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| June 3, 1861 | Battle of Philippi
First land engagement of the Civil War between American and Confederate forces |
West Virginia Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Philippi | ||
| Operations in Western Virginia | ||
| Civil War Firsts | ||
| August 26, 1861 | Battle of (Kessler's) Cross Lanes
General John Floyd routs an Ohio regiment |
Virginia |
| John Floyd | ||
| Operations in Western Virginia | ||
| October 3, 1861 | Battle of Greenbriar | Virginia |
| Operations in Western Virginia | ||
| October 21, 1861 | Battle of Leesburg [CS]
Battle of Ball's Bluff [US] Battle of Harrison Island [US] General Nathan Evans [CS] defeats General Charles Stone [US]. Oregon Senator Edward Baker, field commander, becomes the first (and only) sitting senator to die in battle. |
Virginia |
| Battle of Ball's Bluff | ||
| Civil War Firsts | ||
| March 9, 1862 | Battle of Hampton Roads
The duel of the ironclads, The Monitor and The Merrimac (CSS Virginia). First use of a turreted gun. |
Virginia |
| Hampton Roads | ||
| Civil War Firsts | ||
| March 23, 1862 | Battle of Kernstown
In the first battle of the Shenandoah Campaign, Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson [CS] loses to Brig. General James Shields [US] |
Virginia |
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| April 16, 1862 | Battle of Dam No. 1
Attempting to break the Yorktown Line, forces under General Winfield Scott Hancock [CS] engage General John Magruder [CS]. This battle is sometimes noted as the Battle of Lee's Mill or Burnt Chimneys. |
Virginia |
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Siege of Yorktown | ||
| Peninsula Campaign | ||
| John Magruder | ||
| May 5, 1862 | Battle of Williamsburg
Major General James Longstreet [CS] nearly defeats Major General "Fighting Joe" Hooker [US] during a rear-guard action. |
Virginia |
| Peninsula Campaign | ||
| James Longstreet | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| George McClellan | ||
| Battle of Williamsburg | ||
| William Farrar Smith | ||
| Winfield Scott Hancock | ||
| Jubal Anderson Early | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Samuel Garland | ||
| Samuel Heintzelman | ||
| May 7, 1862 | Battle of West Point
Battle of Eltham's Landing General William B. Franklin [US] skirmishes with General John Bell Hood [CS] |
Virginia |
| John Bell Hood | ||
| William B. Franklin | ||
| Peninsula Campaign | ||
| May 23, 1862 | Battle of Front Royal | Virginia |
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| May 25, 1862 | Battle of Winchester,
Stonewall Jackson [CS] defeats Nathaniel Banks [US] |
Virginia |
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Nathaniel Banks | ||
| May 27, 1862 | Battle of Hanover Court House | Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Peninsula Campaign | ||
| Gouverneur K. Warren | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| May 31, 1862 June 1, 1862 |
Battle of Seven Pines [US]
Battle of Fair Oaks [CS] |
Virginia |
| Joseph E. Johnston | ||
| George McClellan | ||
| Peninsula Campaign | ||
| Battle of Fair Oaks - Seven Pines | ||
| James Longstreet | ||
| Edwin Vose Sumner | ||
| John B. Gordon | ||
| Oliver O. Howard | ||
| Daniel Harvey Hill | ||
| Benjamin Huger | ||
| John Sedgwick | ||
| Samuel Garland | ||
| Darius Couch | ||
| May 31, 1862 | Joseph E. Johnston severly wounded during the Battle of Fair Oaks | Virginia |
| Joseph E. Johnston | ||
| June 6, 1862 | Battle of Harrisonburg | Virginia |
| June 8, 1862 | Battle of Cross Keys
Battle of Union Church While Robert Ewell [CS] defeated John Fremont [US], Stonewall Jackson guarded Ewell's rear against an attack by James Shields [US]. |
Virginia |
| John C. Fremont | ||
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| June 9, 1862 | Battle of Port Republic
Leaving a brigade to protect against action by Fremont, Robert Ewell [CS] crosses the Shenandoah in support of Stonewall Jackson [CS] in his action againt James Shields [US], resulting in a Confederate victory |
Virginia |
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| June 25, 1862 | Battle of Oak Grove
Battle of The Orchards Joseph Hooker [US] tries to push forward to gain ground for better positioning of McClellan's siege guns |
Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| Battle of Oak Grove | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Benjamin Huger | ||
