Timeline Description: With modern technological developments, the Civil War was not a fight of the fittest or the swift. Along with new advances in warfare, the most captivating aspect of the Civil War is the battles. Battles were remarkably violent and fleeting, especially by the standards of today. Men would march towards each other in the face of death and often look into the eyes of the enemy as they fought. During the Civil War, there were 76 major battles, 310 engagements, and another 10,000 or so minor conflicts.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 12, 1861 | The Battle of Fort Sumter(April 12-14, 1861) The first class A battle (ranked as a significant decisive point in the war) an d very first battle of the war took place in South Carolina. It was a Confederate victory, with Beauregard taking control of the Charleston Federal fort. |
| July 21, 1861 | The First Battle of Bull Run Taking place in Virginia, this Confederate victory was the first major engagement of the Civil War where Jackson was named Stonewall. |
| August 10, 1861 | The Battle of Wilson’s Creek Known as the “Bull Run of the West,” or the Oak Hills battle, this was the first western battle. The Confederates won the battle under Nathaniel Lyon and Samuel D. Sturgis, with Lyon being killed during battle. |
| October 9, 1861 | The Battle of Santa Rosa Island This Florida battle was a failed attempt by the Confederate to seize Fort Pickens from the Union. |
| November 7, 1861 | The Battle of Belmont General Ulysses S. Grant began his Civil War career in this battle, taking command in Missouri. The battle was inconclusive, but Grant was able to capture and destroy supplies of the Confederate. |
| March 8, 1862 | The Battle of Hampton Roads(March 8-9, 1862) Often called the battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack, this was the first battle between ironclad warships. The battle was inconclusive and ended in a draw. |
| May 25, 1862 | The Battle of Winchester This Virginia battle was in a strategic location that often made it the site of numerous engagements throughout the Civil War. Stonewall Jackson defeated General Banks in this Confederate victory. |
| June 25, 1862 | The Seven Days Battle(June 25-July1 1862) This battle was a Confederate counter offensive movement that drove the Union away from their capitol. It consisted of seven consecutive battles and resulted in more Confederate wins than Union wins. |
| August 20, 1862 | Fort Ridgely, Minnesota(August 20-22, 1862) Midwest battles were fought due to the uprising of the Sioux Indians. |
| July 04, 1863 | The Battle of Vicksburg (May 18- July 4 1863) The Battle of Vicksburg has been called “The Confederate Gibraltar.” Ulysses S. Grant led his team into siege warfare to capture Mississippi before the team could cross this lengthy state. |
| December 11, 1862 | The Battle of Fredericksburg(December 11-15, 1862) This battle was the largest battle of the American Civil War, including the Gettysburg battle. With more troops present than at any other battle and poor coordination, Federal troops were slaughtered. |
| July 1, 1863 | The Battle of Gettysburg(July 1-3, 1863) This Pennsylvania battle was the biggest fought on the continent of North America. It marked the end of Robert E. Lee’s second invasion as a turning point in the American Civil War. |
| November 23, 1863 | Battle of Chattanooga(November 23-25, 1863) A Union victory, Atlanta was open for Federal armies. Confederates were driven down from the mountains and Ulysses S Grant won another battle. |
| May 5, 1864 | The Battle of the Wilderness(May 5-7, 1864) This Virginia battle was the primary clash between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Confederates claimed a tactical victory. However, the North showed that they would not retreat and Lee was forced back into Richmond trenches. |
| May 12, 1865 | The Battle of Palmetto Ranch(May 12-13, 1865) The last battle of the Civil War was a Confederate Victory in Texas. |