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Second Manassas
Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent half of his Northern Virginia army to attack the Federal supply base at Manassas with Stonewall Jackson. They seized supplies, burned the depot, and attacked John Pope's Union army. The fighting resulted in a draw. The next day, Pope attacked the Confederate soldiers. There were heavy casualties on both sides. Longstreet and the rest of Lee's army counterattacked. They defeated the Union's left flank and pushed them back to Bull Run. -
First Manassas (Bull Run)
This was the first major land battle. General Irvin McDowell led the Union army of 35,000 troops from Washington to Manassas, Virginia. They encountered the Confederate army of 20,000 troops at Bull Run, led by General Beauregard and General Joseph Johnston. Fighting began on July 21 on Matthews Hill and they drove the Confederates back to Henry Hill. Confederate General Thomas Jackson became known as "Stonewall Jackson". They broke through the Union Army and reached Washington. -
Shiloh
The Confederate army, led by General Johnston, attacked the Union troops, led by Ulysses S. Grant, by the Tennessee River. The Union troops established a battle line called the "Hornet's Nest". The Confederates surrounded them, capturing, killing, and wounding many. Johnston was fatally shot and was replaced by Beauregard. The 30,000 Confederate troops were outnumbered and resulted in a Union victory. They drove the Confederates back to Shiloh Church. There were 23,000 casualties. -
Antietam
This was the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. General Robert E. Lee led the Confederates against the Union soldiers under the command of George McClellan near Maryland's Antietam Creek, Lee's first invasion of the Northern states. Stonewall Jackson and General Longstreet led them. This battle resulted in a draw as the Confederates were forced to retreat back to Virginia. There were 23,000 casualties. This led to Abraham Lincoln's issue of the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Fredericksburg
The Battle at Fredericksburg, Virginia was fought between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army and Major General Ambrose Burnside's Union Army. More than 120,000 Union troops crossed the Rappahannock River and attacked 80,000 Confederate soldiers at Fredericksburg. Meade's Union division almost broke Jackson's line, but were driven back by a counterattack. Union Generals Cobb and Gregg were killed. Burnside retreated and this resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Chancellorsville
This battle resulted in a Confederate victory as General Lee split his troops into two groups to confront the Union General Joseph Hooker. The Confederate troops attacked Hooker's soldiers, forcing them to retreat across the Rappahannock River. There were 12,826 Confederate casualties, including Stonewall Jackson, who was mortally wounded during the battle. There were 17,278 Union casualties. -
Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg took place in Mississippi from May 18 to July 4, 1863, resulting in a Union victory. Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his 75,000 Union soldiers surrounded Vicksburg, trapping the 34,000 Confederate troops and their General John Pemberton. Vicksburg surrendered on July 4th. There were 4,800 casualties, 3,300 of which were Confederate and 30,000 captured. This battle boosted the morale of the North. -
Gettysburg
The Battle at Gettysburg occurred July 1 to July 3, 1863 and resulted in a Union victory. The Confederate army, under the command of General Robert E. Lee, marched into Pennsylvania. They encountered General George Meade's Union troops at Gettysburg and attacked. Lee ordered a "Pickett's Charge" of 15,000 troops on the Union center at Cemetery Ridge, but was not successful. Lee was forced to retreat. There were about 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured, or missing. -
Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was fought in Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 1864. The Union troops led by William Sherman attacked the Confederate forces led by John Hood. Their goal was to continue seizing the railroad and supply lines of Atlanta. During this battle, Union Major General James B. McPherson was killed. The Union forces surrounded and seized the city. This resulted in a Union victory. -
Appomattox Courthouse
The Battle of Appomattox courthouse was one of the last battles of the American Civil War. The Confederate Army was led by General Robert E. Lee and the Union was led by General Ulysses S. Grant. Lee abandoned Richmond and was retreating to North Carolina when they encountered the Union army at the Appomattox Court House. Lee was forced to surrender and it was a Union victory. The surrender documents were signed on April 9. This triggered other surrenders and the end of the war. -
Petersburg
On June 9, 1864 through March 25, 1865, Union General Ulysses S. Grant led a successful attack on the Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee. They fought using trench warfare, extending over 30 miles. The purpose of this attack was to cut off the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, which was crucial to the supply of the Confederate army. Lee was forced to retreat, abandoning Petersburg and Richmond. There were 8,000 Union casualties, and 3,200 Confederate casualties.
