American Civil War: Major Military Battles and Campaigns

Outbreak of War

Southern states seceded from the United States of America – this was unconstitutional

Seceded over the issue of slavery

South wanted slavery while the North did not

War lasted four years: 1861 – 1865

South = Confederate Army

North = Union Army

Fort Sumter

Located in South Carolina

Location of the first shots of the Civil War

Initiated when President Lincoln resupplied the fort

34 hour battle before the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederate Army.

Battle of Shiloh

April 6 – April 7, 1862

Confederates launched surprise attack on Union soldiers in Southwest Tennessee

General Ulysses S. Grant

More than 23,000 casualties total

First Battle of Bull Run

First major land battle of the war

35,000 Union troops marched from D.C. to attack a Confederate army at the river of Bull Run

Confederate victory

Outcome surprised North – realized victory would not be as easy as they initially thought

Battle of Chattanooga

November 23 – November 25, 1863

Union forces routed Confederate forces in Tennessee at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge

Victories forced Confederates back into Georgia

Paved way for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman

Battle of Gettysburg

July 1 – July 3, 1863

Most important battle in the American Civil War

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee marched his forces to PA to face Union Gen. George G. Meade and his army

Several smaller “battles” involved

Little Round Top

July 2, 1863 – Day two of the Battle of Gettysburg

Robert E. Lee ordered an attack to the South. The men flanked from left but were held off by Union Col. Chamberlain’s charge down Little Round Top

Breakthrough here could have led to a South victory, instead Lee approved the disastrous Pickett’s Charge

Pickett’s Charge

July 3, 1863 – Third and final day of Battle of Gettysburg

Confederate forces launched one last attempt to break through Union lines

15,000 Confederate troops were sent to charge the center of the Union line

By the time they reached the line, the charge had been broken up into smaller units and the Confederate army was unable to penetrate the Union line.

Confederate forces forced to retreat to Virginia the next day

Results

Massive Union victory

Last time Robert E. Lee attempted to invade the North

War lasted two more years after

South never regained momentum they had before the Battle of Gettysburg

Considered the most important battle of the war

President Lincoln’s infamous Gettysburg Address