Battles of the Civil War

Battle of New Orleans

April 24, 1862 New Orleans, LA Union: David Farragut Key Facts: Union navy wanted to go through port of N.O. to meet Grant up the Mississippi River. Farragut wrapped his ships in chains to make them "iron clad". He also disguised the ships with mud on the hulls and trees on the masts to make them look like the forest on the shore. Union Victory Outcome: Gave the Union control of the port and a way to move up the Mississippi River

Battle of Shiloh

April 6-8, 1862 Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee (near Shiloh Church) Union: Grant Confederates: Johnston Key Facts: the Confederates surprise attacked Grant's troops, Johnston was killed, both sides suffered many casualties Union Victory Outcome: Grant was able to continue his campaign to take over the Mississippi River

Surrender of the Confederates

April 9, 1865 Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia Union: Grant Confederates: Lee Key Facts: the Confederates had lost Richmond and Lee's army was short on supplies; Lee signed surrender documents and Grant promised food and supplies for the Confederate troops Union Victory Outcome: The Union won the Civil War and Reconstruction of the country began.

2nd Battle of Bull Run

Date - August 1862 Manassas, VA Key People: Union - John Pope & George McClellan Confederate: Robert E. Lee & Stonewall Jackson Facts: Part of Peninsular Campaign to take Richmond from the Confederacy. Heavy casualties on both sides. Outcome: Confederates won. Lee felt confident enough to take the war north to Maryland (Antietam).

Atlanta Campaign/Siege

Date: 7/20 - 9/2/1864 Location: Atlanta, GA Union: Sherman & McPherson Confederate: Hood & Johnston Summary: Siege on Atlanta, due to it being an industrial and railroad center for the south. Union Win Long Term Outcome: This was a key to Lincoln winning the election of 1864, since it signaled that the end was near for the Confederacy and the war

First Battle of Bull Run

Date: July 21, 1861 Near Manassas, VA Important People: McDowell (Union) and Beauregard, Johnston, Jackson(Confederacy) Facts: McDowell wanted to take over Manassas, VA because it had a railroad junction that led to Richmond. Gaining this area would lead to taking Richmond. Confederate Victory - Union was forced to retreat. Outcome - The North realized this would not be a quick war. "Stonewall" Jackson earned his nickname by holding firmly in place against the Union attack

Seven Days' Battle

Date: June 26 - July 2, 1862 Richmond, VA Important People: McClellan (Union) and Lee (Confederacy) Facts: This was part of the Peninsular Campaign. Lincoln had instructed McClellan to take Richmond. McClellan took a lot of time preparing troops and getting to the area. Confederate Victory - Union was forced to retreat. Outcome - Union continued to march towards Richmond, and this led to the 2nd Battle of Bull Run.

Virginia(Merrimack) vs Monitor

Date: March 9, 1862 Hampton Roads, VA Important People: Ericson, Worden (Union) and Buchanan (Confederacy) Facts: Merrimack was a ship that was renamed the Virginia. The first battle with iron clad warships. Draw Outcome: The iron clad advanced naval technology. A shift in technology occurred.

Battle of Antietam

Date: Sept. 17, 1862 Sharpsburg, MD Important People: McClellan (Union) and Lee (Confederacy) Facts: This was an attempt by Lee to take the war into the North. It was also intended to persuade Maryland to join the Confederacy and to encourage foreign countries to ally with the Confederacy Union Victory - the Confederacy retreated after suffering many casualties Outcome - McClellan did not pursue the Confederates, although he may have been able to cause them to surrender. Many casualties on both sides. Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation as a result of this battle.

Harpers Ferry Battle

Date: September 4, 1862 Harpers Ferry, VA Important People: Stonewall Jackson (Confederacy) Facts: Lee divided his troops on the way to Maryland in order to capture Harpers Ferry. Jackson went to HF and Lee went to Frederick to try to get Maryland to join the Confederacy (it didn't work). Confederate Victory Outcome - This continued to bolster Confederate morale as they took the war into the North to Antietam

Battle of Pea Ridge

March 7-8, 1862 Northwest AR Union: Curtis Confederates: Cherokee, Van Dorn Key Facts: Cherokee fought on side of Confederates - trying to take control of AR and MO - key to controlling Mississippi River Union Victory Outcome: Turning point in efforts to control MO

Battle of Vicksburg

May - July, 1863 Vicksburg, MS Union: Grant, Farragut Confederates: Pemberton Key Facts: Vicksburg was on high cliffs above the MS River, so it was hard to invade. Instead of a direct invasion, Grant surrounded the city and started a siege. The city ran out of food and was forced to eat horses, dogs, and rats. Union Victory (Confederacy surrendered on July 4, 1863) Outcome: This victory was key to the Union controlling the MS River

Wilderness Campaign

May - June, 1864 Northern & Central VA Union - U.S. Grant, George Meade Confederacy - General Lee Key Facts - Another attempt by the Union to capture Richmond. Many casualties were inflicted, but Grant knew he could continue to replace troops and keep fighting. U/C - Confederate Outcome - Confederates suffered many casualties, from which they would not recover

Battle of Chancellorsville

May 1-4, 1863 Union - Joseph Hooker Confederacy - Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson Key Facts - Another attempt by the Union to capture Richmond. The Confederacy used superior strategies to attack Hooker's troops from both the front and side. U/C - Confederate Outcome - Big victory for the Confederates, since the Union retreated from Richmond again. Led to Lee pushing forward to Gettysburg. Stonewall Jackson was hit by friendly fire and died later. This was a big loss for the Confederate leadership.

March to the Sea

Nov.- Dec., 1864 Union - William Tecumseh Sherman Key Facts - Sherman wanted to move from Atlanta (which had surrendered) to Savannah, which was a major port city. On the way, he divided his troops and they made a path 60 feet wide, on which they burned and destroyed everything in their way (railways, bridges, crops, livestock, etc.) This is an example of total war: destroying civilian and economic resources. U/C - Union Outcome - The tactics used destroyed Confederate supplies and helped break the South's will to fight. However, it led to a lot of anger and resentment from the South that would cause trouble after the Civil War.