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Period: to
Civil war
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First battle of Bull Run
It was the first major land battle of the civil war. The Union and Confederacy fought near Manassas Junction, Virgina. It began when Union forces marched from Washington D.C. to strike a rebel force along a small river called Bull Run. After being on the defensive for most of the day, the rebels were able to rally and break the Union’s right flank, sending the army into a chaotic retreat towards Washington. The confederate victory gave the south a boost of confidence. -
Battle of Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a key gateway to the confederacy on the Cumberland river. Brigadier general Ulysses Grant was in charge of the Unionforces and had Brigadier General John McClernand start the battle when he tried unsuccessfully to capture a rebel battery on the forts outer walls on February 13. Over the next 3 days, Grant began to tighten the noose by bringing his flotilla closer to the fort and firing artillery. On the 15 the rebels tried to break out but failed and they surrendered on the 16. -
Battle of Shiloh
the battle began when the southlaunched a surprise attack on Grant’s forces in Tennessee. After their attack’s initial success, the confederates were unable to hold their positions and they were forced to retreat. Many troops on both sides were inexperienced and had not seen a battle yet. The next day Grant launched a counterattack and managed to defeat the confederates. Both sides suffered heavy losses and the confederacy lost a general. -
Antietam
On September 9 Lee issued an order detailing his Maryland campaign. A Union solider found a copy of the orders which gave the north the south’s entire battle plans. The Union’s forces outnumbered the south’s 2 to 1. Confederates fought off the north viciously attack after attack to prevent themselves from becoming overrun. In just 8 hours there was over 15,000 casualties. The next day, Lee retreated and McClellan did not pursue despite having the advantage. The battle was regarded as a stalemate -
Chancellorsville
The Union general Joseph Hooker wanted to capture the south’s capital, Richmond Virginia. Hooker outnumbered the south 2 to 1 and launched a false attack and took a 3rd of his army across a river to flank the rebel forces. Lee also split his forces to meet Hooker head on. The 2 forces clashed in an open field and despite having more men, Hooker retreated and took up a defensive position which allowed Lee to break the union line. Despite this being a win for the south, stonewall jackson died. -
Siege of Vicksburg begins
Vicksburg was a strategic location on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The Vicksburg campaign was one of the Unions longest and most successful in the civil war. General Ulysses S. Grant marched his troops from a previous victory near Jackson and began digging trenches and laying siege to Vicksburg. The confederacy made several attempts to break the siege but none of them were successful. After 47 days the confederates surrendered on July 4 and Grant’s army took control of the city -
Battle of Gettysburg
Robert E. Lee marched his army into Pennsylvania and clashed with the Union’s army of the Potomac and met at the crossroads town of Gettysburg. On the second day there was even heavier fighting as the confederates attacked the Union from both sides. On the third day, Lee ordered an attack on the Union’s center at Cemetery Ridge. The assault, later known as “Pickett’s Charge” managed to break through the Union’s lines but eventually failed with thousands of confederates dying. -
Battle of the wilderness
Rebel troops led by Richard Ewell in Virginia clashed with the Union near the orange turnpike. The fighting was fierce and chaotic as the trees and undergrowth made it hard to move in an ordered fashion. It also made it so cavelry and artillery were useless. After the fighting ended on the 1st day there was no clear winner. The next day there were various attacks and on the 3rd day they were in a draw. Grant’s refusal to retreat allowed the union to hold its ground and the battle had no winner. -
Battle of cold harbor
Union forces under Grant clashed with Lee’s army in northern Virginia. On the first day of fighting neither side came out on top. The next day the advance units from both sides arrived at a strategic crossroads. After a couple days Grant prepared for a major assault on the rebels. Due to a group of Union troops not showing up they postponed the attack which gave the south time to entrench. When Grant launched the attack the Union suffered heavy loses and were defeated. -
Battle of Appomattox court house
This battle led to the surrender of Robert E. Lee and his army. In the previous days Lee was retreating from Richmond, Virginia and was trying to rally his remaining forces. Lee’s troops were deserting his army and they were running out of supplies. On the 9th confederate troops mounted a last ditch offensive that was initially successful but soon after realized that they were hopelessly outnumbered. That morning Lee surrendered to Grant which unofficially ended the civil war.