AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Battles of the American Civil War

Battle Of Gettysburg
Location : Adams County. Campaign : Gettysburg Campaign (June-August 1863). Date : July 1-3, 1863. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Forces Engaged : 158,300 total (US 83,289; CS 75,054). Estimated Casualties : 51,000 total (US 23,000; CS 28,000). On June 24, 1863, General Robert E. Lee led his Confederate Army across the Potomac River and headed towards Pennsylvania. As Lee's troops entered Pennsylvania, Mead led the Union Army north from Washington. Lee had been left unaware of the Union's position. When a scout reported the Union approach, Lee ordered his troops to converge west of the small village of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On July 1, some Confederate infantry clashed west of town with Union cavalry. The Union commander fought to hold off the Confederate advance. The Confederate troops drove the Union troops through the streets of Gettysburg back to Cemetery Hill. Lee ordered General Richard Ewell to attack this position "if practicable". An order that normally meant launch an all-out attack. However,Ewell decided not to attack when he saw the Union artillery atop the hill. The rest of the armies arrived that first night. Lee decided to attack both flanks the next day. After a long day of fighting, the Union troops held position. Thinking the Union center had weakened, Lee decided to hit it first with artillery, then an infantry charge. Stuart's late-arriving cavalry was to come in behind the Union center at the same time, but were held off by Union cavalry. After an hour of fighting, the Union artillery tricked the Confederates into thinking their guns were knocked out. 13,000 Confederate Troops marched across the field in front of Cemetery Hill. The Union artillery opened fire. This was followed by Federal infantry firepower. Only half made it back to their own lines. Lee was forced to retreat to Virginia. The Battle of Gettysburg American Civil War (July 1 - July 3, 1863), fought in, and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign, was the battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War and is frequently cited as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac defeated attacks by Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, ending Lee's invasion of the North. Following his success at Chancellorsville in May 1863, Lee led his army through the Shenandoah Valley for his second invasion of the North, hoping to reach as far as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or even Philadelphia, and to influence Northern politicians to give up their prosecution of the war. Prodded by President Abraham Lincoln, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker moved his army in pursuit, but was relieved almost on the eve of battle and replaced by Meade. The two armies began to collide at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, as Lee urgently concentrated his forces there. Low ridges to the northwest of town were defended initially by a Union cavalry division, which was soon reinforced with two corps of Union infantry. However, two large Confederate corps assaulted them from the northwest and north, collapsing the hastily developed Union lines, sending the defenders retreating through the streets of town to the hills just to the south. On the second day of battle, most of both armies had assembled. The Union line was laid out in a defensive formation resembling a fishhook. Lee launched a heavy assault on the Union left flank, and fierce fighting raged at Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and the Peach Orchard. On the Union right, demonstrations escalated into full-scale assaults on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill. Across the battlefield, despite significant losses, the Union defenders held their lines. On the third day of battle, July 3, fighting resumed on Culp's Hill, and cavalry battles raged to the east and south, but the main event was a dramatic infantry assault by 12,500 Confederates against the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Pickett's Charge was repulsed by Union rifle and artillery fire at great losses to the Confederate army. Lee led his army on a torturous retreat back to Virginia. Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day battle. That November, President Lincoln used the dedication ceremony for the Gettysburg National Cemetery to honor the fallen and redefine the purpose of the war in his historic Gettysburg Address. Shortly after the Army of Northern Virginia won a decisive victory over the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30 - May 6, 1863), Robert E. Lee decided upon a second invasion of the North (the first was the unsuccessful Maryland Campaign of September 1862). Such a move would upset Federal plans for the summer campaigning season and possibly relieve the besieged Confederate garrison at Vicksburg. It would allow the Confederates to live off the bounty of the rich Northern farms while giving war-ravaged Virginia a much needed rest. In addition, Lee's 72,000-man army could threaten Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, and possibly strengthen the growing peace movement in the North. Thus, on June 3, Lee's army began to shift northward from Fredericksburg, Virginia. In order to attain more efficiency in his commands, Lee had reorganized his two large corps into three new corps. Lt. Gen. James Longstreet retained command of his First Corps. The old corps of deceased Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was divided into two, with the Second Corps going to Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell and the new Third Corps to Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill. The Cavalry Corps was commanded by Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. The Union Army of the Potomac, under Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, consisted of seven infantry corps, a cavalry corps, and an Artillery Reserve, for a combined strength of about 94,000 men. However, President Lincoln replaced Hooker with Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade, a Pennsylvanian, because of Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville and his timid response to Lee's second invasion north of the Potomac River. The first major action of the campaign took place on June 9 between the opposing cavalry forces at Brandy Station, near Culpeper, Virginia. The Confederate cavalry under Stuart was surprised and nearly routed by the Union I Corps, but Stuart eventually prevailed. The battle, the largest cavalry engagement of the war, proved that for the first time, the Union horse soldier was equal to his Southern counterpart. By mid-June, the Army of Northern Virginia was poised to cross the Potomac River and enter Maryland. After defeating the Federal garrisons at Winchester and Martinsburg, Ewell's Second Corps began crossing the river on June 15. Hill's and Longstreet's corps followed on June 24 and June 25. Hooker's army pursued, keeping between the U.S. capital and Lee's army. The Federals crossed the Potomac from June 25 to June 27. Lee gave strict orders to his army to minimize any negative impacts on the civilian population. Food, horses, and other supplies were generally not seized outright, although quartermasters reimbursing northern farmers and merchants using Confederate money were not well received. Various towns, most notably York, Pennsylvania, were required to pay indemnities in lieu of supplies, under threat of destruction. The most controversial of the Confederate actions during the invasion was the seizure of some forty northern African Americans, a few of whom were escaped slaves but most freemen. They were sent south into slavery under guard. On June 26, elements of Maj. Gen. Jubal Early's division of Ewell's Corps occupied the town of Gettysburg after chasing off newly raised Pennsylvania militia in a series of minor skirmishes. Early laid the borough under tribute but did not collect any significant supplies. Soldiers burned several railroad cars and a covered bridge, and they destroyed nearby rails and telegraph lines. The following morning, Early departed for adjacent York County. Meanwhile, in a controversial move, Lee allowed J.E.B. Stuart to take a portion of the army's cavalry and ride around the east flank of the Union army. Lee's orders gave Stuart much latitude, and both generals share the blame for the long absence of Stuart's cavalry, as well as for the failure to assign a more active role to the cavalry left with the army. Stuart and his three best brigades were absent from the army during the crucial phase of the approach to Gettysburg and the first two days of battle. By June 29, Lee's army was strung out in an arc from Chambersburg (28 miles (45 km) northwest of Gettysburg) to Carlisle (30 miles (48 km) north of Gettysburg) to near Harrisburg and Wrightsville on the Susquehanna River. In a dispute over the use of the forces defending the Harpers Ferry garrison, Hooker offered his resignation, and Abraham Lincoln and General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck, who were looking for an excuse to get rid of him, immediately accepted. They replaced him early on the morning of June 28 with Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade, commander of the V Corps. On June 29, when Lee learned that the Army of the Potomac had crossed its namesake river, he ordered a concentration of his forces around Cashtown, located at the eastern base of South Mountain and eight miles (13 km) west of Gettysburg. On June 30, while part of Hill's Corps was in Cashtown, one of Hill's brigades, North Carolinians under Brig. