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Conflicts during 1861-1865
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Battle of Fort Sumter - 1861, April 11th
This was a battle led by commander Robert Anderson, in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. On April 11th orders were sent to Anderson to not engage with the confederates unless it is forced upon them and that he would resupply his troops with food, but no weaponry. The Union was to remain within Fort Sumter until the resupply came in and for the confederates, the goal was to evacuate any troops within the fort. The battle ended April 15th with a victory for the confederates and 1-2 casualties. -
The first Battle of Bull Run - 1861, July 21st
This was a battle ordered by President Lincoln himself. Taking place in Northern Virgina. The battle started due to the ongoing meetings the confederates held in Richmond. When the battle began there was an onslaught of reinforcements sent towards the Union, allowing them to push the Union troops towards Henry Hill. An order sent by General P.G.T Beauregard, was an attempt to gain more power for the confederacy. The Union troops would surrender at Henry Hill with 4,750 casualties all together. -
Battle of Pea Ridge - 1862, March 7th
This battle took place in Arkansas, near the Elk horn Tavern. The Union, led by Samual R. Curtis held 10,000 troops and the confederates led by Earl Van Dorn, held 16,000 troops. The Confederates planned an ambush on the Union troops within Pea Ridge, gaining most of the control. The Union would counter this by launching an attack towards the Elk horn Tavern where the confederate troops were located that night. The Union forced the Confederates to retreat, winning control over Arkansas. -
Battle of Antietam - 1862, September 17th
The Antietam battle took place in Sharps burg, Maryland, some of the union troops were led by General George McClellan. The purpose of the fight was to put a stop to Confederate Robert E. Lee’s attempts of pushing North. On the battle field Joseph Hooker and General Ambrose Burnside went head to head, resulting in around 7,800 casualties, but the fight was still successful. The Union gained the win after putting the confederate troops past Sharps burg and forcing Lee to retreat back to Virginia. -
Battle of Vicksburg - 1863, May 18th - July 4th
This battle took place near The Mississippi River. At the time there was only one more stronghold within the Mississippi for the Union to capture, then they would finally seize the ports of The Mississippi. The confederates began suffering from starvation and exhaustion because of Grants tactics, forcing confederate troops to surrender on July 4th. By General Ulysses S. Grant securing this win, The Union was able to separate Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas from the confederacy. -
Battle of Gettysburg - 1863, July 1-3
This battle was led by Generals, George Meade, who led the Union and Robert E. Lee who led the Confederates. This was Lee’s second attempt to invade the north to finally destroy the Union. There was heavy fighting throughout that lasted three days, having a final assault of 14,000 confederates being unleashed on the Union. Lee was sure it was the final blow but they eventually lost their advantage and retreated to Virginia once again. This battle resulted in the largest casualties, 51,000 total. -
Battle of The Wilderness - 1864, May 5th - 7th
This was a battle led by the Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General’s Robert E. Lee and A.P Hill. General Grant attempted to sneak towards Confederate troops but instead was pursued in the forest, by these confederate troops. The forest was an unfamiliar territory for the Union, which gave the confederacy a great advantage. This would give the confederacy another win but it would still cause large casualties to the confederacy. Which in future battles would benefit the Union. -
Battle of Spotsylvania - 1864, May 8th - 19th
The goal for The Battle of Spotsylvania was to cut Lee’s railroad access from Richmond. Lauren Hill was what they needed, if Ulysses S. Grants troops were to capture that piece of land they would have control over their nearest route to Richmond, which is known as the capital of The Confederacy. This was a intense amount of loss from both sides but eventually the Union was able to seize the plot of Spotsylvania. This was a great win for the Union that would support the final win for the Union. -
Battle of Kennesaw Mt. - 1864, June 27th
The Kennesaw took place in Kennesaw, Georgia, taking place during General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. This was the battle they needed to seize the city of Atlanta. The Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson and his troops were positioned at the mountain to be ready to confront the Union troops. The fight reached intense disorder, till The Union troops were pushed further down the mountain, marking a loss for the Union. Sherman would not be able to seize Atlanta July of 1864. -
Fall of Atlanta - 1864, July 20th - September 2nd
Throughout Sherman’s March to the sea he would finally reach Atlanta, reeking havoc on railroads that disconnected the South from what the Union had already conquered. After being informed of this John B. Hood and his troops would abandon Atlanta, which would give the Union the easy go to Finally seize the city of Atlanta and gain a great victory. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House - 1865, April 9th
This battle took place in Virginia, after Grant would capture the Petersburg railroad, with this win over Petersburg he continued towards Lee once again. Grant more aggressive then ever cut all Lee’s ways of escaping, he would eventually force Lee to finally abandon Richmond. The battle of Appomattox Court House was the official end of the Civil War and would make room for reconstruction. The era of the Civil War caused the lives of 260,000 Confederacy men and 360,000 Union/ Northern men.