Battles of the Civil War

Battle/Date Leaders Key Events/Outcome Significance

Fort Sumter U: Robert The siege of Fort Sumter was the official start of the war, This was the battle that began the Civil War,
Anderson and the outcome was that the Union surrendered to the and the Fort was captured by the
April 12th, Confederate Army. Confederate Army.
1861 C: Genn. Pierre
Beauregard
1st Bull U: Also known as First Manassas, Irvin McDowell and the This was the first major engagement of the
Run/Manassa Irvin McDowell Union Army suffered another defeat as Thomas J. Jackson war, and this battle made Abraham Lincoln
s C: earned his nickname as “Stonewall”. This caused the Union realize that the war was going to be longer
July 21st, P. G. T troops to fall back. than originally planned. This battle also
1861 Beauregard earned Thomas J. Jackson’s nickname as
“Stonewall”.
Shiloh U: This battle was a two day struggle for the Confederates This was a two-day battle that shocked both
Gen. Ulysses who attempted to regain Tennessee. This struggle resulted the North and the South with casualties that
Grant in the deaths of 13,000 Union men killed and 10,000 exceeded all previous wars combined. This
C: Confederate men killed. battle was also significant because it resulted
P. G. T in a Union victory and saw large scale death
Beauregard and suffering.
Antietam U: This event is considered to be the bloodiest day of U.S Is considered to be the bloodiest day in
George B. History, and this battle was a Union victory. General American history, Antietam not only marks
September McClellan Robert E. Lee and Confederate troops attempted to force history in blood, but this event is significant
17th, 1862 C: their way into Maryland, but were met by superior Union because shortly aftewards, Lincoln
Robert E. Lee forces. By nightfall, it was declared a Union Victory, Lee introduced the Emancipation Proclamation
and the Confederates Withdrew to Virginia, 26,000 men by winning the permit to do so. The
were dead, wounded, and missing, and Lincoln introduced Proclamation introduced a chance for
the Emancipation Proclamation shortly after. abolition to take place across America, even
in Southern Territory.
Gettysburg U: The Confederate Army suffered a crippling defeat against This event is significant because it was the
George Meade the Union and the Confederates were pushed back, and largest battle ever fought in North America,
July 1st-3rd, C: Lee’s so-called “Perfect Army” were outnumbered by the and is considered a turning point for the
1863 Robert E. Lee Union Soldiers. Lee saw it as a golden opportunity to North during the Civil War, and is
finally defeat the Union. When the battle ended, Lincoln considered the most important event and
went to the battlefield and declared it a Military cemetery. notable event in the timeline. Lee saw this
Lee and his army withdrew back to the South. battle as a “golden opportunity” to crush the
Union forces for good, but was unable.
Vicksburg U: Vicksburg, Mississippi was the last Confederate stronghold This event served as a representation to the
May 18th - Ulysses S. Grant left on the Mississippi. General Grant surrounded the city, end of the Vicksburg plan, which was a
July 4th, 1863 C: and after six weeks of fighting, Vicksburg surrendered to comprehensive guide on how to run the city
 Lt. Gen. John C. the Union forces. of Vicksburg, and General Grant surrounded
Pemberton the city on July 4th, to which the town
surrendered to the Union. This battle also
caused the Confederacy to split in two.
Atlanta U: The Battle of Atlanta resulted in a Union victory. After the The Battle of Atlanta is significant because it
July 22nd, Gen. William battle, Confederate troops set fire to the city before was a turning point that allowed President
1864 Tecumseh evacuating, in attempt to cover the evidence of resource Lincoln to be re-elected as president instead
supplies granted to William T. Sherman’s federal troops. of George B. McClellan, and allowed the war
C: William T. to continue due to Lincoln’s odds with the
Sherman Confederacy.
Bentonville U: Gen. William Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston attempted to stop This battle was significant because it the
March 19th- Tecumseh Union General Sherman from driving through the Union was able to recapture the Carolinas
21st, 1865 Sherman Carolinas, yet this was ineffective against the Union Army. and was one of North Carolina’s most
Resulted in a Union Victory. important battle during the Civil War.
C: Joseph E.
Johnston
Surrender at U: Ulysses S. Robert E. Lee and his Confederate soldiers were forced to Is considered to be the ending of the Civil
Appomattox Grant surrender to the Union Army, and was the last battle War; it was the last battle fought by
April 8th, fought by the Army of Northern Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and was
1865 C: Robert E. Lee forced to surrender to Union Army General
Ulysses S. Grant. Although it was not the
official ending to the war, it was the
beginning of the end of the Confederacy.