Top 10 Battles of the American Civil War

The American Civil War is considered the deadliest conflict in American history.

There were many battles during the war. Here are the 10 deadliest and most important battles.
The Top Ten
Battle of Gettysburg Fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War. It occurred in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battle resulted in the largest number of casualties in the war. The Union victory ended General Lee's second invasion of the North.

The granddaddy. If Stonewall had been there, the Army of the Potomac would have been routed on the first day.

But then what? Even if that had happened, it still would have been a massive challenge for the Army of Northern Virginia to capitalize on.

I love you, Gettysburg! Visited there in 2013 for the 150th anniversary. It's beautiful and full of history.

I agree. This is the best battle!

Battle of Chancellorsville The Battle of Chancellorsville took place from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It is often considered General Robert E. Lee's greatest victory due to his risky tactics. Confederate forces defeated the Union Army under General Hooker. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by friendly fire.

Chancellorsville is the most unbelievable battle in the Civil War.

Best battle. Better than Gettysburg.

Battle of Chickamauga Fought on September 19-20, 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga was a significant engagement in the Western Theater. It occurred in northern Georgia near Chickamauga Creek. Confederate forces led by General Braxton Bragg secured a decisive victory. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.
Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. It marked the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. The battle ended in a tactical draw, but it halted Lee's invasion of the North. The outcome prompted President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Another "what if." Who knows what might have happened if Lee had not lost those three cigars?

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House lasted from May 8 to May 21, 1864. It was part of Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign. Fighting was characterized by brutal hand-to-hand combat at the "Bloody Angle." The battle resulted in a stalemate with heavy casualties on both sides.
First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run occurred on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Virginia. It was the first major battle of the Civil War. Confederate forces under General Beauregard and General Johnston secured a victory. The battle shattered the Union's hopes for a quick war.
Second Battle of Bull Run The Second Battle of Bull Run took place from August 28 to August 30, 1862. Confederate forces under General Lee defeated the Union Army led by General Pope. It solidified Confederate dominance in northern Virginia. This victory encouraged Lee's first invasion of the North.
Battle of Shiloh Fought on April 6-7, 1862, the Battle of Shiloh was a major battle in the Western Theater. It took place in southwestern Tennessee. Union forces under General Grant secured a hard-fought victory. The battle demonstrated the devastating scale of the conflict.

Grant's first test under fire. Who knows what might have happened if Albert Sidney Johnston had not been fatally wounded?

Battle of Vicksburg The Battle of Vicksburg lasted from May 18 to July 4, 1863. It culminated in the surrender of the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The victory gave the Union control of the Mississippi River. This success split the Confederacy in two.

Grant did a masterful job of showing tenacity.

Battle of Fort Donelson The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 12 to February 16, 1862. It was a significant early Union victory in the Western Theater. General Grant's forces captured the fort and its Confederate defenders. The victory opened the Cumberland River for Union operations.

Grant's first major victory. But if there had been an effective Confederate commander instead of Pillow and Floyd, it might have gone the other way.

The Newcomers

? Battle of Nashville The Battle of Nashville took place on December 15-16, 1864, in Tennessee. It was a decisive Union victory led by General George Thomas. Confederate General John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee was effectively destroyed. This victory marked the end of major Confederate operations in the Western Theater.
? Battle of Chattanooga The Battle of Chattanooga was fought from November 23 to November 25, 1863. It was a key Union victory in the Western Theater. Union forces under General Grant broke the Confederate siege of the city. The victory opened the way for the Union's advance into the Deep South.
The Contenders
Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought from December 11 to December 15, 1862, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It involved a frontal assault by Union forces under General Burnside. Confederate forces under General Lee inflicted heavy casualties on the Union. The battle ended in a decisive Confederate victory.

The Confederacy's biggest win. Bar none.

Battle of Mobile Bay The Battle of Mobile Bay took place on August 2-23, 1864. It was a naval engagement led by Union Admiral David Farragut. The victory closed one of the last major Confederate ports on the Gulf of Mexico. Farragut's famous order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," was given during this battle.
Jackson's Valley Campaign Jackson's Valley Campaign occurred from March to June 1862 in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson conducted a series of rapid maneuvers. His forces defeated multiple Union armies while tying down larger Union forces. The campaign is noted for its brilliant use of mobility and deception.

I would truly like to have been one of his foot soldiers, confusing, routing, and tying up three armies in the course of two months.

Battle of Fair Oaks / Battle of Seven Pines The Battle of Fair Oaks, also known as the Battle of Seven Pines, was fought from May 31 to June 1, 1862. It took place near Richmond, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign. Union forces halted a Confederate offensive under General Johnston. Johnston was seriously wounded, leading to the appointment of General Lee as his replacement.

Another underrated battle, if only for the fact that:
A) Joe Johnston was wounded, and Robert E. Lee took his place.
B) Afterward, McClellan lost his nerve and never again threatened Richmond.

Battle of Stones River / Battle of Murfreesboro The Battle of Stones River lasted from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863. It took place near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The battle resulted in a strategic Union victory, boosting Northern morale. Both sides suffered heavy casualties during the fighting.

Most people do not even know this battle was fought, much less how important it was. It saved central Tennessee for the Union for the rest of the war.

Battle of Fort Sumter The Battle of Fort Sumter began on April 12, 1861, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. It marked the start of the American Civil War. Confederate forces bombarded the Union garrison, forcing its surrender. There were no casualties during the bombardment itself.
Battle of Franklin Fought on November 30, 1864, the Battle of Franklin took place in Tennessee. It was part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Confederate forces under General Hood launched a disastrous frontal assault. The Union Army under General Schofield repelled the attack with heavy Confederate losses.
Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek was fought on August 10, 1861, in southwestern Missouri. It was the first major battle west of the Mississippi River. Confederate forces achieved a tactical victory but failed to capitalize on it. Union General Lyon was killed during the battle.
Seven Days' Battles The Seven Days' Battles occurred from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia. It marked the end of the Union's Peninsula Campaign. General Lee launched a series of attacks, forcing the Union Army to retreat. The battles solidified Lee's reputation as a Confederate commander.
BAdd New Item