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew, ventured toward Gettysburg. The memoirs of Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, Pettigrew's division commander, claimed that Pettigrew was in search of a large supply of shoes in town, but this explanation may have been devised in retrospect to justify an overly heavy reconnaissance force. When Pettigrew's troops approached Gettysburg on June 30, they noticed Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford arriving south of town, and Pettigrew returned to Cashtown without engaging them. When Pettigrew told Hill and Heth about what he had seen, neither general believed that there was a substantial Federal force in or near the town, suspecting that it had been only Pennsylvania militia. Despite General Lee's order to avoid a general engagement until his entire army was concentrated, Hill decided to mount a significant reconnaissance in force the following morning to determine the size and strength of the enemy force in his front. Around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, two brigades of Heth's division advanced to Gettysburg. General Buford realized the importance of the high ground directly to the south of Gettysburg, knowing that if the Confederates could gain control of the heights, Meade's army would have difficulty dislodging them. He decided to utilize three ridges west of Gettysburg: Herr Ridge, McPherson Ridge, and Seminary Ridge (proceeding west to east toward the town). These were appropriate terrain for a delaying action by his small division against superior Confederate infantry forces, meant to buy time awaiting the arrival of Union infantrymen who could occupy the strong defensive positions south of town at Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and Culp's Hill. Heth's division advanced with two brigades forward, commanded by Brig. Gens. James J. Archer and Joseph R. Davis. They proceeded easterly in columns along the Chambersburg Pike. Three miles (5 km) west of town, about 7:30 a.m. on July 1, Heth's two brigades met light resistance from vedettes of Union cavalry, and deployed into line. Eventually, they reached dismounted troopers from Col. William Gamble's cavalry brigade, who raised determined resistance and delaying tactics from behind fence posts with fire from their breechloading carbines. By 10:20 a.m., the Confederates had pushed the Union cavalrymen east to McPherson Ridge, when the vanguard of the I Corps (Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds) finally arrived. North of the pike, Davis gained a temporary success against Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler's brigade but was repulsed with heavy losses in an action around an unfinished railroad bed cut in the ridge. South of the pike, Archer's brigade assaulted through Herbst (also know as McPherson's) Woods. The Federal Iron Brigade under Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith enjoyed initial success against Archer, capturing several hundred men, including Archer himself. Early in the fighting, while General Reynolds was directing troop and artillery placements just to the east of the woods, he fell from his horse, killed by a bullet, which struck him behind the right ear. Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday assumed command. Fighting in the Chambersburg Pike area lasted until about 12:30 p.m. It resumed around 2:30 p.m., when Heth's entire division engaged, adding the brigades of Pettigrew and Col. John M. Brockenbrough. As Pettigrew's North Carolina Brigade came on line, they flanked the 19th Indiana and drove the Iron Brigade back. The 26th North Carolina (the largest regiment in the army with 839 men) lost heavily, leaving the first day's fight with around 212 men. By the end of the three-day battle, they had about 152 men standing, the highest casualty percentage for one battle of any other regiment, North or South. Slowly the Iron Brigade was pushed out of the woods toward Seminary Ridge. Hill added Maj. Gen. William Dorsey Pender's division to the assault, and the I Corps was driven back through the grounds of the Lutheran Seminary and Gettysburg streets. As the fighting to the west proceeded, two divisions of Ewell's Second Corps, marching west toward Cashtown in accordance with Lee's order for the army to concentrate in that vicinity, turned south on the Carlisle and Harrisburg Roads toward Gettysburg, while the Union XI Corps (Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard) raced north on the Baltimore Pike and Taneytown Road. By early afternoon, the Federal line ran in a semi-circle west, north, and northeast of Gettysburg. However, the Federals did not have enough troops; Cutler, who was deployed north of the Chambersburg Pike, had his right flank in the air. The leftmost division of the XI Corps was unable to deploy in time to strengthen the line, so Doubleday was forced to throw in reserve brigades to salvage his line. Around 2:00 p.m., the Second Corps divisions of Maj. Gens. Robert E. Rodes and Jubal Early assaulted and out-flanked the Union I and XI Corps positions north and northwest of town. The brigades of Col. Edward A. O'Neal and Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson suffered severe losses assaulting the I Corps division of Brig. Gen. John C. Robinson south of Oak Hill. Early's division profited from a blunder made by Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow, when he advanced his XI Corps division to Blocher's Knoll (directly north of town and now known as Barlow's Knoll); this represented a salient in the corps line, susceptible to attack from multiple sides, and Early's troops overran his division, which constituted the right flank of the Union Army's position. Barlow was wounded and captured in the attack. As Federal positions collapsed both north and west of town, Gen. Howard ordered a retreat to the high ground south of town at Cemetery Hill, where he had left the division of Brig. Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr as a reserve. Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock assumed command of the battlefield, sent by Meade when he heard that Reynolds had been killed. Hancock, commander of the II Corps and his most trusted subordinate, was ordered to take command of the field and to determine whether Gettysburg was an appropriate place for a major battle. Hancock told Howard, who was technically superior in rank, "I think this the strongest position by nature upon which to fight a battle that I ever saw." When Howard agreed, Hancock concluded the discussion: "Very well, sir, I select this as the battle-field." Hancock's determination had a morale-boosting effect on the retreating Union soldiers, but he played no direct tactical role on the first day. Gen. Lee understood the defensive potential to the Union if they held this high ground. He sent orders to Ewell that Cemetery Hill be taken "if practicable." Ewell chose not to attempt the assault; this decision is considered by historians to be a great missed opportunity. The first day at Gettysburg, more significant than simply a prelude to the bloody second and third days, ranks as the 23rd biggest battle of the war by number of troops engaged. About one quarter of Meade's army (22,000 men) and one third of Lee's army (27,000) were engaged. Throughout the evening of July 1 and morning of July 2, most of the remaining infantry of both armies arrived on the field, including the Union II, III, V, VI, and XII Corps. Longstreet's third division, commanded by George Pickett, had begun the march from Chambersburg early in the morning; it did not arrive until late on July 2. The Union line ran from Culp's Hill southeast of the town, northwest to Cemetery Hill just south of town, then south for nearly two miles (3 km) along Cemetery Ridge, terminating just north of Little Round Top. Most of the XII Corps was on Culp's Hill; the remnants of I and XI Corps defended Cemetery Hill; II Corps covered most of the northern half of Cemetery Ridge; and III Corps was ordered to take up a position to its flank. The shape of the Union line is popularly described as a "fishhook" formation. The Confederate line paralleled the Union line about a mile (1,600 m) to the west on Seminary Ridge, ran east through the town, then curved southeast to a point opposite Culp's Hill. Thus, the Federal army had interior lines, while the Confederate line was nearly five miles (8 km) in length. Lee's battle plan for July 2 called for Longstreet's First Corps to position itself stealthily to attack the Union left flank, facing northeast astraddle the Emmitsburg Road, and to roll up the Federal line. The attack sequence was to begin with Maj. Gens. John Bell Hood's and Lafayette McLaws's divisions, followed by Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson's division of Hill's Third Corps. The progressive en echelon sequence of this attack would prevent Meade from shifting troops from his center to bolster his left. At the same time, Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's and Jubal Early's Second Corps divisions were to make a "demonstration" against Culp's and Cemetery Hills (again, to prevent the shifting of Federal troops), and to turn the demonstration into a full-scale attack if a favorable opportunity presented itself. Lee's plan, however, was based on faulty intelligence, exacerbated by Stuart's continued absence from the battlefield. Instead of moving beyond the Federals' left and attacking their flank, Longstreet's left division, under McLaws, would face Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles's III Corps directly in their path. Sickles was dissatisfied with the position assigned him on the southern end of Cemetery Ridge. Seeing higher ground more favorable to artillery positions a half mile (800 m) to the west, he advanced his corps without orders to the slightly higher ground along the Emmitsburg Road. The new line ran from Devil's Den, northwest to the Sherfy farm's Peach Orchard, then northeast along the Emmitsburg Road to south of the Codori farm. This created an untenable salient at the Peach Orchard; Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys's division (in position along the Emmitsburg