Bull Run
Date: July 21st 1861
Location: Fairfax county and Prince William County , Virginia The Union plan was to march to Richmond and make quick work of any Confederate soldiers and end the war swiftly. However, Confederate spies knew the plan and prepared for the Union 4878 total casualties. 2896 Union 1982 Confederate This was the first major land battle in the civil war, and the war did not really heat up until the battle of Bull Run |
GettysburgDate: July 1st-3rd 1863
Location: Gettysburg, PA General Lee wanted to take supplies from PA and take war away from already war-ravaged Virginia, and threaten some northern cities and essentially bringing the war to the north. His intent was to weaken the Union’s appetite for war. Total of 51,112 Casualties 23,049 Union 28,063 Confederate This battle was a Union victory. The battle of Gettysburg is important as it forced the Confederates into a more defensive stance for the rest of the war. it also stopped General Lee’s most ambitious attempt to invade northern territory |
FredericksburgDate: December 11 - 15, 1862
Location: Fredericksburg, VA Civil war's first battle located in an urban setting 17,929 Casualties Union 13,353 Confederate 4,572 This was a Confederate victory. General Burnside was removed from commanding the army of the Potomac by Lincoln roughly six weeks after the battle of Fredericksburg. This was due to him being accused of cowardice and overall performing poorly at the battle. Battle of Shiloh |
Date: April 6-7 1862
Location: Hardin County, Tennessee The confederates hoped to defeat Grant’s Army before the army of Ohio could support Grant. The confederates hoped to catch Grant’s army without any reinforcements but weather conditions delayed them. Total of 23,746 Casualties 13,047 Union 10,669 Confederate Union Victory, however, this was the bloodiest battle of the war at this point in time |