Union

Battle of Chancellorsville

The Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30–May 6, 1863) was a Civil War battle fought in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It ended in a Confederate victory and is often considered General Robert E. Lee’s “perfect battle,” as he successfully defeated an army more than twice the size of his own. Background & Union Strategy In April 1863, …Read More

First Battle of Bull Run

Summary On July 21, 1861, the Confederates defeated the Union army in the First Battle of Bull Run (also called the First Battle of Manassas), the first major conflict of the American Civil War. The battle would signal to both sides that the war would be longer and bloodier than either had anticipated. Background In …Read More

Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It took place around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and is often considered the turning point of the war. Following a series of military successes in Virginia, Confederate general Robert E. Lee took his troops up into south-central Pennsylvania in June 1863 in an invasion of …Read More