Road) and Maj. Gen. David B. Birney's division (to the south) were subject to attacks from two sides and were spread out over a longer front than their small corps could defend effectively. Longstreet's attack was to be made as early as practicable; however, Longstreet got permission from Lee to await the arrival of one of his brigades, and while marching to the assigned position, his men came within sight of a Union signal station on Little Round Top. Countermarching to avoid detection wasted much time, and Hood's and McLaws's divisions did not launch their attacks until just after 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. As Longstreet's divisions slammed into the Union III Corps, Meade was forced to send 20,000 reinforcements in the form of the entire V Corps, Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell's division of the II Corps, most of the XII Corps, and small portions of the newly arrived VI Corps. The Confederate assault deviated from Lee's plan since Hood's division moved more easterly than intended, losing its alignment with the Emmitsburg Road,[39] attacking Devil's Den and Little Round Top. McLaws, coming in on Hood's left, drove multiple attacks into the thinly stretched III Corps in the Wheatfield and overwhelmed them in Sherfy's Peach Orchard. McLaws's attack eventually reached Plum Run Valley (the "Valley of Death") before being beaten back by the Pennsylvania Reserves division of the V Corps, moving down from Little Round Top. The III Corps was virtually destroyed as a combat unit in this battle, and Sickles's leg was amputated after it was shattered by a cannonball. Caldwell's division was destroyed piecemeal in the Wheatfield. Anderson's division assault on McLaws's left, starting around 6 p.m., reached the crest of Cemetery Ridge, but they could not hold the position in the face of counterattacks from the II Corps, including an almost suicidal counterattack by the 1st Minnesota against a Confederate brigade, ordered in desperation by Hancock. As fighting raged in the Wheatfield and Devil's Den, Col. Strong Vincent of V Corps had a precarious hold on Little Round Top, an important hill at the extreme left of the Union line. His brigade of four relatively small regiments was able to resist repeated assaults by Brig. Gen. Evander Law's brigade of Hood's division. Meade's chief engineer, Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren, had realized the importance of this position, and dispatched Vincent's brigade, an artillery battery, and the 140th New York to occupy Little Round Top mere minutes before Hood's troops arrived. The defense of Little Round Top with a bayonet charge by the 20th Maine was one of the most fabled episodes in the Civil War and propelled Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain into prominence after the war. About 7:00 p.m., the Second Corps' attack by Johnson's division on Culp's Hill got off to a late start. Most of the hill's defenders, the Union XII Corps, had been sent to the left to defend against Longstreet's attacks, and the only portion of the corps remaining on the hill was a brigade of New Yorkers under Brig. Gen. George S. Greene. Because of Greene's insistence on constructing strong defensive works, and with reinforcements from the I and XI Corps, Greene's men held off the Confederate attackers, although the Southerners did capture a portion of the abandoned Federal works on the lower part of Culp's Hill. Just at dark, two of Jubal Early's brigades attacked the Union XI Corps positions on East Cemetery Hill where Col. Andrew L. Harris of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, came under a withering attack, losing half his men; however, Early failed to support his brigades in their attack, and Ewell's remaining division, that of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes, failed to aid Early's attack by moving against Cemetery Hill from the west. The Union army's interior lines enabled its commanders to shift troops quickly to critical areas, and with reinforcements from II Corps, the Federal troops retained possession of East Cemetery Hill, and Early's brigades were forced to withdraw. Jeb Stuart and his three cavalry brigades arrived in Gettysburg around noon but had no role in the second day's battle. Brig. Gen. Wade Hampton's brigade fought a minor engagement with George Armstrong Custer's Michigan cavalry near Hunterstown to the northeast of Gettysburg. General Lee wished to renew the attack on Friday, July 3, using the same basic plan as the previous day: Longstreet would attack the Federal left, while Ewell attacked Culp's Hill. However, before Longstreet was ready, Union XII Corps troops started a dawn artillery bombardment against the Confederates on Culp's Hill in an effort to regain a portion of their lost works. The Confederates attacked, and the second fight for Culp's Hill ended around 11 a.m., after some seven hours of bitter combat. Lee was forced to change his plans. Longstreet would command Pickett's Virginia division of his own First Corps, plus six brigades from Hill's Corps, in an attack on the Federal II Corps position at the right center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Prior to the attack, all the artillery the Confederacy could bring to bear on the Federal positions would bombard and weaken the enemy's line. Around 1 p.m., from 150 to 170 Confederate guns began an artillery bombardment that was probably the largest of the war. In order to save valuable ammunition for the infantry attack that they knew would follow, the Army of the Potomac's artillery at first did not return the enemy's fire. After waiting about 15 minutes, about 80 Federal cannons added to the din. The Army of Northern Virginia was critically low on artillery ammunition, and the cannonade did not significantly affect the Union position. Around 3 p.m., the cannon fire subsided, and 12,500 Southern soldiers stepped from the ridgeline and advanced the three-quarters of a mile (1,200 m) to Cemetery Ridge in what is known to history as "Pickett's Charge". As the Confederates approached, there was fierce flanking artillery fire from Union positions on Cemetery Hill and north of Little Round Top, and musket and canister fire from Hancock's II Corps. Nearly one half of the attackers did not return to their own lines. Although the Federal line wavered and broke temporarily at a jog called the "Angle" in a low stone fence, just north of a patch of vegetation called the Copse of Trees, reinforcements rushed into the breach, and the Confederate attack was repulsed. There were two significant cavalry engagements on July 3. Stuart was sent to guard the Confederate left flank and was to be prepared to exploit any success the infantry might achieve on Cemetery Hill by flanking the Federal right and hitting their trains and lines of communications. Three miles (5 km) east of Gettysburg, in what is now called "East Cavalry Field" (not shown on the accompanying map, but between the York and Hanover Roads), Stuart's forces collided with Federal cavalry: Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg's division and George A. Custer's brigade. A lengthy mounted battle, including hand-to-hand sabre combat, ensued. Custer's charge, leading the 1st Michigan Cavalry, blunted the attack by Wade Hampton's brigade, blocking Stuart from achieving his objectives in the Federal rear. Meanwhile, after hearing news of the day's victory, Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick launched a cavalry attack against the infantry positions of Longstreet's Corps southwest of Big Round Top. Brig. Gen. Elon J. Farnsworth protested against the futility of such a move but obeyed orders. Farnsworth was killed in the attack, and his brigade suffered significant losses. Gettysburg Campaign (July 5 - July 14).The armies stared at one another across the bloody fields on July 4, the same day that the Vicksburg garrison surrendered to Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Lee reformed his lines into a defensive position, hoping that Meade would attack. The cautious Union commander, however, decided against the risk, a decision for which he would later be criticized. He did order a series of small probing actions, including sending the U.S. Regulars over a mile towards the right of the Confederate lines, but they withdrew under artillery fire and Meade decided not to press an attack. A series of sharp exchanges between the opposing skirmish lines merely added more names to the casualty lists. By mid-afternoon, the firing at Gettysburg had essentially stopped, and both armies began to collect their remaining wounded and bury some of the dead. A proposal by Lee for a prisoner exchange was rejected by Meade. On July 5, in a driving rain, the bulk of the Army of Northern Virginia left Gettysburg on the Hagerstown Road; the Battle of Gettysburg was over, and the Confederates headed back to Virginia. Meade's army followed, although the pursuit was half-spirited. The recently rain-swollen Potomac trapped Lee's army on the north bank of the river for a time, but when the Federals finally caught up, the Confederates had forded the river. The rear-guard action at Falling Waters on July 14 ended the Gettysburg Campaign and added some more names to the long casualty lists, including General Pettigrew, who was mortally wounded. In a brief letter to Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck written on July 7, Lincoln remarked on the two major Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. He continued: Now, if Gen. Meade can complete his work so gloriously prosecuted thus far, by the literal or substantial destruction of Lee's army, the rebellion will be over. Halleck then relayed the contents of Lincoln's letter to Meade in a telegram. However, despite repeated pleas from Lincoln and Halleck, which continued over the next week, Meade did not pursue Lee's army aggressively enough to destroy it before it crossed back over the Potomac River to safety in the South.

