Important Battles of the Civil War

The Long Road From Bull Run to Appomattox..

Union vs. Confederates

Weapons of Mass Destruction• "People who are anxious

to bring on war don't know what they are bargaining for; they don't see all the horrors that must accompany such an event.“

– Thomas J. Jackson

Weapons of Mass Destruction• Most soldiers were issued smoothbore muskets

that were difficult to load and could be fired at an accurate range of only about 100 yards, only three times in one minute. Rifled muskets were much more accurate and deadly with a range of up to 500 yards.

Destruction from Artillery• In the Civil War, some Cannons were rifled for

better accuracy and more power.• Rifled cannons could accurately lob shells for

almost 2000 yards; that is almost one mile!. • Smoothbore cannons were not as accurate and

could be lobbed 500 yards.

Bull Run, Manassas, Virginia

• The first battle was an important Confederate victory. Manassas shows that the war was going to be very long and difficult for both sides.

Antietam: Sharpsburg, Maryland

• Bloody battle in Maryland resulted in a tie and Robert E. Lee’s army has to retreat back into Virginia. Lee attacked the north because he needed a victory on northern soil.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

• This important battle gave the Union Army control of trade and he Mississippi River, which cut the Confederacy in half and allowed General Grant to control trade and communication on the river.

Chancellorsville, Virginia

• Stonewall Jackson loses his life after achieving one of the greatest military maneuvers of the Civil War at Chancellorsville, in Virginia.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania• Gettysburg was an important Northern victory.

The confederate Army was cut down by almost 25%.

Petersburg Virginia…The Crater

• Over 15,000 troops filled and surrounded the crater that formed when the Union Army exploded the 8,000 pounds of gunpowder at the end of the tunnel. The crater that was left was 170 feet long, 60 to 80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep.

The explosion at Petersburg, VA could be seen from very far away.

Battle Maps