| June 25, 1862 July 1, 1862 |
A series of closely linked battles known as The Seven Days Battle or The Seven Day Retreat start near Mechanicsville as the Army of the Potomac begins its advance to Richmond. | Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| June 26, 1862 | Battle of Mechanicsville [CS]
Battle of Beaver Dam Creek [US] Battle of Ellerson's Mill [Alternate] Battle of Ellison's Mill [Alternate:misspelling] Daniel Harvey Hill [CS] attacks Fitz-John Porter [US]. |
Virginia |
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| George McClellan | ||
| Battle of Beaver Dam Creek | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| George Meade | ||
| John Reynolds | ||
| June 27, 1862 | Battle of Gaines Mill [US]
Battle of First Cold Harbor [CS] Battle of the Chickahominy [Alternate] John Bell Hood [CS] and George Pickett [CS] breakthrough Fitz John Porter's [US] line, forcing Union troops south of the Chickahominy River and severing McClellan's supply line to Eltham's Landing (White House, West Point) |
Virginia |
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| John Bell Hood | ||
| Battle of Gaines Mill | ||
| Daniel Harvey Hill | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| Gouverneur K. Warren | ||
| George Pickett | ||
| George Meade | ||
| John Reynolds | ||
| June 29, 1862 | Battle of Savage's Station | Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| Edwin Vose Sumner | ||
| Battle of Savage's Station | ||
| June 29, 1862 | Battle of Peach Orchard
Battle of Orchard Station [Alt.] Battle of Allen's Farm [Alt.] |
Virginia |
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| John Magruder | ||
| Edwin Vose Sumner | ||
| July 1, 1862 | Battle of Malvern Hill
Battle of Malvern Cliffs Robert E. Lee [CS] attacked George B. McClellan [U.S.], whose men made a gallant stand in front of the James River. Lee called off his attack after failing to break the Union line. |
Virginia |
| George McClellan | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Seven Days Retreat | ||
| Battle of Malvern Hill | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| Darius Couch | ||
| August 9, 1862 | Battle of Cedar Mountain [US]
Battle of Slaughter Mountain [CS] Other names: Cedar Run, Cedar Run Mountain, Southwest Mountain Stonewall Jackson [CS] defeats Nathaniel Banks [US]. |
Virginia |
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Northern Virginia Campaign | ||
| Jubal Anderson Early | ||
| Battle of Cedar Mountain | ||
| Richard Ewell | ||
| Army of Virginia | ||
| Nathaniel Banks | ||
| August 27, 1862 | Battle of Kettle Run | Virginia |
| Northern Virginia Campaign | ||
| Second Manassas - Second Bull Run | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| August 29, 1862 August 30, 1862 |
Second Manassas[CS]
Second Bull Run[US] General John Pope [US] lost to General Robert E. Lee[CS]. General James Longstreet's [CS] 28,000 man assault on August 30 was the largest simultaneous assault of the war in this Confederate victory. Union losses 13,830 Confederate losses 8,350 Also includes: Manassas Plains, Gainesville |
Virginia |
| James Longstreet | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Second Manassas - Second Bull Run | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| Northern Virginia Campaign | ||
| John Pope | ||
| Gouverneur K. Warren | ||
| John Reynolds | ||
| Army of Virginia | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Samuel Heintzelman | ||
| September 1, 1862 | Battle of Chantilly
Union Major General Phillip Kearny [US] is shot and killed when he crosses Rebel lines while riding his horse. Gen Issac I. Stevens [US] is also killed |
Virginia |
| Generals Who Died In the Civil War | ||
| Battle of Chantilly | ||
| September 12, 1862 September 15, 1862 |
Battle of Harpers Ferry
Stonewall Jackson takes 12,000 prisoners |
Maryland Virginia |
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Battle of Harpers Ferry | ||
| Harpers Ferry | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Antietam | ||
| September 19, 1862 September 20, 1862 |
Skirmishes at Shepherdstown, Ashby's Gap, Williamsport, and Hagerstown, as Confederates under A. P. Hill covered the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia from Sharpsburg. Lee would keep a heavy cavalry presence in the area until October. | Maryland Virginia West Virginia |
| Antietam | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| March 17, 1863 | Battle of Kelly's Ford.