The South Secession
In January, 1861, The South Succeeded from the Union. Abraham Lincoln had been elected as President. He was a strong opponent of slavery. After calling a state convention, the delegates voted to remove the state of South Carolina from the Union. The secession of South Carolina was then followed by six more states, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Eventually Eleven Statesformed the Confederate States of America. At a convention in Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceding states created the Confederate Constitution. Jefferson Davis, was named the provisional President of the Confederacy, till elections could be held.

Fort Sumter
In 1861, the succeeding States demanded that the southern federal forts be surrendered. When President Buchanan refused, the southern state troops seized them. South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach troops inside Fort Sumter. The ship was forced to return to New York. At Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, he stated he would not accept secession. President Lincoln notified the state in advance that he was sending supplies to the Fort. South Carolina, fearing a trick, asked the commander of the fort, to surrender immediately. Anderson offered to surrender. His offer however was rejected, and on April 12, the Civil War began with shots fired on the fort. The attack on Fort Sumter prompted four more states to join the Confederacy.

Battle Of Bull Run
Location : Fairfax County and Prince William County. Campaign : Manassas Campaign (July 1861). Date : July 21, 1861. Forces Engaged : 60,680 total (US 28,450; CS 32,230). Estimated Casualties : 4,700 total (US 2,950; CS 1,750). Under intense public demand, General-in-Chief Winfield Scott ordered General Irvin McDowell to advance on Confederate troops stationed at Manassas Junction, Virginia, before adequately training his troops. McDowell On July 16, 1861, Union troops marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Initially, Confederate troops were driven back to Henry Hill. But by late afternoon, Confederate reinforcements arrived and broke the Union right flank. The Union retreat soon deteriorated into a rout. By July 22, the Union troops reached the safety of Washington. McDowell was relieved of his command.

Blockade of the South
The Confederate South had little industry of its own. It needed to import materials to help fight the war. General Winfield Scott, suggested that the Union blockade the South to prevent them importing materials it needed to fight the war. The "Anaconda Plan" was formed. The Plan was approved by President Lincoln. The plan called for the Navy to form a blockade of ships to close all the major port cities of the South. An effort was made to improve the federal navy. By July, an effective blockade had begun. However, he South responded by building small, fast ships that could outmaneuver Union vessels.

The Battle of Franklin
Location : Williamson County. Date : November 30, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield [US]; Gen. John B. Hood [CS]. Forces Engaged : IV and XXIII Army Corps (Army of the Ohio and Cumberland) [US]; Army of Tennessee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 8,587 total, (US 2,326; CS 6,261). On November 30, 1864, the Confederate Army of Tennessee, came across retreating Union Troops. The battle was fought over five hours. Hood ordered a frontal attack against the Union perimeter. Confederate troopers close to the Union lines became pinned down. By nine o'clock, surviving Confederate troops were begging for mercy.

The Battle of Corinth
Location : Hardin County and McNairy County, Tennessee; Alcorn County and Tishomingo County, Mississippi. Date : April 29-June 10, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]. Forces Engaged : Department of the Mississippi [US]; Department No. 2 [CS]. On April , the Confederate Troops, under Beauregard, are defeated and retreat back on Corinth. General Halleck arrives from St. Louis and orders General John Pope's Troops to join Buell and Grant at Pittsburg Landing. General Earl Van Dorn's troops arrive from Arkansas which increases Confederate troops to 56,000. By April 21, Halleck has 120,000 troops under his command to fight the Confederate troops at Corinth. On April 30, Halleck begins his attack on Corinth. By May 29, Beauregard evacuates Corinth and retreats to Tupelo. By June, Halleck moves to break up his huge army. U. S. Grant is left in charge. Jeff Davis replaces Beauregard with Bragg. Van Dorn, having moved up from Vicksburg with Mansfield Lovell's Division, was joined with Price's Divisions at Ripley, thirty miles southeast of Corinth. The three divisions totaled 23,000 men commanded by Van Dorn. The Confederates move to retake Corinth. A coordinated attack drives the Union soldiers to behind the inner defenses of the town. On October 4, Confederate troops break through and enter Corinth. However, the attack fails, and Van Dorn is forced to abandon.

C.S.S. Virginia vs Monitor
The Confederate engineers converted a scuttled Union frigate, the "U.S.S. Merrimac", into an iron-sided vessel. They christened this ship the "C.S.S. Virginia". In many ways, the C.S.S. Virginia, changed the face of naval warfare. Both the Union and Confederates would go on to employ ironclad vessels in an effort to gain control of strategic waterways. The C.S.S, Virginia had good early success. She defeated two Union warships, the Congress and Cumberland. On March 9, in what was the first naval engagement between ironclad ships, the Monitor and Virginia fought to a draw. The Virginia self-destructed two months later.

Battle of Shiloh
Location : Hardin County. Date : April 6-7, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell [US]; Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 23,746 total (US 13,047; CS 10,699). On April 6,1962, the Confederate troops launched an attack against the Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. By the end of the afternoon, Union troops were almost defeated. However, during the night, Union had reinforcements arrived. At first, Confederate Troops were unaware of the increased Union troops. However, Confederate troops soon were on the back foot, and started to retreat. Exhausted Union troops did not follow.

Battle Of Philippi
Location : Barbour County. Date :June 3, 1861. Principal Commanders : Col. Thomas A. Morris [US]; Col. George A. Porterfield [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 30 total (US 4; CS 26). Under the command of Col. Thomas A. Morris, Union forces in western Virginia launched a two-prong advance against Confederate troops at Philippi. Two Union columns arrived at Philippi before dawn on the 3rd. A surprise attack was launched against the Confederate troops. The Confederate troops were forced to retreat to Huttonsville.

Battle Of Rich Mountain
Location : Randolph County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia (June-December 1861). Date : July 11, 1861. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan and Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans [US]; Lt. Col. John Pegram and Brig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 346 total (US 46; CS 300). On June 27, 1861, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan moved his divisions from Clarksburg south against Lt. Col. John Pegram’s Confederate troops. On July 9, he reached the vicinity of Rich Mountain. Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, led a reinforced brigade to seize the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in Pegram’s rear. A 2 hour battle split the Confederates in two. Pegram surrendered on July 13.

Kessler’s Cross Lanes
Location : Nicholas County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia. Date : August 26, 1861. Principal Commanders : Col. Erastus Tyler [US]; Brig. Gen. John Floyd [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 285 total (US 245; CS 40). Confederate Troops in Kanawha Valley, crossed the Gauley River to launch a surprise attack against the 7th Ohio Regiment under Col. Erastus Tyler which were camped at Kessler’s Cross Lanes. The Union troops were routed. The Confederate troops then withdrew and took up a defensive position at Carnifex Ferry.

Carnifex Ferry
Location : Nicholas County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia. Date : September 10, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans [US]; Brig. Gen. John Floyd [CS]. Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans on September 10, advanced against Brig. Gen. John Floyd’s troops at Carnifex Ferry. Floyd was forced to retreat during the night.

Cheat Mountain
Location : Pocahontas County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia. Date : September 12-15, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynolds [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee[CS]. Estimated Casualties : 170 total (US 80; CS 90). Confederate troops launched an attack Union defenses on the summit of Cheat Mountain and in the Tygart Valley. Resistence was so strong, Confederate troops believed they confronted an overwhelming force. In fact, there was only about 300 Union troops. The attack was eventually called off.

Greenbrier River
Location : Pocahontas County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia. Date : October 3, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynolds [US]; Brig. Gen. Henry R. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 80 total (US 40; CS 40). Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynolds with two brigades advanced from Cheat Mountain to the Confederate position at Camp Bartow on the Greenbrier River. Reynolds opened fire with his artillery. After sporadic fighting, Reynolds withdrew to Cheat Mountain.

Camp Alleghany
Location : Pocahontas County. Campaign : Operations in Western Virginia. Date : December 13, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy [US]; Col. Edward Allegheny Johnson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 283 total (US 137; CS 146). Confederate troops under Col. Edward Johnson occupy the summit of Allegheny Mountain. Union troops under Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy launch an attack against Johnson on December 13. After heavy fighting, Milroy’s troops were repulsed.

Hoke’s Run
Location : Berkeley County. Campaign : Manassas Campaign. Date : July 2, 1861. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson [US]; Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 114 total (US 23; CS 91). Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson’s division crossed the Potomac River near Williamsport and marched on the main road to Martinsburg. Union troops encountered troops of T.J. Jackson’s brigade. Jackson had issues orders to delay the Union advance only. On July 3, Patterson occupied Martinsburg. On July 15, Patterson marched to Bunker Hill. Patterson turned east to Charles Town, then withdrew to Harpers Ferry.

Battle at Blackburn’s Ford
Location : Prince William County and Fairfax County. Campaign : Manassas Campaign. Date : July 18, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell [US]; Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 151 total (US 83; CS 68). On July 18, Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell reached Centreville and pushed southwest, attempting to cross at Blackburn’s Ford. However, he was repulsed. This was a reconnaissance-in-force prior to the main event at Manassas/Bull Run. This action led Union commander McDowell to decide on the flanking maneuver at First Manassas.

Battle At Hatteras Inlet
Location : Dare County. Campaign : Blockade of the Carolina Coast. Date : August 28-29, 1861. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler [US]; Col. William F. Martin [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 773 total (US 3; CS 770). On August 26, an amphibious expedition led by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler left from Fort Monroe to capture Hatteras Inlet. On the 28th, Union troops came ashore and attacked the rear of the Confederate batteries. On August 29, Col. William F. Martin surrendered the Confederate garrison of 670.

