Civil War Battles Timeline By: Cameron Hardy

Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Confederate Victory Easy
Charleston Harbor South Carolina On April 12, 1861 the CSA shelled the union controlled Fort Sumter and took control gaining the fort and supplies needed to fight the war. As a result 700,000 troops joined the Union army to crush the rebellion.

The Civil War

Period: Apr 12, 1861 to Apr 9, 1865

Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Confederate Victory Easy
Fairfax County and Prince William County Virgina This battle inspired the Confederacy to fight on. They also were able to defend the Confederate capital at Ricmond

Fort Donelson

Feb 16, 1862

Union Victory Difficult
Stewart County Tennessee This battle was a major victory for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and a catastrophe for the South. It ensured that Kentucky would stay in the Union and opened up Tennessee for a Northern advance along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

USS Monitor vs CSS Virgina

Mar 21, 1862

No Victor
Off the Coast of Virginia In an attempt to regain its ports the confederate navy sent their stolen ironclad the CSS Virginia ( formerly the USS Merrimack) to attack Union ships successfully 5 of them. In retaliation the Union sent the USS Monitor to combat the naval threat. Neither ship won however this battle marked the end of wooden war vessels. Both ships were destroyed in later naval battles

Shenandoah

Mar 23, 1862

Confederate Victory Easy
Shenandoah Valley Virginia Confederate general Thomas ( Stonewall) Jackson led a series of successful campaigns through Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and used the valley to get troops closer to Washington DC. These campaigns led to the capture of 2,000 Union prisioners and 10,000 rifles for the Caonfederate cause.

Shilou

Apr 6, 1862

Union Victory Difficult
Hardin County Tennessee On the morning of April 6, 1862, 40,000 Confederate soldiers under the command of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston poured out of the nearby woods and struck a line of Union soldiers occupying ground near Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. The Union was able to push back the Confederate troops and Confederacy lost control of the Missisipi Valley.

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Union Win Difficult
Washington County Maryland The union was able to force a Confederate retreat. This victory gave Lincoln the perfect opportunity to annouce his Emancipation Proclamation.

Vicksburg

Jul 1, 1863

Union Victory Easy
Warren County Mississipi In May and July of 1863 the union army seiged the city of Vicksburg until they surrenderd on July 4th. This victory effectively split the Confederacy in half

Gettysburg

Jul 2, 1863

Union Victory Difficult
Adams County Pennsylvania This battle is considered to be the turning point of the war. It resulted in 23,000 union deaths and 28,000 Confederate deaths.