Federal cavalry under William Woods Averall crossed the ford of the Rappahannock River then ran into a Rebel line. After brief but heavy fighting, the Yankees withdrew that afternoon. Major John "The Gallant" Pelham [CS] was killed in this battle. He would posthumously be promoted to Lt. Colonel. |
Virginia |
| April 12, 1863 | Siege of Suffolk
General James Longstreet surrounds Suffolk in southeastern Virginia |
Virginia |
| James Longstreet | ||
| May 1, 1863 May 4, 1863 |
Battle of Chancellorsville
General "Fighting Joe" Hooker's Army of the Potomac is defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it crosses the Rappahannock on the way to Richmond Union: 17,268 Confederate: 12,821 |
Virginia |
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Bloodiest Civil War battles | ||
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Army of the Potomac | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Chancellorsville | ||
| John Reynolds | ||
| Darius Couch | ||
| George Stoneman | ||
| May 3, 1863 | Second Battle of Fredericksburg
John Sedgwick drives Jubal Early south past the city of Fredericksburg. The following day, as Early prepares to counterattack he finds the city empty. Sedgwick had followed the river west to aid the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville |
Virginia |
| Jubal Anderson Early | ||
| John Sedgwick | ||
| Chancellorsville | ||
| June 9, 1863 | Battle of Brandy Station
Largest cavalry battle on American soil pitted Alfred Pleasonton [US] against Jeb Stuart [CS]. |
Virginia |
| J. E. B. Stuart | ||
| The Gettysburg Campaign | ||
| June 13, 1863 June 15, 1863 |
Battle of Winchester
Ordered to withdraw because of the approach of the Army of Northern Virginia, Major General Robert Milroy [US] tried to hold his position in Winchester. By afternoon on the 14th, he realized his mistake and decided to withdraw that evening. Dick Ewell [CS] ordered a division to camp north of the town to prevent such a move and Milroy found himself trapped. Confederates captured or killed the 6000 men in the city. |
Virginia |
| Richard Ewell | ||
| The Gettysburg Campaign | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| October 19, 1863 | In an all-cavalry battle, J. E. B. Stuart [CS] routed Judson Kilpatrick [US] in the battle of Buckland Mills (sometimes called the Buckland Races) | Virginia |
| J. E. B. Stuart | ||
| November 7, 1863 | Battle of Rappahanock Station
Battle of Kelly's Ford George Meade, re-armed and re-supplied, crosses the Rappahannock and begins advancing on the Army of Northern Virginia. Although only two engagements were large enough to be called battles, heavy skirmishing marked the day. |
Virginia |
| George Meade | ||
| May 5, 1864 May 7, 1864 |
Battle of the Wilderness
Ulysses S. Grant [US] is badly beaten on the field by Robert E. Lee [CS] but rather than retreat, Grant advances to Spotsylvania Court House. Union: 17,666 Confederate: 7,750 |
Virginia |
| Bloodiest Civil War battles | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Ulysses S. Grant | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Overland Campaign | ||
| James Longstreet | ||
| Winfield Scott Hancock | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Richard Ewell | ||
| Gouverneur K. Warren | ||
| John Sedgwick | ||
| May 6, 1864 | A half-hearted attack by the Army of the James on the Southside Railroad is repulsed by George Pickett [CS] | Virginia |
| George Pickett | ||
| Army of the James | ||
| May 8, 1864 May 19, 1864 |
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
In an inconclusive battle, General Ulysses S. Grant [US] and Robert E. Lee [CS] battle for days southwest of Fredericksburg Union 18,399 Confederate 9,000 |
Virginia |
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Ulysses S. Grant | ||
| Bloodiest Civil War battles | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Overland Campaign | ||