Battle At Ball’s Bluff
Location : Loudoun County. Campaign : McClellan’s Operations in Northern Virginia (October-December 1861). Date : October 21, 1861. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone and Col. Edward Baker [US]; Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,070 total (US 921; CS 149). Union troops under Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, were attempting to cross the Potomac at Harrison’s Island and capture Leesburg. A Confederate counterattack drove the Union troops over the bluff and into the river with more then 700 eventually captured. This Union eventually led to the establishment of the Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.

Timeline of the American Civil War
January 1861....The South Secedes.

February 1861....The South Creates a Government.

February 1861....The South Seizes Federal Forts.

March 1861....Lincoln's Inauguration.

April 1861....Attack on Fort Sumter.

April 1861....Four More States Join the Confederacy.

June 1861....West Virginia Is Born.

June 1861....Four Slave States Stay in the Union.

July 1861....First Battle of Bull Run.

July 1861....General McDowell Is Replaced.

July 1861....A Blockade of the South.

January 1862....Abraham Lincoln Takes Action.

March 1862....McClellan Loses Command.

March 1862....Battle of the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac".

April 1862....The Battle of Shiloh.

April 1862....Fort Pulaski, Georgia.

April 1862....New Orleans.

April 1862....The Peninsular Campaign.

May 1862...."Stonewall" Jackson Defeats Union Forces.

June 1862....The Battle of Seven Pines.

July 1862....The Seven Days' Battles.

July 1862....A New Commander of the Union Army.

August 1862....Pope's Campaign.

July-August 1862....Pope's Campaign.

September 1862....Harper's Ferry.

September 1862....Antietam.

September-October 1862....Antietam.

December 1862....The Battle of Fredericksburg.

January 1863....Emancipation Proclamation.

March 1863....The First Conscription Act.

May 1863....The Battle of Chancellorsville.

May 1863....The Vicksburg Campaign.

June-July 1863....The Gettysburg Campaign.

September 1863....The Battle of Chickamauga.

August-November 1863....Meade in Virginia.

November 1863....The Battle of Chattanooga.

September-November 1863....Chattanooga.

November-December 1863....The Siege of Knoxville.

May 1864....Grant's Wilderness Campaign.

May-June, 1864....Grant's Wilderness Campaign.

May 1864....The Battle of Spotsylvania.

June 1864....The Battle of Cold Harbor.

June 1864....The Siege of Petersburg.

July 1864....Confederate Troops Approach Washington, D.C.

August 1864....General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

November 1864....General William T. Sherman's March to the Sea.

September-November, 1864....Sherman in Atlanta.

November 1864....Abraham Lincoln Is Re-Elected.

December 1864....Sherman at the Sea.

January 1865....The Fall of the Confederacy.

February 1865....Sherman Marches through North and South Carolina.

February 1865....A Chance for Reconciliation Is Lost.

April 1865....Fallen Richmond.

1865....The Defenses of Washington.

April 1865....Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

April 1865....The Assassination of President Lincoln.

April-May 1865....Final Surrenders among Remaining Confederate Troops.

1865....The Grand Review of the Army.

End of the American Civil War.

Battle at Dranesville
Location : Fairfax County. Campaign : McClellan’s Operations in Northern Virginia. Date : December 20, 1861. Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. E.O.C. Ord [US]; Brig. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 301 total (US 71; CS 230). Brig. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart led Confederate troops to protect a foraging expedition in the vicinity of Dranesville. Union Brig. Gen. E.O.C. Ord encountered Stuart`s troops. A firefight developed with Stuart withdrewing by mid-afternoon.

Battle At Hancock
Location : Washington County, Maryland; Morgan County, West Virginia. Campaign : Jackson’s Operations against the B&O Railroad. Date : January 5-6, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. F.W. Lander [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 25 total. On January 5, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson with Confederate troops reached the Potomac River opposite the garrisoned town of Hancock, Maryland. His artillery fired on the town from Orrick’s Hill with little effect. Union garrison commander Brig. Gen. F.W. Lander refused to surrender. The Confederates withdrew and marched on Romney, in western Virginia.

Battle At Roanoke Island
Location : Dare County. Campaign : Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. Date : February 7-8, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Brig. Gen. Henry Wise [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,907 total. On February 7, Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside landed 7,500 Union troops on the southwestern side of Roanoke Island. The next morning, supported by gunboats, Union troops launced an attack against the Confederate Forts. Totally outnumbered, the Confederate commander, Col. H.M. Shaw, surrendered.

Battle at New Berne
Location: Craven County. Campaign: Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. Date: March 14, 1862. Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Brig. Gen. Lawrence O’B. Branch [CS]. Estimated Casualties: 1,080 total. Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside’s command joined with Union gunboats at Hatteras Inlet, for an expedition against New Berne. Infantry disembarked on the river’s south bank to approach the New Berne defenses. Union troops attacked along the railroad and after four hours of fighting drove the Confederates out of their fortifications. The Union captured 9 forts and 41 heavy guns.

Battle at Fort Macon
Location : Carteret County. Campaign : Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. Date : March 23-April 26, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. John G. Parke [US]; Lt. Col. Moses J. White [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 490 total (US 10; CS 480). Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside’s troops advanced on Fort Macon. Fort Macon was a third system casemated masonry fort that commanded the channel to Beaufort, 35 miles southeast of New Berne. The Union troops invested the fort with siege works and, on April 26, opened an accurate fire on the fort. Within a few hours the fort’s scarp began to collapse, and the Confederates surrendered.

Battle At South Mills
Location : Camden County. Campaign : Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. Date : April 19, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Jesse Lee Reno [US]; Col. Ambrose Wright [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 150 total. The Union planned an expedition to destroy the Dismal Swamp Canal locks to prevent transfer of Confederate ironclad ships to Albemarle Sound. On the morning of April 19, Union troops under Brig. Gen. Jesse Lee Reno marched north on the road to South Mills. At the crossroads a few miles below South Mills, elements of Col. Ambrose Wright’s Confederta command delayed the Unions until dark. Reno abandoned the expedition.

Battle At Tranter Creek
Location : Pitt County. Campaign : Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. Date : June 5, 1862. Principal Commanders : Lt. Col. F.A. Osborne [US]; Col. George Singletary [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 40 total. The 24th Massachusetts Union troops under Lt. Col. F.A. Osborne, were advancing to the bridge over Tranter’s Creek, when they encountered the 44th North Carolina, Confederate troops under Col. George Singletary. Osborne was unable to force a crossing, so he brought his artillery to bear on the mill buildings in which the Confederates were barricaded. The Confederate troops retreated.

Battle at Kernstown
Location : Frederick County and Winchester. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : March 23, 1862. Principal Commanders : Col. Nathan Kimball [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,308 total (US 590; CS 718). The Confederates recieved faulty intelligence that had reported the Union garrison at Winchester at only 3,000. Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson marched north with 3,400 troops. However, the Union had 8,500 troops, commanded by Col. Nathan Kimball, which stopped Jackson at Kernstown. Jackson was forced to retreat.

Battle at McDowell
Location : Highland County. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : May 8, 1862. Estimated Casualties : 720. Maj. Gen. T.J. Jackson marched his troops along Parkersburg Road to confront two brigades of Frémont’s force (Milroy and Schenck). On May 8, at McDowell, Union troops under Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy seized an initiative and attacked the Confederate position on Sitlington’s Hill under Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. The Confederates were repulsed after fighting lasting over four hours.

Battle At Front Royal
Location : Warren County. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : May 23, 1862. Principal Commanders : Col. John R. Kenly [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 960 total (US 904; CS 56). On May 23, Confederate forces overran the pickets of a 1,000-man Union garrison under Col. Kenly at Front Royal. The Union troops made a stand on Camp Hill, and then again at Guard Hill. The Union troops continued the retreat to Cedarville. Two cavalry charges led by Maj. Flournoy broke a roadblock and routed the Union forces. Almost 900 Union troops surrendered.

Battle At Winchester
Location : Frederick County and Winchester. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : May 25, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks [US]; Maj. Gen. T.J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,419 total (US 2,019; CS 400). Maj. Gen. T.J. Jackson’s troops marched north on the Valley Pike toward Winchester. There, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks was attempting to defend the town. On May 25, Ewell attacked Camp Hill, while the Louisiana Brigade of Jackson’s division overran the Union position on Bowers Hill. The Union troops were defeated and withdrew.

