Could the south have won the civil war

The Civil War

  • The First Battle of Bull Run

    The First Battle of Bull Run

    This was the first official battle of the war. It began when 35,000 Union troops moved down to attack 20,000 Confederate troops along a river known as Bull Run. At first it looked as though the Union would win, but as the battle progressed, they weakened. The Confederates took strength from this and managed to drive them back to Washington D.C., winning the first battle of the war.
  • The Battle of Shiloh

    The Battle of Shiloh

    On the morning of April 6, 1862, 65,000 Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant attacked a Confederate position at Shiloh Church. They caught the Confederates completely off-guard. After a lot of fighting, the Confederate General Albert Sydney Johnston is shot in the knee and bleeds to death. After this, the Confederate forces are pushed back, and the Union wins the battle.
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    The Battle of Vicksburg

    This was less a battle and more of a siege. For 47 days, the Union bombards Vicksburg with artillery and steadily gains ground. After a failed attempt by the Union to advance on the city, General Ulysses S. Grant orders troops to place explosives under the Confederate lines. They detonate and cause massive explosions. Finally, on July 7, the Confederates surrender themselves and the city.
  • Second Battle of Bull Run

    Second Battle of Bull Run

    General Robert E. Lee sends his troops north to capture and destroy a Union position. Led by "Stonewall" Jackson, they succeed and drive the Union back. The next day, Jackson defends against a counterattack and ends up defeating the Union forces there.
  • The Battle of Antietam

    The Battle of Antietam

    At the south mountain near Sharpsburg, the Confederates met the Union soldiers head-on. The Confederates suffered heavy casualties in the early hours of the battle. They were about to retreat when they heard of "Stonewall" Jackson's win at Harper Ferry. So instead, they regrouped around Antietam Creek. The greatly outnumbered Confederates were already suffering from sickness, and after an hour of bloodshed, the Union won the battle.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg

    General Ambrose Burnside of the Union army orders 120,000 troops across the Rappahannock River where they launch a two-pronged attack on the Confederate Division in Fredericksburg. Regardless of this overwhelming amount of troops, General Robert E. Lee drives back both attacks, which plummets Union Morale.
  • The Battle of Stones River

    The Battle of Stones River

    In this bloody conflict, the Union pulled out a win, despite losing about 1,000 more troops than the Confederates. This battle was a major turning point in the war, as it gave the Union control of Tennessee, as well as boosting Union morale.
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    The Battle of Chancellorsville

    The Confederates, highly outnumbered, somehow pull out a victory after splitting their troops. They outflank the Union troops and win the battle, inflicting massive casualties.
  • The Battle of Gettysburg

    The Battle of Gettysburg

    On July 1st, Confederates head to Gettysburg to pick up supplies. They meet a Union division and the battle begins. Both Confederate and Union reinforcements are brought, but the Confederates end up pushing the Union soldiers back to Cemetary Hill. Here, the Union defends for two days, and after Pickett's charge, a daring last-resort by the Confederates, the Union wins the battle and thus ends the war in this area. However, the war still rages on in other areas.
  • The Battle of Chickamauga

    The Battle of Chickamauga

    At dawn, the Confederates attack and drive back the Union. The Union regroups and recieves reinforcements. They fall back to Chattanooga and counterattacks, winning the battle.
  • The Battle of Chattanooga

    The Battle of Chattanooga

    The Union hit the Confederates hard and at many angles. This drove them back and forced them to stop the siege of the vital railroad junction of Chattanooga. This was a major victory for the North.
  • The Battle of the Wilderness

    The Battle of the Wilderness

    This battle lasted around two days, where almost 30,000 people lost their lives. It was inconclusive, as both sides lost so many soldiers. However, General Ulysses S. Grant did not retreat, as he had promised President Lincoln he wouldn't.
  • The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse

    The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse

    After nearly 2 weeks of brutal and bloody fighting, the fight came to be inconclusive. Both sides had lost more than 17,000 men. The Union general Ulysses S. Grant had to fall back after repeated attempts to break Confederate lines.
  • The Battle of Cold Harbor

    The Battle of Cold Harbor

    The Confederates were ready when the Union came knocking. General Robert E. Lee managed to outmaneuver the Union forces and win the battle. This lasted over two weeks and the death toll was around 17,000.
  • The Battle of Atlanta

    The Battle of Atlanta

    As the title suggests, this battle took place in Atlanta and was a major Union victory, as it opened the sea to the Union, allowing them to ship more supplies and troops to aid in the war effort.

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