1. Rank Name of Battle Month, Year &
Location
Outcome Significant Fact
1 Battle of Fort
Sumter
April 1861;
Charleston,
South Carolina
Confederate By firing on the
Unions, the
Confederates clarified
that they did not see
themselves as a part of
the United States of
America anymore.
This started the Civil
War, where the Unions
would try and win to
preserve the United
States, despite the
Confederates’
objections. Also,
because of this action,
it can be said that the
Confederates started
the Civil War.
2 First Battle of Bull
Run
July 1861;
Manassas,
Virginia
Confederate It is considered to be
the “first real major
conflict” of the Civil
War. This was the very
battle that Jackson
would not relent and
turn back. By doing so,
he assisted the South
greatly in winning the
First Battle of Bull
Run. This very battle
proved that the Civil
War would not end
easily and quickly with
the Union winning.
The First Battle of Bull
Run boosted up the
South’s confidence,
while the North was
furiously trying to
avenge the South.
3 Battle of the
Monitor and the
Merrimack
March 9, 1862;
Sewell’s Point,
near Hampton
Roads,
Virginia
The battle
between the two
ironclad ships
ended in a
stalemate, or
draw. The crew
of the
Merrimack had
to destroy its
Even though it was the
first time ever building
ironclad's for battle, it
ended in a stalemate
and showed that both
sides were capable of
making ships that
could do a lot of
damage. It led to the

2. own ship manufacture of
warships around the
country and in parts of
Europe.
4 Battle of Pea Ridge March 1862;
Pea Ridge
Northwest
Arkansas
The Battle of
Pea Ridge was
the first decisive
victory for the
Union troops.
This battle was a very
important battle for the
Union in that this
battle secured Missouri
for the Union. Also,
this battle demoralized
Van Dorn to the point
at which he and his
army left Arkansas
defenseless. In short,
this battle hugely
affected the Union in
that they could now
focus on expanding
and capturing the rest
of the Mississippi
River Valley.
5 Battle of Shiloh April 6-7.
1862; Hardin
County,
Tennessee
A victory for
the Union side,
although they
suffered about
13,000
casualties,
10,000 for the
Confederate
side. They used
really good
tactics but that
didn't stop so
many of their
men from dying
or getting hurt.
It was a tough
battle for both
sides.
It showed both sides
that because there were
so many casualties,
that the war would not
be coming to an end
anytime soon. The
Confederacy could've
taken a very important
victory but they lost so
many troops so it was
not a good battle for
anyone.
6 Capture of New
Orleans
April 1862;
New Orleans,
Louisiana
The Union
forces led by
General
Benjamin Butler
defeated the
Confederate
forces.
This battle allowed the
Union forces to gain
entrance of the
Mississippi River.
Also, because of this
very battle, the
Confederate’s flow of
supply to the
Mississippi River
Valley was cut. This
was a very costly

3. effect on the
Confederates who did
not have a surplus of
supplies.
7 The Peninsular
Campaign
March – July
1862;
Yorktown,
Virginia
Both sides
suffered from
heavy casualties
but in the end,
Robert E. Lee
took control and
caused
McClellan to
withdraw. So, it
is considered a
win for the
confederacy
George McClellan
operated this battle in
order to capture the
Confederate capital of
Richmond. This battle
was a failure due to
General Robert E. Lee.
Also, later in the
Peninsula Campaign,
Robert E. Lee took
control and defeated
the Union in the Seven
Days Battles. This
battle was effective in
let the Union know
that taking over the
South will not be easy.
8 Second Battle of
Bull Run
August 1862 at
Manassas,
Virginia
Confederate
This battle is said to be
one of the most
“decisive battle in the
northern Virginia
campaign”. It ended up
being a very critical
victory to the South as
it boosted up their
confidence even more,
while shattering the
Union’s.
9 Battle of Antietam September 16-
18, 1862; near
Sharpsburg,
Maryland
It is not
completely sure
who won this
battle, but the
North had a
significant
advantage
because of its
strategy. There
were about
23,100
casualties for
both sides.
It was an
extremely huge
loss for both
sides, and a ton
This battle forced the
Confederate army to be
pushed all the way
back across the
Potomac River. This
was about the time
when Lincoln
presented the
Emancipation
Proclamation on
September 22, 1862.

