Civil War Battles: A Nation Forever Changed

The battles of the Civil War were fought across the United States from the East Coast to as far west as New Mexico. Beginning in 1861, these battles made a permanent mark upon the landscape and elevated to prominence small towns that had previously been peaceful villages. As a result, names such as Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg became eternally entwined with images of sacrifice, bloodshed, and heroism.

It is estimated that over 10,000 battles of various sizes were fought during the Civil War as Union forces marched towards victory. The battles of the Civil War are largely divided into the Eastern, Western, and Trans-Mississippi Theaters, with the bulk of the fighting taking place in the first two. During the Civil War, over 200,000 Americans were killed in battle as each side fought for their chosen cause.

Civil War Battles: By Year & Theater

1861

Eastern Theater

April 12-14 - Battle of Fort Sumter - South Carolina

June 3 - Battle of Philippi - Virginia

June 10 - Battle of Big Bethel - Virginia

July 21 - First Battle of Bull Run - Virginia

October 21 - Battle of Ball's Bluff - Virginia

November 8 - The Trent Affair - at Sea

Western Theater

August 10 - Battle of Wilson's Creek - Missouri

November 7 - Battle of Belmont - Missouri

1862

Eastern Theater

March 8-9 - Battle of Hampton Roads - Virginia

March 23 - First Battle of Kernstown - Virginia

April 5 - Siege of Yorktown - Virginia

April 10-11 - Battle of Fort Pulaski - Georgia

May 8 - Battle of McDowell - Virginia

May 25 - First Battle of Winchester - Virginia

May 31 - Battle of Seven Pines - Virginia

June 8 - Battle of Cross Keys - Virginia

June 9 - Battle of Port Republic - Virginia

June 26 - Battle of Beaver Dam Creek (Mechanicsville) - Virginia

June 27 - Battle of Gaines' Mill - Virginia

June 29 - Battle of Savage's Station - Virginia

June 30 - Battle of Glendale (Frayser's Farm) - Virginia

July 1 - Battle of Malvern Hill - Virginia

August 9 - Battle of Cedar Mountain - Virginia

August 28-30 - Second Battle of Manassas - Virginia

September 1 - Battle of Chantilly - Virginia

September 12-15 - Battle of Harpers Ferry - Virginia

September 14 - Battle of South Mountain - Maryland

September 17 - Battle of Antietam - Maryland

December 13 - Battle of Fredericksburg - Virginia

Western Theater

January 19 - Battle of Mill Springs - Kentucky

February 6 - Battle of Fort Henry - Tennessee

February 11-16 - Battle of Fort Donelson - Tennessee

April 6-7 - Battle of Shiloh - Tennessee

April 12 - Great Locomotive Chase - Georgia

April 24/25 - Capture of New Orleans - Louisiana

June 6 - Battle of Memphis - Tennessee

September 19 - Battle of Iuka - Mississippi

October 3-4 - Second Battle of Corinth - Mississippi

October 8 - Battle of Perryville - Kentucky

December 26-29 - Battle of Chickasaw Bayou - Mississippi

December 31-January 2, 1863 - Battle of Stones River - Tennessee

Trans-Mississippi Theater

February 21 - Battle of Valverde - New Mexico

March 7-8 - Battle of Pea Ridge - Arkansas

March 26-28 - Battle of Glorieta Pass - New Mexico

December 7 - Battle of Prairie Grove - Arkansas

1863

Eastern Theater

May 1-6 - Battle of Chancellorsville - Virginia

June 9 - Battle of Brandy Station - Virginia

July 1-3 - Battle of Gettysburg - Pennsylvania

July 3 - Battle of Gettysburg - Pickett's Charge - Pennsylvania

July 11 & 18 - Battles of Fort Wagner - South Carolina

October 13-November 7 - Bristoe Campaign - Virginia

November 26-December 2 - Mine Run Campaign - Virginia

Western Theater

Fall 1862-July 4 - Vicksburg Campaign - Mississippi

May 12 - Battle of Raymond - Mississippi

May 18-July 4 - Siege of Vicksburg - Mississippi

May 16 - Battle of Champion Hill - Mississippi

May 17 - Battle of Big Black River Bridge - Mississippi

May 21-July 9 - Siege of Port Hudson - Louisiana

June 11-July 26 - Morgan's Raid - Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, & Ohio

September 18-20 - Battle of Chickamauga - Georgia

October 28-29 - Battle of Wauhatchie - Tennessee

November 23-25 - Battle of Chattanooga - Tennessee

November-December - Knoxville Campaign - Tennessee

Trans-Mississippi Theater

January 9-11 - Battle of Arkansas Post - Arkansas

1864

Eastern Theater

February 16 - Submarine H.L. Hunley Sinks USS Housatonic - South Carolina

February 20 - Battle of Olustee - Florida

May 5-7 - Battle of the Wilderness - Virginia

May 8-21 - Battle of Spotsylvania Court House - Virginia

May 11 - Battle of Yellow Tavern - Virginia

May 16 - Battle of New Market - Virginia

May 23-26 - Battle of North Anna - Virginia

May 31-June 12 - Battle of Cold Harbor - Virginia

June 5 - Battle of Piedmont - Virginia

June 9, 1864-April 2, 1865 - Siege of Petersburg - Virginia

June 11-12 - Battle of Trevilian Station - Virginia

June 21-23 - Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road - Virginia

July 9 - Battle of Monocacy - Maryland

July 24 - Second Battle of Kernstown - Virginia

July 30 - Battle of the Crater - Virginia

August 18-21 - Battle of Globe Tavern - Virginia

September 19 - Third Battle of Winchester (Opequon) - Virginia

September 21-22 - Battle of Fisher's Hill - Virginia

October 2 - Battle of Peebles Farm - Virginia

October 19 - Battle of Cedar Creek - Virginia

October 27-28 - Battle of Boydton Plank Road - Virginia

Western Theater

May 13-15 - Battle of Resaca - Georgia

June 10 - Battle of Brice's Cross Roads - Mississippi

June 27 - Battle of Kennesaw Mountain - Georgia

July 20 - Battle of Peachtree Creek - Georgia

July 22 - Battle of Atlanta - Georgia

July 28 - Battle of Ezra Church - Georgia

August 5 - Battle of Mobile Bay - Alabama

August 31-September 1 - Battle of Jonesboro (Jonesborough) - Georgia

November 15-December 22 - Sherman's March to the Sea - Georgia

November 29 - Battle of Spring Hill - Tennessee

November 30 - Battle of Franklin - Tennessee

December 15-16 - Battle of Nashville - Tennessee

Trans-Mississippi

April 8 - Battle of Mansfield - Louisiana

October 23 - Battle of Westport - Missouri

1865 

Eastern Theater

January 13-15 - Second Battle of Fort Fisher - North Carolina

March 25 - Battle of Fort Stedman - Virginia

April 1 - Battle of Five Forks - Virginia

April 6 - Battle of Sayler's Creek (Sailor's Creek) - Virginia

April 9 - Surrender at Appomattox Court House - Virginia

Western Theater

March 19-21 - Battle of Bentonville - North Carolina

April 2 - Battle of Selma - Alabama