Major Civil War Battles

By zacwhite

  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    This battle took place at Charleston Harbor in Charleston, West Virginia. The Confederates won this battle. This was the first battle of the Civil War.
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    Major Battles of the Civil War

  • First Battle of Bull Run

    This Battle took place in Prince William County, Virginia. This battle was a Confederate victory. This was the first major land battle of the Civil War.

  • Battle of Wilson's Creek

    This battle occured near Springfield, Missouri. This battle was a victory for the Confederates. This was the first major battle west of the Mississippi River and only lasted about 6 hours.

  • Battle of Fort Donelson

    This battle took place at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. This Union victory under Ulysses S. Grant made Grant very well known and got him promoted to major general.

  • Battle of Pea Ridge

    This battle happened at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. This Union Victory gave the Union control of northwest Arkansas and Missouri.

  • Battle of Shiloh

    This battle occured in Hardin County, Tennessee. This battle resulted in a Union victory. More troops were killed in this battle than in all the previous battles combined.

  • Seven Days Battle

    This battle took place in Henrico County, Virginia. This Confederate victory actuallly consisted of at least six battles that took place over a week.

  • Second Battle of Bull Run

    This battle occured at Prince William Sound, Virginia. The Confederates won this battle, which was a lot bloodier than the first battle at this site.

  • Battle of Antietam

    This battle happened at Sharpsburg, Maryland. The winner of this battle is inconclusive. This battle is the bloodiest one-day battle in American history.

  • Battle of Perryville

    Perryville, Kentucky was where this battle took place. This important Union victory gave the Union control of the important border state of Kentucky.

  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    This battle took place at Fredericksburg, Virginia. This was a very lopsided Confederate victory with the Union losing twice as many troops as the Confederates.

  • Battle of Stones River

    This battle was at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This Union victory gave the Union control of central Tennessee.

  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    This battle took place in Chancellorsville, Virginia. This battle is know as "Lee's pefect battle" because Confederate General Robert E. Lee skillfully divided his outnumbered army and routed the Union soldiers.

  • Battle of Champion Hill

    Hinds County, Mississisppi is where this battle occured. This important strategic Union victory led to the Union's siege of Vicksburg in the coming months.

  • Siege of Vicksburg

    Vicksburg is located in Mississippi. The Union finally took control of Vicksburg and the Mississippi RIver after 47 days of siege ending on July 4, 1863.

  • Battle of Gettysburg

    This battled happened at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This Union victory was costly with a combined total of about 8,000 soldiers dying in battle. This was the bloodist battle in the Civil War and is also where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address.

  • Battle of Chickamauga

    This battle resulted in a Confederate victory. The battle took place in Walker County, Georgia and was the second bloodiest battle of the CIvil War with about 3,900 soldiers killed.

  • Battle of Chattanooga

    This battle took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This Union victory gave the Union control of Confederate supply lines and all of Tennessee.

  • Battle of Cold Harbor

    The Battle of Cold Harbor occured in Cold Harbor, Virginia. The Confederates won this battle even though they had about half the number of soldiers that the Union had.

  • Second Battle of Petersburg

    The Confederates won this battle that took place in Petersburg, Virginia. Union General Ulysses S. Grant tried to caputure Petersburg before Robert E. Lee's army could reinforce the city. The Union was not successful in this battle, but they did begin the siege of Petersburg.

  • Battle of Atlanta

    This battle happened at Atlanta, Georgia. The battle resulted in a Union victory and launched Union General William Sherman's "March to the Sea" campaign.

  • Battle of Cedar Creek

    This battle occured near Strasburg, Virginia. This Union victory resulted in the Confederacy's last attempt to invade the Union to try to get to Washington D.C.

  • Battle of Fort McAllister

    This Union victory happened near Savannah, Georgia. This battle lasted only for about 20 minutes. The Union gained control of Fort McAllister, which allowed the Union to be able to communicate with its navy.

  • Battle of Nashville

    This battle occured in Nashville, Tennessee and resulted in a Union victory. The Union's decisive victory gave them conrol of Nashville and Tennessee for the remainder of rhe Civil War.

  • Battle of Five Forks

    This battle took place near Petersburg, Virginia. This Union victory caused the Confederates to retreat to Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

  • Battle of Appomattox Court House

    This battle took place at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, and resulted in a Union victory. Confederate General Robert E. Lee attempted to make one last stand against the Union, but was surrounded and surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant and the Union. Lee's and the Confederates' surrender effectively ended the Civil War.