4. of blood was
shed.
10 Battle of
Fredericksburg
December
1862 in
Fredericksburg
, Virginia
Confederate It showed that the
Union still lacked a
good leader to pull
them through the Civil
War. It was another
battle that they had
soundly lost, despite
their advantages.
Lincoln ended up
switching generals yet
again. The Union’s
confidence was not
regained yet again.
11 Battle of
Chancellorsville
April 30-May
6, 1863;
Spotsylvania
County,
Virginia
Resulted in a
Confederate
victory,
Stonewall
Jackson was
badly hurt in
this battle. This
battle was
probably Robert
E. Lee's
greatest. About
24,000
casualties,
14,000 for
Union and
10,000 for the
Confederacy.
This battle is
considered Lee's
greatest victory in the
war, he used very well-
planned strategies and
was able to defeat the
Union side with ease.
While the Confederate
side was proud of its
victory, the Union side
lost one of its best
strategic generals;
Stonewall Jackson.
12 The Siege of
Vicksburg
May – July
1863;
Vicksburg,
Mississippi
Union General Grant ordered
to fire on Vicksburg
from land and water.
The constant shooting
affected the citizens for
more than a month.
The Confederate
soldier’s daily rations
were running short and
they finally
surrendered. Residents
needed to live
underground to avoid
getting killed. Soldiers
and regular people had
to eat horses, mules,
and even rats.

5. Confederate soldiers
rations were also cut
down to one biscuit
and one piece of bacon
per day.
13 Battle of
Gettysburg
July 1863 at
Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania
Union This war proved that
the Union still had a
fighting chance against
the Confederates--
perhaps, even a better
fighting chance than
the Confederates.
While the end of this
battle boosted up the
Union’s assurance that
they could win the war,
it brought down the
Confederate’s
confidence to a stand
still.
14 The Battle of
Chickamauga
September
1863;
Chickamauga,
Georgia
The
Confederate
forces defeated
the Union
forces.
This battle was one of
the most drastic Union
defeats with the second
highest number of
casualties in the war.
After this loss, the
Union forces went
back to Chattanooga
(where the Battle of
Chattanooga
followed). Basically,
the Battle of
Chickamauga was
followed by the Battle
of Chattanooga.
15 Battle of Wilderness May 5-7, 1864;
Spotsylvania
and Orange
County,
Virginia
The battle
ended in a draw,
but both sides
had used their
own strategies
very well. Grant
continued to
fight even
though there
had been a huge
fire thought he
forest and had
injured many of
his men. He did
not follow the
This battle showed just
how dedicated Grant
was to advancing
against enemy lines to
defeat the
Confederacy. Instead
of retreating, he used
strategic tactics to
further advance south
to the Spotsylvania
Court House

6. other past
generals and
retreat, instead
he went on to
advance with
his troops.
About 29,800
casualties total,
18,000 for the
Union and
11,400 for the
Confederacy.
16 Battle of
Spotsylvania
May 1864;
Spotsylvania,
Virginia;
Inconclusive Many Union soldiers
were killed and Grant
notified Lincoln and he
moved the Union army
down south. The
fighting took more
than two weeks but the
heaviest fighting took
place on May 12.
Many Northerners
protested because there
were huge losses of
life in the battle.
17 The Siege of
Petersburg
June, 1864;
Petersburg,
Virginia
Union Ulysses S. Grant used
repeated the same
tactic that was
successful in
Vicksburg. Lee lost
many of his men and
soon retreated. Grant
wanted Petersburg
because he wanted to
get the railroad center
that transported food to
Richmond. He
believed that the South
would easily surrender;
however the attack
failed and he laid a
siege.
18 The Capture of
Atlanta
September
1864; Georgia
Union General James Hood
fought with Sherman
in a series of battles.
With each fight the
South’s soldiers
decreased. The

7. Confederate army
retreated to Atlanta’s
strong defenses and
Sherman laid a siege
on the city. After a
month, the Hood’s
forces pulled out and
left the city to the
Union army.
19 Battle of Cold
Harbor
June 1864;
Cold Harbor,
Virginia
Confederate The Battle of Cold
Harbor took place
eight miles from
Richmond. Grant
organized two direct
charges on the
Confederates but they
were behind strong
walls. Many Union
soldiers died in the
first hour.
20 Battle at Nashville Nashville,
Tennessee;
December
1864
The Union
forces defeated
the Confederate
forces.
This battle ended
Southern resistance in
Tennessee for the
entire Civil War. This
ended the Army of
Tennessee and also
ended the career of
John Bell Hood.