Battle At Cross Keys
Location : Rockingham County. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : June 8, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont [US]; Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 951 total (US 664; CS 287). Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont’s Union troops encountered Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s Confederate troops at Cross Keys on June 8. After feeling out the Confederate line, Frémont withdrew to the Keezletown Road. Trimble’s and Patton’s troops kept Frémont at bay, while Ewell’s force crossed the river to assist in the defeat of Brig. Gen. E. Tyler's command at Port Republic.

Battle at Port Republic
Location : Rockingham County. Campaign : Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : June 9, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Erastus Tyler [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,818 total (US 1,002; CS 816). Burning the North River Bridge behind them, Confederate troops at Cross Keys marched to join Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson at Port Republic. Maj. Gen. T.J. Jackson concentrated his forces against the isolated brigades of Tyler and Carroll. Frémont’s army arrived too late to assist. The Union troops were forced to retreat after these dual defeats at Cross Keys and Port Republic.

Battle at Yorktown
Location : York County and Newport News. Campaign : Peninsula Campaign. Date : April 5-May 4, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan [US]; Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 320 total. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s army encountered Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder’s Confederate troops at Yorktown behind the Warwick River. However, the Federals were strongly held. McClellan ordered the construction of siege fortifications, and brought heavy siege guns to the front. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston supplied reinforcements for Magruder. On April 16, Union forces probed the Confederate line, resulting in about 309 casualties. McClellan planned for a massive bombardment on May 4, but the Confederate retreated.

Battle At Williamsburg
Location : York County and Williamsburg. Campaign : Peninsula Campaign. Date : May 5, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan [US]; Maj. Gen. James Longstreet [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 3,843 total (US 2,283; CS 1,560). Union troops attacked Fort Magruder, a Confederate fortification alongside the Williamsburg Road, but were repulsed. Confederate counterattacks, directed by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, nearly overrun the Union left flank. Hancock’s Union brigade threatened the Confederate left flank, occupying two abandoned redoubts. The Confederate army withdrew.

Battle At Drewry Bluff
Location : Chesterfield County. Campaign : Peninsula Campaign. Date : May 15, 1862. Principal Commanders : Cdr. John Rodgers [US]; Cdr. E. Farrand, Brig. Gen. William Mahone, Capt. S. S. Lee, and Lt. John Taylor Wood [CS]. Estimated Casualtie s: 41 total. On May 15, Union gunboats, steamed up the James to the Richmond Confederate defenses. They encountered submerged obstacles and accurate fire from the batteries at Drewry’s Bluff. This inflicted heavy damage on the Galena. The Union gunboats retreated.

Battle at Cedar Mountain
Location : Culpeper County. Campaign : Northern Virginia Campaign. Date : August 9, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,707 total (US 1,400; CS 1,307). On August 9, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson and Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks’s Union corps clashed at Cedar Mountain. The Union gained an early advantage. Howver, a Confederate counterattack led by A.P. Hill repulsed the Union troops.

Battle At Rappahannock Station
Location : Culpeper County and Fauquier County. Campaign : Northern Virginia Campaign. Date : August 22-25, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. John Pope [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 225 total. On August 20 - 21, Maj. Gen. John Pope, withdrew to the line of the Rappahannock River. On August 23, Confederate cavalry made a raid on Pope’s headquarters at Catlett Station. Over the next several days, the two armies fought a series of minor battles along the Rappahannock River.

Battle At Manassas Station
Location : Prince William County Campaign : Northern Virginia Campaign (June-September 1862) Date : August 25-27,1862 Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. G.W. Taylor [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS] Estimated Casualties : 1,100 total On August 27, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, marched to capture and destroy the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction. On August 27, Jackson routed a Union brigade near Union Mills. During the night of August 27-28, Jackson marched his divisions north to the First Manassas battlefield.

Battle At Chantilly
Location : Fairfax County. Campaign : Northern Virginia Campaign. Date : September 1, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny and Maj. Gen. Isaac Stevens [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,100 total (US 1,300; CS 800). On September 1, beyond Chantilly Plantation on the Little River Turnpike near Ox Hill, Jackson attacked two Union divisions under Kearny and Stevens. Union generals Stevens and Kearny were both killed.

Battle At Harpers Ferry
Location : Jefferson County. Campaign : Maryland Campaign. Date : September 12-15, 1862 . Principal Commanders : Col. Dixon S. Miles [US]; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 12,922 total (US 44k/173w/12,419 captured; CS 39k/247w). Lee divided his army into four columns, of which three converged upon and invested Harpers Ferry. On September 15, Union commander Col. Miles surrendered the garrison of more than 12,000. Jackson took possession of Harpers Ferry.

Battle At Antietam
Location : Washington County. Campaign : Maryland Campaign. Date : September 16-18, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 23,100 total. On September 16, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan confronted Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. At dawn September 17, Hooker’s corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank. Union assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate center. Burnside’s corps crossed the bridge over Antietam Creek and rolling up the Confederate right. A.P. Hill’s division arrived from Harpers Ferry and counterattacked, driving back Burnside and saving the day. Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout the 18th. McClellan did not renew the assaults. After dark, Lee ordered the battered Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw.

Boteler’s Ford
Location: Jefferson County. Campaign : Maryland Campaign. Date : September 19-20, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter [US]; Brig. Gen. William Pendleton and Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 625 total. On September 19, Union troops pushed across the river at Boteler’s Ford, attacking the Confederate rearguard commanded by Brig. Gen. William Pendleton. On the 20th, Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. Hill’s division counterattacked and nearly annihilated the 118th Pennsylvania, inflicting 269 casualties.

Battle At Fredericksburg
Location : Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg. Campaign : fredericksburg Campaign. Date : December 11-15, 1862. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 17,929 total (US 13,353; CS 4,576). On November 14, Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside (Union) sent troops to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg. Gen. Robert E. Lee entrenched his troops on the heights behind the town. On the 12th, the Union army crossed Rappahannock, and on the 13th, mounted a series of assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye’s Heights. These attacks caused massive casualties. On December 15, the Union retreated across the river.

Battle At Kinston Bridge
Location : Lenoir County. Campaign : Goldsborough Expedition. Date : December 14, 1862. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. John G. Foster [US]; Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 685 total. A Union expedition led by Brig. Gen. John G. Foster, was contested by Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans’s Confederate Brigade near Kinston Bridge on December 14. However, the Confederates were outnumbered and were forced to withdrew.

Battle At Fort Anderson
Location : Craven County. Campaign : Longstreet’s Tidewater Operations. Date : March 13-15, 1863. Principal Commanders : Lt. Col. Hiram Anderson [US]; Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 7 total. Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill (Confederates) marched against the entrenched Union troops at Fort Anderson on March 14-15. However, Hill was forced to retreat upon the arrival of Union gunboats.

Battle At Suffolk
Location : Suffolk. Campaign : Longstreet’s Tidewater Operations. Date : April 13-15, 1863. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. John Peck [US]; Lt. Gen. James Longstreet [CS]. Estimated Casualties : (1,160). Lt. Gen. James Longstreet (Confederates), besieged the Union garrison at Suffolk. The Union garrison was manned by 25,000 men. On April 13, the Confederate troops pushed to the Nansemond River and constructed a battery on Hill’s Point. This closed off the Union garrison to shipping. The Union constructed their own batteries. On April 15, these batteries opened fire, forcing the Confederates out.

Battle At Kelly’s Ford
Location : Culpeper County. Campaign : Cavalry Operations along the Rappahannock. Date : March 17, 1863. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. William W. Averell [US]; Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 200 total. Union troops of Brig. Gen. William W. Averell’s cavalry division crossed the Rappahannock River. They attacked the Confederate cavalry. Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee counterattacked. After achieving a localized success, Union forces withdrew.

Battle At Salem Church
Location : Spotsylvania County. Campaign : Chancellorsville Campaign. Date : May 3-4, 1863. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 5,000 total. Gen. Robert E. Lee detached two divisions from the Chancellorsville lines and marched them to Salem Church. Several Union assaults were repulsed. The Confederates counterattacked. Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick withdrew across two pontoon bridges at Scott’s Dam.