| Richard Ewell | ||
| June 15, 1864 April 2, 1865 |
Siege of Petersburg | Virginia |
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| P. G. T. Beauregard | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Ulysses S. Grant | ||
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| June 17, 1864 June 18, 1864 |
Battle of Richmond Turnpike | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| June 21, 1864 June 22, 1864 |
Battle of Meade Station | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| July 30, 1864 | Battle of the Crater or Crater Battle
After blowing explosives at the end of a 586-foot tunnel which in turn ignited four magazines, Union troops advance to the Crater at Petersburg. After 4 hours, though, they are forced to withdraw. |
Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| Ambrose Burnside | ||
| August 18, 1864 August 19, 1864 |
Battle of the Weldon Railroad
After gaining the railroad, 5th Corps commander G. K. Warren [US] spread out over a mile of track, then turned north towards Petersburg, but the didn't get far before Henry Heth's [CS] Confederates stopped them. A counterattack by A. P. Hill the next day contained Warren's advances, but in the end federal troops still controlled the railroad |
Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| August 25, 1864 | Battle of Reams Station
A. P. Hill [CS] continued his attempts to retake the Weldon Railroad, a vital supply link from Petersburg to North Carolina. Hill drove back the 2nd Corps under General Winfield Scott Hancock and although the battle is considered to be a Southern victory, Hancock's men continued to hold its position on the railroad |
Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| Winfield Scott Hancock | ||
| September 30, 1864 | Battle of Poplar Springs Church
G. K. Warren's [US] 5th Corps and John Parke's [US] 9th Corps are attacked by A. P. Hill [CS] at Squirrel Level Road southwest of Petersburg. Warren and Parke did extend the siege lines. |
Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| A. P. Hill | ||
| October 27, 1864 | Battle of Hatcher's Run | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| October 27, 1864 | Battle of Burgess Mill | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| December 6, 1864 | Battle of Stoney Creek | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| March 25, 1865 | Battle of Fort Stedman
Confederates break Union line at Petersburg General John B. Gordon captured Fort Stedman, a Union outpost on the line around besieged Petersburg, eventually punching a hole 3/4 of mile wide. Confederate units then made a desperate attempt to hit the federal supply base at City Point. With overwhelming force the federal troops turned back the advance, recaptured the fort and retook the lines |
Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| March 31, 1865 | Battle of White Oak Road | Virginia |
| Siege of Petersburg | ||
| April 4, 1865 | Battle of Jetersville | Virginia |
| April 8, 1865 | Battle of Appomattox Station
Cavalry under Phillip Sheridan strikes the rail depot south of the Appomattox Court House, driving Rebels back and capturing essential supplies |
Virginia |
| Appomattox (or Appomattox Court House) | ||
| Battle of Appomattox | ||
| Philip Sheridan | ||
| George Armstrong Custer | ||
| April 9, 1865 | After attempting to break-out of the Union envelopment, Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysess S. Grant at the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House | Virginia |
| Ulysses S. Grant | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Appomattox (or Appomattox Court House) | ||
| Battle of Appomattox | ||
| Surrender At Appomattox | ||
| George Armstrong Custer | ||
| James Longstreet | ||
| Edward O. C. Ord |
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