The American Civil War, spanning from 1861 to 1865, was a devastating conflict between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) over issues of slavery, states' rights, and the preservation of the Union. The war commenced on April 12, 1861, with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold in Charleston Harbor. The following years saw a series of critical battles and developments, as both sides struggled for dominance and ideological supremacy.

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Prominent battles like the First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861), Antietam (September 1862), Gettysburg (July 1863), and Vicksburg (July 1863) highlighted the intensity and brutality of the conflict. The war also witnessed key figures such as President Abraham Lincoln, whose leadership and determination to preserve the Union were central to the Northern cause, and General Robert E. Lee, who commanded Confederate forces and became a symbol of the South's defiance. As the conflict progressed, Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 signaled a turning point, transforming the war into a struggle for the abolition of slavery as well.

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The Union's military and economic advantages eventually took their toll on the Confederacy. General Ulysses S. Grant's campaigns, including his siege of Petersburg and capture of Richmond in 1865, weakened the Southern forces significantly. The war concluded on April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House. The aftermath of the Civil War led to the abolition of slavery, the preservation of the Union, and the initiation of the Reconstruction era, which aimed to rebuild the South and address the profound social and political changes that the war had engendered.

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A list of major battles during the American Civil War:

 

1861

 

 Attack on Fort Sumter (April 12-14, 1861)

Confederate forces bombarded the federal garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, initiating the Civil War.

 

First Battle of Bull Run - First Manassas (July 21, 1861)

The first major land battle of the war, resulting in a Confederate victory that shattered Union expectations of a swift victory.

 

1862

 

Battle of Fort Henry (February 6, 1862)

Union naval forces captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, opening the gateway to the Confederate heartland.

 

Battle of Fort Donelson (February 11-16, 1862)

Union forces secured a crucial victory by capturing Fort Donelson, gaining control over important waterways.

 

Battle of Hampton Roads - Monitor vs. Merrimack (March 8-9, 1862)

 - The first clash of ironclad warships, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, revolutionizing naval warfare.

 

Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862)

A bloody engagement in Tennessee that inflicted heavy casualties on both sides but ultimately led to a Union victory.

 

Seven Days' Battles (June 25 - July 1, 1862)

A series of engagements around Richmond, Virginia, where Confederate forces repelled Union General McClellan's Peninsula Campaign.

 

Second Battle of Bull Run - Second Manassas (August 28-30, 1862)

Confederate forces defeated Union General Pope's army, allowing General Lee to invade the North for the first time.

 

Battle of Antietam - Sharpsburg (September 17, 1862)

The single bloodiest day of the war, ending in a tactical draw but halting General Lee's invasion of the North.

 

Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11-15, 1862)

Confederate forces under Lee repelled Union assaults, leading to a decisive Southern victory.

 

1863

 

Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30 - May 6, 1863)

Confederate General Lee outmaneuvered Union General Hooker, resulting in a Southern victory despite being outnumbered.

 

Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)

A turning point in the war, Union forces repelled Confederate attacks in a battle that ended Lee's northern invasion.

 

Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 - July 4, 1863)

Union forces led by General Grant besieged and captured Vicksburg, gaining control of the Mississippi River.

 

Battle of Chickamauga (September 19-20, 1863)

Confederate victory in Georgia, though a determined stand by Union General Thomas prevented a complete rout.

 

1864

 

Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864)

An intense and brutal battle in Virginia's wilderness, marking the beginning of Grant's Overland Campaign.

 

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21, 1864)

Fierce fighting and trench warfare characterized this battle during Grant's campaign.

 

Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31 - June 12, 1864)

A Union frontal assault on well-fortified Confederate positions resulted in heavy casualties.

 

Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864)

Union forces under Sherman captured the vital Confederate city of Atlanta.

 

Battle of Mobile Bay (August 2-23, 1864) 

Union Admiral Farragut captured Mobile Bay, a significant Confederate port, using his famous "Damn the torpedoes" approach.

 

Battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864)

A Confederate attack on Union forces in Tennessee resulted in heavy Southern casualties.

 

Battle of Nashville (December 15-16, 1864)

Union General Thomas routed Confederate General Hood's army, effectively destroying Confederate power in the West.

 

1865

 

Battle of Five Forks (April 1, 1865) 

Union forces secured a crucial victory that led to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond.

 

Battle of Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.