Major Civil War Battles

On April 12, 1861 at 4:30 A.M. the first shot hurtled over Fort Sumter, at the entrance to the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.  This was the beginning of the Civil War.  Union troops, were forced to leave the fort the following day.  The U.S. flag was not raised again at Fort Sumter until February 18, 1865.  The fort was not of military importance, but a symbol to both sides. 

The First Battle at Bull Run (1861) was the first major battle.  It was suppose to be the shortest and the end to the brand new war. Volunteer soldiers lined-up in colorful, clean uniforms waiting for the event to begin. People with picnic baskets sat on the hillsides as the troops battled. After ten hours of fighting, 900 soldiers lay dying as the Union troops retreated to Washington. 

Known as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh caused more than 23,500 men to be killed or missing.  From this important battle, General U.S. Grant knew that the South would not be pushovers. 

The Battle of Antietam saw General Robert E. Lee lead the Confederate troops into the North in 1862.  The battle was too close to call as a decisive victory for either side.  This battle led to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. 

On July 3, 1861, Lee’s troops fought against General George Mead’s army at the Battle of Gettysburg.  This was the turning point in the war.  Meade lost 70% of his men, but 4,000 Confederate soldiers were captured. 

From December 1862 to July 1863, the Battle of Vicksburg was fought in Mississippi.  This Union victory split the Confederacy in two, with the North controlling the Mississippi River.  Grant had twice as many Union soldiers.  Confederate soldiers were starving and low on ammunition as General Pemberton surrendered.

Battle Locations Across the Nation

http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/cwusa.html