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Siege of Yorktown
This battle was the final land battle of the American Revolutionary War. British General Lord Cornwallis believed the Americans could not defeat a British army. The American troops were backed up by French troops, and proved Cornwallis wrong after defeating them in the Battle of Yorktown. George Washington and French Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse joined forces. They had larger guns, and British soon realized they could not hold up. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter began April 12th, and lasted a single day. Conditions of the fort worsened, lacking food, men, and supplies. President Abraham Lincoln sent supply ships, and Confederates soon attacked. The ships returned fire, but were soon outgunned. Major Anderson, who formally refused to evacuate 34 hours earlier, surrendered and evacuated the ships. -
First Battle of Bull Run/ First Battle of Manassas
On July 21st 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run/ Manassas began. Taking place in Virginia, the battle began with 35,000 Union troops marching to attack the Confederate troops of only 20,000. This took place along the river known as Bull Run. The Union force suffered a loss of 3,000, and the Confederates only 1,750, giving Confederates a large confidence boost. The Confederates gained victory as well as overconfidence for the next battle. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh took place in Tennessee, beginning on April 6th, ending on the 7th. This battle was the bloodiest up to that time. Led by Don Carlos Buell, although the Union army had many downfalls during this battle, they turned themselves around and achieved another victory, forcing Confederates to retreat from that area. -
Capture of New Orleans
The capture of the largest Confederate city was a major turning point for the Union. The Union's strategy worked with the 'Anaconda Plan', and forced Confederates to surrender, leaving New Orleans with no protection. The loss of a major city became a Union highway of 400 miles. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
Unlike the First Battle of Bull Run, this battle had larger numbers. This battle took place in Virginia, and was a major Confederate victory. Lincoln replaced the previous Union general, McClellan. The Union was determined to claim a victory, and was in search for a strong military leader. -
Battle of Antietam
At the start of this battle, Lee led his Confederate troops looking for land for harvest, as well as fighting for their rights to slavery. The Union suffered 12,400 casualties and Confederate 10,300. This wasn't a problem for the Union because they outnumbered the Confederate army anyways. The Union gained victory and General Lee withdrew to Virginia. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg involved nearly 200,000 total soldiers, making this the most soldiers to fight in any Civil War battle. This battle was led by Robert E. Lee for the Confederate army, and the Union's new commander Ambrose Burnside. Burnside split up the troops, causing the Union to have a disadvantage when the leader failed to send 50,000 troops forward when given the opportunity. This led to a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
With a combined 30,000 casualties, the Battle of Chancellorsville was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. The Union army outnumbered the Confederate army, yet suffered another defeat. General Hooker tried to attack and surround Lee's army, but the Confederated fought back, surrounding them on three sides. This was a victory for the Confederates. -
Siege of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was led by John C. Pemberton for the Confederates, and Union was led by Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederate army surrendered on July 4th, 1863, due to the lack of men needed compared to the Union's size (over 35,000 troops with more on the way). This was the turning point in the war, because it cut off Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas from the rest of the Confederacy. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lee invaded the North hoping to bring an end to the war. This battle was Lee's greatest defeat because it turned the tide of war in favor of the Union. This battle caused strong weakening of the Confederates' morale. This battle had the most casualties in the American Civil War with nearly 46,300 dead soldiers. -
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta took place in Atlanta, Georgia. William T. Sherman and James B. McPherson led the Union army while John Bell Hood and William J. Hardee led the Confederate army. Hood made the decision to lash out and attack, which led to nearly 2,500 casualties. His army was then small, and he decided to withdraw, giving the Union victory. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea
On November 15, 1864, General Sherman, leader of the Union army, began his "March to the Sea". He believed that only if the Confederacy's economic, strategic, and psychological capacity were destroyed would they win and end the war. During his march, he led about 62,000 soldiers through Georgia, destroying railroads, buildings, and crops. The Union achieved another victory. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
On the last battle of the Civil War, Lee led an attack assuming the Union force only consisted of cavalry. The cavalry was backed up by two corps, and once Lee discovered this, he had no choice to surrender. The Union had 150,000 soldiers compared to the Confederacy's 28,000. Lee's surrender made it official that the Union won the American Civil War.