Battle At Brandy Station
Location : Culpeper County. Campaign : Gettysburg Campaign. Date : June 9, 1863. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Pleasonton [US]; Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,090 total. At dawn June 9, Union Cavalry Corps launched a surprise attack on Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s Confederate Cavalry at Brandy Station. The battle raged all day, however, the Union retired. Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle of the war.

Battle At Aldie
Location : Loudoun County. Campaign : Gettysburg Campaign. Date : June 17, 1863. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick [US]; Col. Thomas Munford [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 250 total. Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick’s (Confederates) brigade, encountered Col. Thomas Munford’s (Union) troops near the village of Aldie. Four hours of fighting followed. Kilpatrick recieved reinforcments by the afternoon. Munford was forced to withdrew.

Battle At Auburn
Location : Fauquier County. Campaign : Bristoe Campaign. Date : October 13, 1863. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. William. H. French [US]; Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 50 total. On October 13, Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, with Fitzhugh Lee and Lomax’s brigades, skirmished with the rearguard of the Union III Corps near Auburn. Finding himself cut off by retreating Union columns, Stuart hid his troopers in a wooded ravine until the Union troops had moved on.

Battle At Bristoe Station
Location: Prince William County. Campaign: Bristoe Campaign. Date: October 14, 1863. Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren [US]; Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill [CS]. Estimated Casualties: 1,980 total. On October 14, Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill’s Confederate Troops came across retreating Union troops at Bristoe Station. The Confederates attacked. Howver, Union soldiers of the II Corps were posted behind the Orange & Alexandria Railroad embankment. Hill was forced to reinforce his line. In many ways it was a humiliating defeat for Hill.

Battle At Buckland Races
Location : Fauquier County. Campaign : Bristoe Campaign. Date(s) : October 19, 1863. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. J. Kilpatrick [US]; Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 230 total. Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. J. Kilpatrick pursued Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry along the Warrenton Turnpike. Howver, they were lured into an ambush and routed. The Union troops were scattered and chased for five miles.

Battle At Droop Mountain
Campaign : Averell’s Raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. Date : November 6, 1863. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. William W. Averell [US]; Brig. Gen. John Echols [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 526 total. Brig. Gen. William W. Averell encountered and defeated Confederate troops under Brig. Gen. John Echols at Droop Mountain. As a result of this battle, Confederate resistance in West Virginia collapsed.

Battle At Rapidan River
Location : Orange County and Culpeper County. Campaign : Demonstration on the Rapidan River. Date : February 6-7, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. J.C. Caldwell [US]; Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 723 total. On Febuary 6, the Union forced several crossings of the Rapidan River. Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s Corps resisted the crossings. Fighting was most severe at Morton’s Ford. By February 7, the attacks had stalled and the Union Troops withdrew.

Battle At Walkerton
Location : King and Queen County. Campaign: Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid. Date : March 2, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick and Col. Ulric Dahlgren [CS]; Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton [CS]. Estimated Casualties : Unknown. On March 2, Col. Ulric Dahlgren`s (Confederte) detachment of about 100 troops was ambushed by a detachment of the 9th Virginia Cavalry and Home Guards in King and Queen County near Walkerton. Dahlgren was killed. Papers found on Dahlgren’s dead body, indicated orders for him to burn Richmond and assassinate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. This find caused a political outrage.

Battle At Plymouth
Location : Washington County. Campaign : Operations against Plymouth. Date : April 17-20, 1864. Principal Commanders : Col. Henry W. Wessells [US]; Maj. Gen. R.F. Hoke [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,834 total. On April 17, Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. R.F. Hoke, attacked the Union garrison at Plymouth. On April 19, the Smithfield was sunk, the Miami damaged, and other Union ships supporting the Plymouth garrison driven off. Confederate forces captured Fort Comfort. On the 20th, the Union garrison surrendered.

Battle At Cloyd’s Mountain
Location : Pulaski County. Campaign : Crook-Averell Raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. Date : May 9, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. George Crook [US]; Brig. Gen. Albert Jenkins [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,500 total. On May 9, Crook’s three brigades (6,100 men) on a raid into southwestern Virginia encountered a patchwork Confederate force under Brig. Gen. Albert Jenkins at Cloyd’s Mountain. Fighting was furious and hand-to-hand. Casualties were heavy for the size of the forces engaged: Union 10%, Confederate 23%. Jenkins was mortally wounded. Crook afterwards joined forces with Averell, who had burned the New River Bridge, and the united column withdrew to Meadow Bluff after destroying several important railroad bridges.

Battle At Cove Mountain
Location : Wythe County. Campaign : Crook-Averell Raid on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. Date : May 10, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. William W. Averell [US]; Brig. Gen. William. E. Jones [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 300 total. Brig. Gen. W.W. Averell (Union) encountered Confederate troops under Brig. Gen. William Grumble Jones near Cove Mountain. After delaying the Union advance, the Confederates withdrew.

Battle At Port Walthall Junction
Location : Chesterfield County. Campaign : Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Date : May 6-7, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler [US]; Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 550 total. May 6: Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood’s troops stopped initial Union probes at Port Walthall Junction. May 7: a Union division drove Hagood from the depot and cut the railroad at Port Walthall Junction.

Battle At Chester Station
Location : Chesterfield County. Campaign : Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Date : May 10, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. Estimated Casualties : 569 total. May 10: Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom’s troops conducted reconnaissance against Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s troops that were destroying the railroad at Chester Station. The Confederates attacked near the Winfree House forcing the Union troops to their Bermuda Hundred lines.

Battle At Ware Bottom Church
Location: Chesterfield County. Campaign: Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Date: May 20, 1864. Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]. Estimated Casualties: 1,500 total. May 20: Confederate troops under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard launched an attack against Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Bermuda Hundred line near Ware Bottom Church. The Confederates constructed the Howlett Line, bottling up the Union troops at Bermuda Hundred.

Wilderness Battle
Location : Spotsylvania County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 5-7, 1864. Principal Commanders : Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 29,800 total (US 18,400; CS 11,400). May 5: Union V Corps attacked Ewell’s Corps on the Orange Turnpike. A.P. Hill’s corps encountered Getty’s Division (VI Corps) and Hancock’s II Corps on Plank Road. Darkness halted the fighting. May 6: Hancock attacked, driving Hill’s Corps back. Confederate flank attack in Hamilton’s Thicket fell apart when Lt. Gen. James Longstreet was wounded by his own men. The IX Corps (Burnside) moved against the Confederate center. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant did not retreat.

Battle At Spotsylvania Court House
Location : Spotsylvania County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 8-21, 1864. Principal Commanders : Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 30,000 total (US 18,000; CS 12,000). Gen. Robert E. Grant’s and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s advance on Richmond, stalled at Spotsylvania Court House on May 8. May 12-13: Union attack against the Bloody Angle, captured nearly a division of Lee’s army. Fighting continued for nearly 20 hours. May 19: Confederate attempt to turn the Union right flank at Harris Farm failed. May 21: Grant disengaged.

Battle At Wilson’s Wharf
Location : Charles City. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 24, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Edward Wild [US]; Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 165 total. May 24: Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s Confedferate cavalry attacked the Union supply depot at Wilson’s Wharf. The attack was repulsed by two regiments under Brig. Gen. Edward Wild.

Battle At Yellow Tavern
Location : Henrico County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 11, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 800 total. Union cavalry corps under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan embarked on a cavalry raid against Richmond. Sheridan’s cavalry expedition engaged Confederate Troops at the battle of Yellow Tavern on May 11. The Confederate cavalry was defeated. Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart was killed.

Battle At Enon Church
Location : Hanover County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 28, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg [US]; Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 744 total (US 344; CS 400). Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s and Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry divisions, confronted the Union at Enon Church. After several hours of fighting, the Union advance was stopped.

Battle At North Anna
Location : Caroline County and Hanover County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : May 23-26, 1864. Principal Commanders : Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 4,000 total. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant continued his Overland Offensive against Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Grant was brought up short on the North Anna River by Lee’s "hog snout line". Grant was forced to divide his army into three parts. May 23: one of A.P. Hill’s divisions assaulted the V Corps which had crossed the river at Jericho Mill. May 24: Union infantry was repulsed at Ox Ford. Grant withdrew both wings of the army back across the North Anna River.

