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Battle of Fort Sumter
This was the first offical battle of the Civil War. P.G.T Beauregard opened fired on the fort. The Union was unable to hold the fort. Major Anderson surrendered the fort at 2:30 p.m April 13th -
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Major Civil War Battles
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First Battle of Bull Run
This was the first Major land battle in Virginia and of the Civil War. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington to meet the Confederate army. Fighting raged throughout the day. Until late afternoon Confederate reinforcements broke throught the Union's right flank. The Union army then retreated -
Battle of Shiloh
Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston sent 40,000 troops to strike a line of Union soldiers by the Tennessee River. Overwhelmed theYankees retreated from their camps and established postion along a sunken road known as "Horenet Nest". This position fended off countless waves of chargeing Rebels. The Confederates ordered a retreat due to the amount of casualties. This was the bloodiest battle to date -
Seven Days Battles
Over 7 days the Army of Nothern Virginia pounded blow after blow to Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, Savage Station, Glendale and Malvern Hill. Robert E. Lee ushered a new era of offensive combat that flabergasted the Union army which forced them to evacuate from the region -
Battle of Antietam
The Army of the Potomac under the command of George McClellan mounted a series of attacks aganist Robert E. Lee near Sharpsburg, Maryland. After 3 major assaults by the Union troops they were still not able to win . Reinforcements from both sides pushed each armies back. It was the single bloodiest day to date and it was a draw. But the Confederate retreat gave Lincoln what he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Even though greatly outnumbered Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson opened fire againist a sizeable Union force. Jackson and 30,000 Rebels attacked the Union flank. The attack worked before it ended with the mortal wound to Jackson. The next day the Rebels continued their attack and sent the Yankees running. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Robert E. Lee concentrated his forces around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennslyvania, upon the approach of George Meade's forces. On July 1st Lee sent the Union troops through Gettysburg to Cemetary Hill. The next day feirce fighting continued the Confederates gained ground but failed to dislodge Union troops. On July 3rd lee attacked Cemetary Hill with 12,000 troops but was counted with artillery and rifle fire known as Pickett's Charge. Lee retreated. Bloodiest battle of the war -
Battle of Chickamauga
Fighting began on Sep. 19th in Georgia. Braxton Bragg's men hammered Union lines but did not break it. The next day Bragg's continued his assault. Confederates were informed of a weaknesss in the Union's front line. The Confederates attacked it driving 1/3 of the Union army away from the battle. Later that day Union troops retreated to Chattanooga -
Battle of the Wilderness
Union troops attacked Confederates at Orange Turnpike. On May 7th the Confederates retreated and Union troops followed Confederates to Sportsylvania Court House -
Battle of Sportsylvania Court House
After Wilderness, Grant's advance on Richmond was stalled at Sportslyvania Court House on May 8th. This turned out to be a 2 week battle. On May 21st Grant disengaged and continued his march to Richmond
