Download File - American History I with Ms. Byrne

Battles of the U.S. Civil War
Fort Sumter
• The Confederate troops (southern) claimed
that if the Union (northern) brought any troops
down to Ft. Sumter, off the coast of South
Carolina, they would retaliate
• Lincoln decided to do it anyway, sending
down a supply ship to resupply and re-man
the fort
• Confederate troops fire the first shot upon the
fort on April 12, 1861 on order from Colonel
Chestnut
1st Battle of Bull Run
• Also known as the 1st Battle of Manassas on
• Fought near the town of Manassas, VA in July,
1861
• Union leader: Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell
• Confederate leader: Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard
• What happened?
– Con. Gen. Jackson earns the nickname “Stonewall”
because of his refusal to give up his position
– Union retreats back to Washington DC in shambles
• Result: Confederate victory, McDowell is replaced
by McClellan as Union leader
Shiloh
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Date: April 6-7, 1862
Location: Tennessee
Union Leader: Maj. Gen. Grant
Confederate Leader: Gen. Johnston, Gen. P.G.T.
Beauregard
• What happened?
– The south was desperate for a win after the losses in Kentucky
and Ohio
– An initial attack from the Confederates forced the Union back.
The next day, the Union troops regained the lost ground.
– Each side suffered over 10,000 casualties
• Result: Union victory, Grant’s troops gained momentum
and confidence in themselves
2nd Battle of Bull Run
• Fought near the town of Manassas, VA on
August 29-30, 1862
• Union leader: Major John Pope
• Confederate leader: Gen. Robert E. Lee
• What happened?
– Pope thought that because of his superior numbers,
he could out maneuver the Confederates; he failed
– Jackson, Longstreet, and Lee all successfully
defended Manassas
• Result: Confederate victory, Lee had not
successfully destroyed Pope’s army as he had
wanted
Richmond
• Battle fought from August 29-30,
1862 in Kentucky
• Union Leader: Maj. Gen. William
“Bull” Nelson
• Confederate Leader: Maj. Gen.
Kirby Smith
• What Happened?
– The Confederates launched the
Kentucky Campaign
– The Confederates successfully
pushed the Union troops out of
Kentucky
• Result: Confederate Victory,
northern route towards Lexington
and Frankfort were opened
Antietam
• Fought on September 17,
1862 near Antietam Creek
in Sharpsburg, MD.
• Union leader: General
George McClellan
• Confederate Leader:
General Robert E. Lee
• Bloodiest day of the war
– Union causalities: 12,410
– Confederate causalities:
13,724
Antietam
• What happened?
– One of only two victories fought in the North
– Lee invaded Maryland hoping the state would
join the Confederacy
– Lee becomes pinned down at Antietam Creek
– Union forces the south back to Virginia
• Result: Union victory, this is the battle that
helps Lincoln to decide to create the
Emancipation proclamation.
Antietam
• **Springboard for
Emancipation Proclamation
–freed slaves in states in
rebellion only
• It turned the struggle
to preserve the Union into
a crusade for freedom – “If
my name ever goes down
in history, it will be for this
act, and my whole soul is
in it.”
The Battle of Vicksburg
• When: May 19-July 4, 1863
• Vicksburg, MS
• Union Leader: Major General
Grant
• Confederate Leader: General
Johnston
• Mississippi River was one of
the most important economic
features of the country
Vicksburg
• What happened?
– Grant decided that he had to lay siege to the city
– On May 26, 13 approaches were constructed along
the Confederate defense line
– The goal was to tunnel down and around the
Confederates to reach Vicksburg
• Result: Union victory, it took 3 months for the
Union to successfully take Vicksburg. It was one
of the most important victories for the Union, as
it split the Confederate forces by the river.
Gettysburg
• July 1-3, 1863 in Gettysburg,
PA
• Started near a shoe factory in
a small college town
• Lots of stone, hills, ridges Union held high ground
• Union leader: General Meade
• Confederate leader: General
Robert E. Lee
Gettysburg
• What happened?
– Considered the turning point
– Little Round Top – Union soldiers had to hold to the
advantage on the hill that they established with few
troops against the large Confederate army
– Pickett’s Charge – the Confederate attempt to launch
a frontal assault of the Union stronghold on the hill
• Result: Union victory, Lee is forced to retreat to
Virginia. This was the last attempt the South
would have to invade the North.
Causalities in the Battle of Gettysburg
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
• Significance?
• Lincoln discusses the
heroics of the Union
troops at Gettysburg and
America’s need to defend
liberty and justice
Sherman’s March to the Sea
• Sherman marched through many cities in the
Georgia, most famously in Atlanta, GA
• July 20-September 2,1864
• Union Leader: Gen. William Sherman
• Confederate Leader: Gen. John Hood
• What happened?
– Sherman burned many cities in the Georgia to the
ground
– Immortalized by “Gone with the Wind”
– The Union looted and plundered, destroying almost
everything in their path
• Result: Union victory, the Union was viewed as the
winner even though many looked down upon the
destroying of innocent people in Georgia
Appomattox
• On April 9, 1865 
Confederate General Robert
E. Lee surrenders at
Appomattox Courthouse in
Virginia
• Lee officially surrenders to
Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
• Formal surrender papers are
signed at Wilmer McLean’s
home, whose home was
damaged in the 1st battle of
the Civil War.
Causalities on both sides