Transcript Battles of the Civil War

Major Battles of the Civil War
Ft. Sumter
• 1st battle of the Civil WarCharleston, South Carolina
• Confederate artillery
bombardment of Major Robert
Anderson’s small union garrison.
• General P.G.T. Beauregard in
charge of Confederate troopsordered surrender of Union
troops. They refused and so
Confederates began fire.
• No casualties/Confederate victory
• Union troops surrendered and one
day later, on April 15th, Lincoln
requests 75,000 volunteers.
1st Battle of Bull Run
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1st major land battle, July 16th, 1861
Union led by Gen. McDowell
Confederates led by Gen. Beauregard
Union goal “…to make quick work of
the bulk of the Confederate army,
open the way to Richmond, the
Confederate capital, and end the war.”
Colonel Thomas Jackson earns
nickname “Stonewall” at this battle
for holding high ground.
Confederates succeeded but too
disorganized to pursue, so Union
troops able to retreat to D.C.
Lincoln Administration and the North
now convinced that the Civil War
would be a long and costly affair.
McDowell replaced by Gen. George B.
McClellan
Antietam
• After success at the 2nd Battle of
Bull Run, Lee wants to launch a
campaign into the North.
• September 17, 1862- Confederate
forces head north into Sharpsburg,
Maryland but pushed back by
McClellan.
• Tactically a draw, but because of
the Confederate retreat it was
called a Union victory.
• Gen. McClellan replaced by Gen.
Ambrose Burnside. (He is
inspiration for the term “side
burns.”)
• Gives Lincoln the “push” to issue
the Emancipation Proclamation.
• “Bloodiest single day in American
history”
Vicksburg
• Although the Union has been doing
poorly in the East, they had better
luck in the Western Theatre under
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
• Victories at Ft. Henry and Donelson
earn Grant the nickname,
“unconditional surrender” but the
Union still doesn’t have full control of
the Mississippi River.
• Grant lays siege on Vicksburg, where
Confederate Gen. John Pemberton
and his men are entrapped.
• Pemberton surrenders on July 4th,
1863, the Union now controls all of
the Mississippi- splitting the
Confederacy.
• Grant earns fame from his brilliant
strategizing and is eventually
appointed command of all Union
armies.
Gettysburg
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After Lee’s incredible victory- and the loss
of Stonewall- at Chancellorsville, he
decides to try to go North again to take
the fighting out of Virginia.
Gen. Joseph Hooker (Union commander at
Chancellorsville) relieved of command and
replaced by Gen. George Meade.
Lee learns of Meade’s army in
Pennsylvania- and so focuses forces
around Gettysburg.
Fighting breaks out July 1st, the
Confederates being successful on the first
day and push Union back to Culp’s Hill and
Cemetery Hill- south of the town.
2nd day- Union forces defend fishhook
shape of hills and maintain strong
positions at the end of the day.
3rd day- fighting continues, main event
being Pickett’s Charge- an unsuccessful,
assault on the Union force’s central line.
Lee and his forces retreat back to Virginia.
Bloodiest battle of the Civil War- More
than 50,000 casualties.
Atlanta
• July 22nd, 1864- Union Gen.
William T. Sherman attacks
Confederate forces under Gen.
John B. Hood.
• Sherman defeats Hood and
orders an evacuation of the city,
and then burns it.
• This marks the beginning of his
“March to the Sea”
• This turning-point battle is known
not only for its strategic victory,
but political as well. The Union
victory helps Abraham Lincoln to
get reelected over George
McClellan.
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Appomattox Court House
April 9th, 1865- Army of Northern Virginia’s final battle;
the beginning to the end of the Civil War.
Followed a 10-month Battle of Petersburg and ended
Lee’s retreat.
April 8th,Grant had sent Lee a letter suggesting surrender,
Lee refused.
The following day, Lee tries to move past Union forces
but realizes that he is outnumbered and must surrender.
He is quoted saying, “there is nothing left for me to do
but go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a
thousand deaths.”
They meet in Appomattox Courthouse to discuss terms of
surrender. Grant was gracious to Confederate troops.
Even though the majority of the fighting is over, there are
still skirmishes in other parts of the country months later.