The American Civil War: A History of the Battles

The Legacy of the Civil War

The American Civil War, which raged from 1861 to 1865, stands as a defining moment in the nation’s history. It was a war that pitted the Northern states, known as the Union, against the Southern states, called the Confederacy. This article offers a narrative journey through the major battles that shaped this tumultuous period, tracing the conflict’s chronology and the critical turning points that unfolded on the battlefields.

Introduction: The Prelude to War
Before the outbreak of the Civil War, tensions between the North and South had been simmering for decades over issues such as slavery, states’ rights, and economic disparities. The election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States in 1860, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, triggered the secession of Southern states. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the war were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, officially inaugurating the conflict.

First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861)
The first major battle of the Civil War occurred near Manassas, Virginia. Union forces, led by General Irvin McDowell, clashed with Confederate troops commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard. It was a battle marked by confusion and inexperience on both…