The first major battle of the Civil War was fought at Manassas Junction and was a clear victory for the South. A second battle of Manassas, or Bull Run, was fought on the same ground over a year later and was also a Confederate victory.
Antietam, the first major battle of the Civil War fought on Union soil, is considered the bloodiest single day of the war. This Union victory encouraged President Lincoln to make one of his best decisions, to issue the Emancipation Proclamation the following January.
General Ambrose Burnside leads 106,000 Union troops against General Stonewall Jackson's firmly entrenched defenders at Fredericksburg, Virginia and suffers over 12,500 casualties.
The Federal Army of the Potomac enters the Battle of Chancellorsville with overwhelming troop strength. Against these odds, Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson earn a clear victory for the South.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of the largest battle waged during the American Civil War. The battle resulted in a crucial victory for the Union "Army of the Potomac" and was a major turning point in the war. It was also the bloodiest single battle of the war, resulting in over 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured or missing.
General Ulysses S. Grant, the new Union Commander, brings with him the strong resolve to not back away from anyone, not even the legendary Robert E. Lee.
The brave men of the confederacy continue to battle the Union forces until General Lee realizes that any further resistance is futile. He seeks out General Grant to formally surrender his troops at Appomattox Court House.