Battle At Old Church
Location: Hanover County. Campaign: Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date: May 30, 1864. Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert [US]; Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler [CS]. Estimated Casualties: 900 total. May 30: Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert’s Division attacked and defeated Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler's Brigade near Old Church. Butler's troopers were driven back on the road to Old Cold Harbor.

Battle At Cold Harbor
Location: Hanover County. Campaign: Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date: May 31-June 12, 1864. Principal Commanders: Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties: 15,500 total (US 13,000; CS 2,500). May 31: Sheridan’s cavalry seizes vital crossroads of Old Cold Harbor. June 1: Sheridan’s troops repel an attack by Confederate infantry. Confederate reinforcements arrive. June 1: Union VI and XVIII Corps reach Cold Harbor and assault Confederate works. June 3, II, XVIII Corps, and IX Corps, assaulted along the Bethesda Church-Cold Harbor line and were slaughtered. June 12: Grant advanced by his left flank, marching to James River. June 14, II Corps ferried across river at Wilcox’s Landing. June 15, Army began crossing 2,200-foot long pontoon bridge at Weyanoke.

Battle At Trevilian Station
Location : Louisa County. Campaign : Grant’s Overland Campaign. Date : June 11-12, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,600 total. June 11: Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan with the Gregg’s and Torbert’s divisions attacked Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton’s and Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry divisions at Trevilian Station. Sheridan initially drove a wedge between the Confederate divisions. However, on the 12th, Hampton and Lee drew a defensive line across the railroad and the road to Gordonsville. They repelled several assaults. Sheridan withdrew.

Battle At New Market
Location : Shenandoah County, Virginia. Campaign : Lynchburg Campaign. Date : May 15, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel [US]; Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,380 total (US 840; CS 540). May 15th: Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel was attacked at New Market by Confederate troops commanded by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge. A Union battery was withdrawn from the line to replenish ammunition, leaving a weakness. Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge ordered his entire force forward and the Union defense collapsed. Sigel was forced to withdraw. He burnt the North Fork bridge behind him.

Battle At Piedmont
Location : Augusta County. Campaign : Lynchburg Campaign. Date : June 5-6, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. David Hunter [US]; Brig. Gen. William E. Jones [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 2,375 total (US 875; CS 1500). June 5: Maj. Gen. David Hunter engaged the Confederate`s north of Piedmont. A flanking movement turned Brig. Gen. William E. Jones’s right flank. The Confederate retreat became a rout. More than 1,000 Confederates were captured.

Battle At Lynchburg
Location : City of Lynchburg. Campaign : Lynchburg Campaign. Date : June 17-18, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. David Hunter [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 900 total. Maj. Gen. David Hunter advanced against the Confederate rail, canal depots, and hospital complex at Lynchburg. His first attacks were repelled by the arrival of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s II Corps vanguard. Hunter was forced to withdrew because of a critical shortage of supplies.

Battle At Fort Stevens
Location : District of Columbia. Campaign : Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad. Date : July 11-12, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright and Maj. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 874 total. July 11: Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s Confederate troops reached the outskirts of Washington near Silver Spring. July 12: Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early was repulsed by veteran Union troops. VI Corps units sortied against the Confederate troops. President Lincoln watched from Fort Stevens. Lincoln came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters. Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early withdrew during the night.

Battle At Rutherford’s Farm
Location : Frederick County and Winchester. Campaign : Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad. Date : July 20, 1864. Principal Commanders : Commanders: Brig. Gen. William W. Averell [US]; Maj. Gen. S.D. Ramseur [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,100 total. On July 20, Brig. Gen. W.W. Averell’s Union division attacked Maj. Gen. S.D. Ramseur’s Confederate division at Rutherford’s and Carter’s farms. They attacked the flank of Hoke’s brigade. Ramseur retreated toward Winchester in confusion. Averell captured four pieces of artillery and nearly 300 men.

Battle At Folck’s Mill
Location : Allegany County. Campaign : Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad. Date : August 1, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelly [US]; Brig. Gen. John McCausland [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 38 total. August 1: Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelly ambushed Confederate cavalry near Cumberland at Folck’s Mill. Skirmishes continued for several hours. The Confederates withdrew.

Battle At Staunton River Bridge
Location : Halifax County and Charlotte. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : June 25, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. James Wilson and Brig. Gen. August Kautz [US]; Maj. Gen. William H.F. Rooney Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 150 total. June 25: Brig. Gen. James Wilson and Brig. Gen. August Kautz continued tearing up rail track south to the Staunton River Bridge. Here, Home Guards prevented them from destroying the bridge. Maj. Gen. William H.F. Rooney Lee’s cavalry closed on the Union from the northeast forcing them to withdraw.

Battle At Ream’s Station
Location : Dinwiddie County. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : June 29, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. James Wilson and Brig. Gen. August Kautz [US]; Maj. Gen. William Mahone and Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 600 total. June 29: Brig. Gen. August Kautz’s division reached Ream’s Station on Weldon Railroad. Kautz found the road barred by Maj. Gen. William Mahone’s Confederate infantry division. Wilson’s division joined Kautz’s near Ream’s Station. They were virtually surrounded. Maj. Gen. William Mahone’s infantry assaulted their front. Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry division threatened the Union left flank. Wilson and his men fled south. Kautz withdrew.

Crater Battle
Location : Petersburg. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : July 30, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 5,300 total. July 30: Union troops exploded a mine blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg. The Confederates quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks. The Union troops were repulsed.

Battle At Globe Tavern
Location : Dinwiddie County. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : August 18-21, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee, Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill, Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, and Maj. Gen. William Mahone [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 5,879 total (4,279 US; 1,600 CS). August 18: Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren drove back Confederate pickets until reaching the railroad at Globe Tavern. Maj. Gen. Henry Heth’s division attacked driving Ayres’s division back toward the tavern. August 19: Maj. Gen. William Mahone attacked with five infantry brigades the right flank of Crawford’s division. August 20th: the Union laid out a strong defensive line. August 21, Hill probes the Union line.

Battle At Darbytown Road
Location : Henrico County. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : October 13, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Alfred Terry [US]; Lt. Gen. Richard Anderson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 950 total. October 13: Union brigade assaulted fortifications north of Darbytown Road. They were repulsed with heavy casualties. The Union withdraws.

Battle At Boydton Plank Road
Location : Dinwiddie County. Campaign : Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. Date : October 27-28, 1864 Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock [US]; Maj. Gen. Henry Heth [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 3,058 total (1,758 US; 1,300 CS). Three Union corps (II, V, and IX), Gregg’s cavalry division, under Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, marched to operate against the Boydton Plank Road and South Side Railroad. October 27: Union gained the Boydton Plank Road. A counterattack by Maj. Gen. Henry Heth’s division and Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry isolated the II Corps and forced a retreat. The Confederates retained control of the Boydton Plank.

Battle Of Guard Hill
Location : Warren County. Campaign : Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : August 16, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt [US]; Lt. Gen. Richard Anderson [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 550 total. August 16: The Union cavalry of Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt’s attacked the Confederate columns in mid-stream of the Shenandoah River. About 300 Confederates were captured. However, the Confederates counter attacked, driving the Union brigades back to Cedarville.

Battle At Smithfield Crossing
Location : Jefferson County and Berkeley County. Campaign : Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : August 25-29, 1864. Principal Commanders : Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal Early [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 300 total. August 29: Two Confederate divisions crossed Opequon Creek at Smithfield, forcing back Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt’s Union cavalry division. Ricketts’s infantry division was brought forward to stop the Confederate advance.

Battle At Fisher’s Hill
Location : Shenandoah County. Campaign : Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : September 21-22, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 1,763 total (US 528; CS 1,235). Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s army, took a strong defensive position at Fisher’s Hill, south of Strasburg. September 21: Union army advances and captures high ground. September 22nd: Crook’s Corps outflank Early, and attack. The Confederate cavalry offers little resistance. The Confederate defense collapsed. Early retreated to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro.

Battle At Cedar Creek
Location : Frederick County, Shenandoah County and Warren County. Campaign : Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Date : October 19, 1864. Principal Commanders : Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright and Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Lt. Gen. Jubal Early [CS]. Estimated Casualties : 8,575 total (US 5,665; CS 2,910). October 19: Confederate Army under Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, surprises the Union at Cedar Creek. The VIII and XIX Army Corps were routed. Commander Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan arrived to lead the troops. A crushing counterattack was launched, which recovered the battlefield.

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