April 12–14, 1861 · Eastern Theater

The Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor marked the opening engagement of the Civil War. After 34 hours of shelling, Union Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort.

July 21, 1861 · Eastern Theater

The first major land battle of the war shocked Washington spectators who came to watch what they expected to be a quick Union victory. Confederate forces under Beauregard and Jackson routed the Union army, which retreated to Washington in chaos.

April 6–7, 1862 · Western Theater

Confederate forces launched a surprise dawn attack on Grant's forces near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. After a brutal first day, Union reinforcements arrived overnight and Grant counterattacked, driving the Confederates back.

September 17, 1862 · Eastern Theater

The bloodiest single day in American military history. Lee's first invasion of the North was halted at Antietam Creek in Maryland. McClellan's cautious tactics allowed Lee to escape, but the Union claimed a strategic victory.

December 13, 1862 · Eastern Theater

Union forces made costly frontal assaults against Confederates dug in on Marye's Heights. Lee famously remarked 'It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it.'

May 1–6, 1863 · Eastern Theater

Often called Lee's greatest tactical victory. Outnumbered nearly 2:1, Lee boldly split his forces and sent Stonewall Jackson on a flank march that crushed the Union right. However, Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men and died eight days later.

May 18 – July 4, 1863 · Western Theater

Grant besieged the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River for 47 days. When the garrison surrendered on July 4th, the Union gained complete control of the Mississippi, splitting the Confederacy in two.

July 1–3, 1863 · Eastern Theater

The largest battle ever fought in North America. Lee's second invasion of the North ended in catastrophic failure. On the third day, Pickett's Charge sent 12,500 Confederate soldiers across open ground into withering Union fire — fewer than half returned.

September 19–20, 1863 · Western Theater

The Confederacy's last major victory in the Western Theater. A gap accidentally opened in the Union line and Confederate forces poured through, routing most of the army. Gen. George Thomas earned the nickname 'Rock of Chickamauga' by holding the Union left.

May 5–7, 1864 · Eastern Theater

Grant's Overland Campaign began in the dense Virginia wilderness. Both sides suffered enormous casualties in confused fighting through underbrush so thick men could barely see. Unlike previous Union generals, Grant refused to retreat — he marched south.

May 31 – June 12, 1864 · Eastern Theater

Grant ordered a massive frontal assault on entrenched Confederate positions. In the main attack on June 3rd, Union forces suffered 7,000 casualties in under an hour. Grant later called it the only assault he regretted ordering.

July 22 – September 2, 1864 · Western Theater

Sherman's relentless campaign through Georgia culminated in the capture of Atlanta, the Confederacy's industrial heart. Confederate General Hood repeatedly attacked and lost, then was forced to evacuate the city.

November 15 – December 21, 1864 · Western Theater

Sherman led 60,000 Union soldiers from Atlanta to Savannah, cutting a 60-mile wide swath of destruction through Georgia. Targeting Confederate infrastructure and civilian morale, his army destroyed railroads, supplies, and industrial capacity.

April 9, 1865 · Eastern Theater

After a week of desperate retreat, Lee's exhausted Army of Northern Virginia was surrounded. Lee met Grant in Wilmer McLean's parlor and surrendered, effectively ending the Civil War.