicksburg, investing the city and entrapping a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg surrendered after prolonged siege operations. This was the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton’s army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Casualties: Union (10,142) Conf. (9,091) US Victory -
Gettysburg
Started on July 1, 1863. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den.
Casualties: Union(23,000) Conf.(28,000) US Victory -
Chickamauga
Started on Sept. 18, 1863. In early September, Rosecrans consolidated his forces scattered in Tennessee and Georgia and forced Bragg’s army out of Chattanooga, heading south. The Union troops followed it and brushed with it at Davis’ Cross Roads.Fighting began in earnest on the morning of the 19th, and Bragg’s men hammered but did not break the Union line. The next day, Bragg continued his assault on the Union line on the left. Casualties: Union(16,170) Conf.(18,454) Conf. Victory -
The Wilderness
Started on May 5, 1864. On the morning of May 5, 1864, the Union V Corps attacked Ewell’s Corps on the Orange Turnpike, while A.P. Hill’s corps during the afternoon encountered Getty’s Division (VI Corps) and Hancock’s II Corps on the Plank Road.At dawn on May 6, Hancock attacked along the Plank Road, driving Hill’s Corps back in confusion. On May 7, the Federals advanced by the left flank toward the crossroads of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Casualties: Union(18,400) Conf.(11,400) tie -
Spotsylvania
Started onMay 8,1864. After the Wilderness, Grant’s and Meade’s advance on Richmond by the left flank was stalled at Spotsylvania Court House on May 8. The Union attack against the Bloody Angle at dawn, May 12-13, captured nearly a division of Lee’s army and came near to cutting the Confederate army in half.On May 19, a Confederate attempt to turn the Union right flank at Harris Farm was beaten back with severe casualties. Casualties: Union(18,000) Conf.(12,000) tie -
Petersburg
Started on June 15, 1864. Butler’s leading elements (XVIII Corps and Kautz’s cavalry) crossed the Appomattox River at Broadway Landing and attacked the Petersburg defenses on June 15.On June 16, the II Corps captured another section of the Confederate line; on the 17th, the IX Corps gained more ground. The II, XI, and V Corps from right to left attacked on June 18 but was repulsed with heavy casualties.Casualties: Union(8,150) Conf.(3,236) COnf. Victory -
Sherman's March
On December 9th the Federal army reached the neighborhood of Savannah. The city was defended by General Hardee with 10,000 men, and was well protected by forts and by the rice swamps which had been flooded. Though cannonading was kept up for a number of days between attackers and defenders, the city was not hurt. After cooperation had been established between Sherman and the Federal gunboats. -
Lincolns Assassination
Good Friday, April 14th 1865 at 10pm President Abraham Lincoln was attending “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s theatre, with his wife and two guests, but no bodyguard. Lincoln was shot in the back of the head at point blank range by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln died the next day, after never waking from the coma.
