Civil War Major BattlesAP US History

Unit 6: Civil War and Reconstruction

April 12, 1861 South Carolina Lincoln sends supplies to

the arsenal with US Navy. South Carolina sees this

as a threat and bombards fort for 34 hours.

South takes the fort. Lincoln responds by

calling for 75,000 troops. The Civil War begins….

Fort Sumter

July 21, 1861 Manassas, Va. Union: McDowell Confederacy:

Beauregard/Jackson The arrival of Confederate

reinforcements helps the South cause a Union retreat.

Southern victory sends a message to the North that this will not be a short and easy war.

Bull Run

March 9, 1862 Hampton Roads, Va. Union: “Monitor” Confederacy:

“Merimack” or “Virginia”.

Fights to a draw. This ended the threat

of the Confederacy breaking the Union blockade of southern ports.

Battle of the Ironclads

Spring, 1862/ June 26-July 2, 1862

James and York Rivers en route to Richmond.

Union: McClellan Confederacy: Jackson/Lee McClellan slow to move.

Overcautious without reinforcements (they were never received) He never invaded Richmond.

The Seven Days battle was Lee’s counter attack which pushed the Union back for a victory for the South.

Richmond was successfully defended.

Peninsula Campaign/Seven Days Battle

August 29-30, 1862 Manassas, Va. Union: John Pope Confederates: Lee Southern victory

provides Lee with confidence to move on Border State Maryland.

Lee and Confederates abandon original battle plan.

What were they hoping for?

Second Battle of Bull Run

September 17, 1862 Antietam Creek, Md. Union: McClellan Confederates: Lee Union finds Lee’s battle plans

and stop the Confederate’s advancement.

The wars turning point. The bloodiest single day battle

of the war. Union “victory” gives Lincoln

the needed momentum to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation.

This changes the character of the war to more of a moral crusade.

Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg

July 1-3, 1863 Gettysburg, Pa. Union: George Meade Confederates: Lee/Pickett 92,000 Union vs. 76,000

Confederate Union victory during “Pickett’s

Charge” This was the last chance for a

Southern victory. This was the northernmost

advancement for the Confederacy in all of the war.

Broke the back and will of the Confederates.

Lincoln delivers Gettysburg address.

Battle of Gettysburg

July 4, 1863 Vicksburg, Ms. Union: Grant Confederates: John

Pemberton Grant and Union lay

siege to the city of Vicksburg

The Union victory gives them control over the Mississippi River.

Siege of Vicksburg

September, 1864 Atlanta and Savanna,

Georgia Union: William Tecumseh

Sherman “Total War” Destruction of Georgia’s

economy Burning of cities, homes,

crops, cattle, and derailing of RR.

Weakened morale of Confederate soldiers

Sherman’s March to the Sea

May-June 1864 Northern Virginia Grant’s offensive

maneuvering against Lee to get closer to Richmond.

Both sides suffered heavy losses.

Although the Union lost more men, the Confederates couldn’t replenish and were surrounded at Richmond.

Leads to the siege and take over of Richmond.

Wilderness Campaign

April, 1865 Appomattox, Va. Union: Grant Confederates: Lee Lee surrenders to

Grant ending the Civil War.

“There is nothing left for me to do, but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.”

The taking of Richmond and Appomattox Courthouse

Images of War

Robert E. Lee Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson

Confederate Leaders

George Pickett Pierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard

Confederate Leaders

Ulysses S Grant George McClellan

Union Leaders

William Sherman George Meade

Union Leaders