Key Battles 1861-1864
Fort SumterApril 12, 1861
Leaders:North & South
North = Major AndersonSouth = General Beauregard
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Charleston Harbor, South CarolinaIsland fortBombardment of the fort
Casualties:North & South
No casualties
Final Outcome
Northern troops surrenderedSouth Won the Fort
Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull RunJuly 21, 1861
Leaders:North & South
North = General McDowellSouth = Stonewall Jackson, General Beauregard
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Manassas, VirginiaUnion troops were poorly trained
Casualties:North & South
North = 2,700South = 2,000
Final Outcome
South won – showed war would be long and bloody.
The War at Sea
Hampton Roads-Monitor v. Merrimack
March/April, 1862
Leaders:North & South
None mentioned.
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Off the coast of Norfolk, VirginiaShips plated with iron.
Casualties:North & South
Neither ship was seriously damaged.
Final Outcome
No clear winner Changed Naval warfare forever
Battle of Shiloh
• April 6-7, 1862• One of the bloodiest battles of the war• Grant & Union forces were surprised by a
Confederate attack• Reinforcements arrived to help Grant –
Pushed back Confederates• Won greater control of Mississippi Valley
***What role did the Battle of Shiloh play in the Union’s strategy?
Battle of ShilohApril 6-7, 1862
Leaders:North & South
North = General Grant, General ShermanSouth = General Johnston & General Beauregard
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Shiloh Church, Tennessee Confederates launched surprise attackNear Mississippi R.
Casualties:North & South
North = over 13,000 deadSouth = over 10,000 dead
Final Outcome
Union wonOne of the bloodiest battles
Battle of Antietam
Battle of AntietamSept. 17, 1862
Leaders:North & South
North = General McClellanSouth = General Lee
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Sharpsburg, MarylandLee was hoping for a Confederate victory in the North.
Casualties:North & South
Over 23,000 (23,100)
Final Outcome
North claimed victory – Confederate advance was stopped.
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg December 1862
Leaders:North & South
North = General BurnsideSouth = General Lee
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Richmond, VAUnion hoped to capture RichmondConfederates withdrew to a nearby hill – Union forces charged up the hill and were shot down 6 times.
Casualties:North & South
Union: 13,000Confederate: 5,300
Final Outcome
Union had to retreat, suffered another defeat. (Confederates won.)
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville May 18, 1863
Leaders:North & South
North = General HookerSouth = General Lee & General Jackson
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Confederates attack Union forces in Virginia.
Casualties:North & South
Union: 18,400Confederate: 13,000Stonewall Jackson was shot by friendly fire.
Final Outcome
Union lost and had to retreat. (Confederate victory)
Battle of Vicksburg
• Ended July 4, 1863• 6 week siege of Vicksburg• Confederate forces were surrounded – supplied
ran out – forced to eat horses, dogs, and cats. • Confederates surrendered to General Grant• Union gained full control of the Mississippi
River
***How do you think this battle & Shiloh affected Grant’s standing in the Union army?
Battle of VicksburgEnded July 4, 1863
Leaders:North & South
North = General GrantSouth = General Pemberton
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Vicksburg, MississippiUnion surrounded city for 6 weeks
Casualties:North & South
Union – over 10,000Confederates – over 9,000
Final Outcome
Union won – Gained control of Mississippi River – Split South in 2.Grant put as General-in-chief of Union
How might Lee’s brilliant wins at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville have
contributed to his defeat at Gettysburg???
Discussion Question…
Battle of Gettysburg
• July 1-3, 1863• Confederates were led by General Lee north into
Pennsylvania• They hoped to defeat the Union Army in the North
and then be able to attack Washington D.C.• Union forces set up on the high ground outside
Gettysburg• 1st Day = Union Calvary held the high ground
until more troops could arrive (fish hook)
Battle of Gettysburg
• 2nd Day = Confederates attacked both ends of the Union line
• Union line held• 3rd Day = Confederates attacked the center of the
Union line (Pickett’s famous charge across 1 mile)• Great Union victory• Turning point of the war – From Union defeats to
Union victories• South never came close to winning the war after.
Battle of Gettysburg
• Bloodiest battle in American History = 53,000 combined losses
• Lincoln traveled to the battlefield afterward and delivered the Gettysburg Address (“Four score and seven years ago…”)
• Gettysburg Address reminded Americans that “All men are created equal…”
Battle of GettysburgJuly 1-3, 1863
Leaders:North & South
South = General Lee & General Pickett
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Gettysburg, PALee hoped to invade the North, mistakenly came upon Union troops.
Casualties:North & South
Union – 23,000Confederates – 28,000
Final Outcome
Union won. Turning point of the war. Gettysburg Address reminded Americans that “all men are created equal.”
End of the War
Battle of AtlantaJuly 22, 1864
Leaders:North & South
North = General ShermanSouth = General Hood
Set-Up:Location, Strategy, or Geography
Atlanta, GeorgiaUnion surrounded city & wore down Confederates.
Casualties:North & South
Union – over 3,600Confederates – over 8,400
Final Outcome
Union won – showed that the end of the war was in sight.