Key Battles 1861-1864

Fort SumterApril 12, 1861

Leaders:North & South

North = Major AndersonSouth = General Beauregard

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Charleston Harbor, South CarolinaIsland fortBombardment of the fort

Casualties:North & South

No casualties

Final Outcome

Northern troops surrenderedSouth Won the Fort

Battle of Bull Run

First Battle of Bull RunJuly 21, 1861

Leaders:North & South

North = General McDowellSouth = Stonewall Jackson, General Beauregard

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Manassas, VirginiaUnion troops were poorly trained

Casualties:North & South

North = 2,700South = 2,000

Final Outcome

South won – showed war would be long and bloody.

The War at Sea

Hampton Roads-Monitor v. Merrimack

March/April, 1862

Leaders:North & South

None mentioned.

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Off the coast of Norfolk, VirginiaShips plated with iron.

Casualties:North & South

Neither ship was seriously damaged.

Final Outcome

No clear winner Changed Naval warfare forever

Battle of Shiloh

• April 6-7, 1862• One of the bloodiest battles of the war• Grant & Union forces were surprised by a

Confederate attack• Reinforcements arrived to help Grant –

Pushed back Confederates• Won greater control of Mississippi Valley

***What role did the Battle of Shiloh play in the Union’s strategy?

Battle of ShilohApril 6-7, 1862

Leaders:North & South

North = General Grant, General ShermanSouth = General Johnston & General Beauregard

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Shiloh Church, Tennessee Confederates launched surprise attackNear Mississippi R.

Casualties:North & South

North = over 13,000 deadSouth = over 10,000 dead

Final Outcome

Union wonOne of the bloodiest battles

Battle of Antietam

Battle of AntietamSept. 17, 1862

Leaders:North & South

North = General McClellanSouth = General Lee

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Sharpsburg, MarylandLee was hoping for a Confederate victory in the North.

Casualties:North & South

Over 23,000 (23,100)

Final Outcome

North claimed victory – Confederate advance was stopped.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle of Fredericksburg December 1862

Leaders:North & South

North = General BurnsideSouth = General Lee

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Richmond, VAUnion hoped to capture RichmondConfederates withdrew to a nearby hill – Union forces charged up the hill and were shot down 6 times.

Casualties:North & South

Union: 13,000Confederate: 5,300

Final Outcome

Union had to retreat, suffered another defeat. (Confederates won.)

Battle of Chancellorsville

Battle of Chancellorsville May 18, 1863

Leaders:North & South

North = General HookerSouth = General Lee & General Jackson

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Confederates attack Union forces in Virginia.

Casualties:North & South

Union: 18,400Confederate: 13,000Stonewall Jackson was shot by friendly fire.

Final Outcome

Union lost and had to retreat. (Confederate victory)

Battle of Vicksburg

• Ended July 4, 1863• 6 week siege of Vicksburg• Confederate forces were surrounded – supplied

ran out – forced to eat horses, dogs, and cats. • Confederates surrendered to General Grant• Union gained full control of the Mississippi

River

***How do you think this battle & Shiloh affected Grant’s standing in the Union army?

Battle of VicksburgEnded July 4, 1863

Leaders:North & South

North = General GrantSouth = General Pemberton

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Vicksburg, MississippiUnion surrounded city for 6 weeks

Casualties:North & South

Union – over 10,000Confederates – over 9,000

Final Outcome

Union won – Gained control of Mississippi River – Split South in 2.Grant put as General-in-chief of Union

How might Lee’s brilliant wins at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville have

contributed to his defeat at Gettysburg???

Discussion Question…

Battle of Gettysburg

• July 1-3, 1863• Confederates were led by General Lee north into

Pennsylvania• They hoped to defeat the Union Army in the North

and then be able to attack Washington D.C.• Union forces set up on the high ground outside

Gettysburg• 1st Day = Union Calvary held the high ground

until more troops could arrive (fish hook)

Battle of Gettysburg

• 2nd Day = Confederates attacked both ends of the Union line

• Union line held• 3rd Day = Confederates attacked the center of the

Union line (Pickett’s famous charge across 1 mile)• Great Union victory• Turning point of the war – From Union defeats to

Union victories• South never came close to winning the war after.

Battle of Gettysburg

• Bloodiest battle in American History = 53,000 combined losses

• Lincoln traveled to the battlefield afterward and delivered the Gettysburg Address (“Four score and seven years ago…”)

• Gettysburg Address reminded Americans that “All men are created equal…”

Battle of GettysburgJuly 1-3, 1863

Leaders:North & South

South = General Lee & General Pickett

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Gettysburg, PALee hoped to invade the North, mistakenly came upon Union troops.

Casualties:North & South

Union – 23,000Confederates – 28,000

Final Outcome

Union won. Turning point of the war. Gettysburg Address reminded Americans that “all men are created equal.”

End of the War

Battle of AtlantaJuly 22, 1864

Leaders:North & South

North = General ShermanSouth = General Hood

Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography

Atlanta, GeorgiaUnion surrounded city & wore down Confederates.

Casualties:North & South

Union – over 3,600Confederates – over 8,400

Final Outcome

Union won – showed that the end of the war was in sight.