Important Battles of the Civil War The Long Road From Bull Run to Appomattox..

Union vs. Confederates

The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13, After 34 hours of fighting, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22 month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble.

Significance: First battle of Civil War. Raised false hopes for a quick war. Lincoln then asked for 100,000 volunteers. General Beauregard was a student of Major Anderson while at West Point Military Academy !!

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. (1861) The first battle was an important Confederate victory. Manassas shows that the war was going to be very long and difficult for both sides. (1861)

The Monitor and the Merrimack May 9, 1862 First naval battle involving IRONCLAD ships May 9, 1862 First naval battle involving IRONCLAD ships Fight to a draw…changes naval warfare Fight to a draw…changes naval warfare (PS Monitor sunk in1863…recovered in 1973 in tack!) (PS Monitor sunk in1863…recovered in 1973 in tack!)

Notice the dents from cannon shells USS Monitor Crew Picture USS Monitor Officer Picture

The single bloodiest day of the Civil War

Lee invaded Maryland hoping the state would help the South. Instead, Lee was pinned down at Antietam creek by George McClellan after his plans were discovered wrapped around some cigars?! 2 nd Bullrun

Antietam Creek Sharpsburg, Maryland Union Commander: General George McClellan Confederate Commander: Gen. Robert E. Lee September 17, 1862 Casualties: Union-12,410 Confederate-13,724 Winner: Union…barely!

Significance: One of only 2 major battles fought in the North. The bloodiest day of the war. The Union forced Lee back to the South. This victory was what Lincoln needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Vicksburg, Mississippi This important battle gave the Union Army control of trade and the Mississippi River, which cut the Confederacy in half and allowed General Grant to control trade and communication on the river. This important battle gave the Union Army control of trade and the 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. Stonewall Jackson loses his life after achieving one of the greatest military maneuvers of the Civil War at Chancellorsville, in Virginia.

- Little Roundtop Robert E. Lee

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Union Commander : General George Meade Confederate Commander: Robert E. Lee July 1-3, 1863 Casualties: Union-23,049 Confederate-28,063 Winner: Union

After success at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Lee invades the north again. After trying to break the Union lines for 2 days, Lee tries a frontal assault on entrenched Union forces. This was known as Pickett’s charge. This attempt failed miserably. Lee ultimately retreats to Virginia.

Significance: The turning point of the war. Confederate Army cut by 25%. This would be the last chance for the South to win the war and threaten the North.

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. 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.

Sherman’s March to the Sea Objectives: To cut the Confederacy in two, cripple Southern industrial capacity, destroy the railroad system compel an early Confederate surrender to break Southern morale 1864 – Sept. – Nov…burn Atlanta to the ground (spared homes, churches, courthouses)…factories, telegraph lines, train depots, warehouses! MARCHES TO SEA – 64 days – 64,000 troops – 2 columns wide – destroying all in a 60 mile swath…Savannah…then north to South Carolina…even harsher destruction on SC. 1 st to grasp TOTAL WAR – civilians who support enemy are “fair game”; use technology to destroy enemies infrastructure; massive destruction to break enemy morale.

Significance: - example of TOTAL WAR (civilians and their property destroyed too!) - Made certain Union victory - Increases anti- North feelings among Southerners - Will be difficult for South to recover from war!

On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered his army of Northern Virginia in a little village called Appomattox Courthouse. Lee surrendered formally to Ulysses S. Grant. The papers of formal surrender were signed in the home of Wilmer Mclean, whose first house was damaged during the first battle of the Civil War.

Lee surrendered to Grant in this home.

Battle Maps