Battle Chart
Date, Battle, Victor , Significance
April 12, 1861
Fort Sumter (South Carolina)
Confederacy
beginning of the Civil War (first shots)
July 21, 1861
1st Bull Run (Virginia)
Confederacy
It was the first major battle of the American Civil War
April 6-7, 1862
Shiloh (Tennessee)
Union
Union gained control of the northern Mississippi
September 17-18, 1862
Antietam (Maryland)
Union
First major battle in the American Civil war to take place on Union soil
July 1- 4, 1863
Gettysburg (Pennsylvania)
Union
Turning point of the war; Confederates would never again invade the North; Gettysburg Address
July 4, 1863
(6 weeks)
Vicksburg (Mississippi)
Union
Vicksburg was the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River
November 15 - December 21, 1864
Sherman’s March
(Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina)
Confederacy
total warfare; destroyed everything useful to the South
April 9, 1865
Appomattox Courthouse
Union
Robert E. Lee surrenders
May 12-13, 1865
Palmito Ranch
Confederacy
South won the battle but had already lost the war
Date, Battle, Victor , Significance
April 12, 1861
Fort Sumter (South Carolina)
Confederacy
beginning of the Civil War (first shots)
July 21, 1861
1st Bull Run (Virginia)
Confederacy
It was the first major battle of the American Civil War
April 6-7, 1862
Shiloh (Tennessee)
Union
Union gained control of the northern Mississippi
September 17-18, 1862
Antietam (Maryland)
Union
First major battle in the American Civil war to take place on Union soil
July 1- 4, 1863
Gettysburg (Pennsylvania)
Union
Turning point of the war; Confederates would never again invade the North; Gettysburg Address
July 4, 1863
(6 weeks)
Vicksburg (Mississippi)
Union
Vicksburg was the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River
November 15 - December 21, 1864
Sherman’s March
(Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina)
Confederacy
total warfare; destroyed everything useful to the South
April 9, 1865
Appomattox Courthouse
Union
Robert E. Lee surrenders
May 12-13, 1865
Palmito Ranch
Confederacy
South won the battle but had already lost the war
Northern advantages
· superior leadership in Abraham Lincoln
· greater population – 22 million people
· military power – a five to two advantage in men who could fight, a navy, war machinery
· industrial power – more factories
· more money
· more railroads
· more farm land where food crops, not cash crops were grown
Northern disadvantages
· weak motivation – not fighting for a cause, or at least one they could understand
· officers not aggressive enough– many failed to press their enemy when they had the advantage, inexperienced
· fighting on unfamiliar territory– most Northerners had never been in the South, poor communication, and long supply lines hampered the North
· believed the war would be over quickly
Southern advantages
· outstanding military officers –most had experience from the Mexican War, they had a strong military tradition and had been educated at military schools
· strong motivation – were fighting to keep way of life
· fighting on home ground – knew the territory
· soldiers skilled with guns and horsesbecause they lived in rural areas
Southern disadvantages
· weak leadership skills of Jefferson Davis
· no navy
· fewer men and supplies
· few factories
· less money
· weaker government
The NorthNicknames-Billy Yank, Yankees
Strategies for winning the war- blockade Southern ports, take control of the Mississippi River, capture the Southern capital of Richmond, Virginia
The SouthNicknames- Johnny Rebel, Rebels
Strategies for winning the war-fight a defensive war, get help from Europe, capture Northern capital of Washington, D.C.
· superior leadership in Abraham Lincoln
· greater population – 22 million people
· military power – a five to two advantage in men who could fight, a navy, war machinery
· industrial power – more factories
· more money
· more railroads
· more farm land where food crops, not cash crops were grown
Northern disadvantages
· weak motivation – not fighting for a cause, or at least one they could understand
· officers not aggressive enough– many failed to press their enemy when they had the advantage, inexperienced
· fighting on unfamiliar territory– most Northerners had never been in the South, poor communication, and long supply lines hampered the North
· believed the war would be over quickly
Southern advantages
· outstanding military officers –most had experience from the Mexican War, they had a strong military tradition and had been educated at military schools
· strong motivation – were fighting to keep way of life
· fighting on home ground – knew the territory
· soldiers skilled with guns and horsesbecause they lived in rural areas
Southern disadvantages
· weak leadership skills of Jefferson Davis
· no navy
· fewer men and supplies
· few factories
· less money
· weaker government
The NorthNicknames-Billy Yank, Yankees
Strategies for winning the war- blockade Southern ports, take control of the Mississippi River, capture the Southern capital of Richmond, Virginia
The SouthNicknames- Johnny Rebel, Rebels
Strategies for winning the war-fight a defensive war, get help from Europe, capture Northern capital of Washington, D.C.