Civil War BattlesAs you progress through the slides, read the clues, then see if you can name the battle that is described. Click to the next slide to check your

answer.

1861 It’s Going to Be a Long

War

• The Civil War began on April 12 when Confederate artillery fired on this federal facility in Charleston, SC. • The “battle” was not really a military contest (there was no resistance

from the federal troops inside the fort), but this act of deliberate rebellion turned secession from a political question into a military conflict.

FORT SUMTER

• After Ft. Sumter, both sides enjoyed robust enlistments. In the North, politicians predicted a short fight: the southern rebellion would soon be crushed by the US Army. • In July, in this first “real” battle of the war, Confederate forces pushed

Union forces back. • The Union retreat was shocking and it was clear that the South would

not be easily defeated.

First Bull Run First Manassas)

1862 A Tough Year for the Union

• Though the Union won this battle in Tennessee in April and this battle in Maryland in September, they sustained massive casualties to do so.• After Antietam Lee retreated southward. • Seeing the victory as a “sign from God,” President Lincoln decided to

issue the Emancipation Proclamation – freeing the slaves in the “states in rebellion.”

Shiloh and Antietam

1863 The Tide Turns

• By 1863, the odds of southern independence were dropping fast. Attrition began to takes its toll. • Two battles, one in the east and one in the west were won by the

Union on the same day – ironically on July 4! • This battle, fought in Pennsylvania, drove Lee’s army back into Virginia

from which it would fight only defensively for the remainder of the war.

Gettysburg

• This battle, fought in Mississippi, ended a lengthy siege, giving the Union control of much of the Mississippi River. This cut off states west of the river (Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas) from the rest of the Confederacy.

Vicksburg

1864 The End Is Near

• During this event late in 1864, Union forces marched across Georgia, leaving destruction in their wake. • The purpose of the campaign was to destroy the South’s ability to

continue the fight…which it did.• The South never recovered from this devastating invasion.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

1865 The Cause is Lost

• Confederate forces were decimated. Attrition had taken its toll.• Understanding further resistance to be futile, Confederate General

Robert E. Lee formally surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at this place.

Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia

Photo Credit: "Battle of Antietam by Thulstrup" by Thure de Thulstrup - website of the Old Print Shop, New York City. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Antietam_by_Thulstrup.jpg#/media/File:Battle_of_Antietam_by_Thulstrup.jpg