The Major Battles of the Civil War Essay

Synopsis: George Armstrong Custer was a West Point graduate who attained military promotions to brigadier general and major general in the regular army on March 13, 1865 and major general of volunteers April 15, 1865 during the American Civil War. Later in 1870’s, Custer moved to the west to fight in the Indian Wars. On June 25, 1876, a battle at Little Bighorn against Lakota and Cheyenne warriors was fought where he led 210 men. Custer and all of his men were killed in the battle. The battle, also known as “Custer’s Last Stand,” was part of the Black Hills War against a confederation of Plains Indians, including the Cheyenne and Dakota Sioux. It is considered one of the most controversial battles in U.S. history.

James Butler Bonham was a American soldier that battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. He was the second cousin of William B. Travis was a messenger to the battle of the Alamo.His younger brother, Milledge Luke Bonham, was a Brigidier general in the Confederate states Army in the American Civil War, and served as Govenor of south Carolina from 1862 to

The Second Battle of Bull run was a stunning victory for the Confederates over the Union Army of Virginia and very important in the Civil War. The Union suffered from lack of confidence after the battle and the defeat boosted morale in the South, so pleased that they nearly defeated a powerful Union army. General Lee’s critical victory in the Second Battle of Bull run laid the foundation for the first assault in the

At the beginning of the battle, it appeared that the numbers advantage McDowell had was a key factor that would secure a Union victory. Union Major General Robert Patterson and his 18,000 men were to support the operation by preventing Brigadier General Joseph Johnston’s unit of 12,000 Confederate troops from reinforcing Beauregard. Patterson failed in this endeavor. Johnston’s 12,000 Confederate soldiers arrived at the First Battle of Bull Run by way of railroad and swiftly changed the course of the battle.

On October 5, 1813 famous Indian Chief Tecumseh. Tecumseh was killed during the war of 1812. Tecumseh was born in an Indian village in Ohio he fought against U.S. forces in the American Revolution, he eventually became a great leader of intertribal councils so, he traveled frequently attempting to organize a united Indian front against the United States. then when the war of 1812 came he joined the British with a large Indian force he marched on U.S. Fort Detroit with British General Isaac Brock. In August 1812, the fort surrendered without a fight when it saw the British and Indian army The British-Indian force besieged Fort Meigs, and Tecumseh intercepted and destroyed a Kentucky brigade sent to relieve the fort. After the U.S. victory at

“Commanders direct all aspects of operations by establishing their commander’s intent, setting achievable objectives, and issuing clear tasks to subordinate units.” During the battle, McClellan personally “directed the actions of his generals from his headquarters, two and one-half miles from the front lines, visiting the field only once.” McClellan issued orders to his generals through couriers and flag signals; in addition, kept apprised of the action by telescope even though parts of the battle were not visible. This distancing potentially clouded his judgment, reducing his ability to achieve success. Since McClellan did not consult with his generals about his operations process, due to the lack of trust, there was no coordination between the McClellan’s adjacent

By July 1861, the northern press and the public were eager for the Union Army to make an advance on Richmond ahead of the planned meeting of the Confederate Congress there on July 20. Encouraged by early victories of Union troops in western Virginia, and by the war fever spreading through the North, President Abraham Lincoln ordered Brigadier General Irvin McDowell to mount an offensive that would hit quickly and decisively at the enemy and open the way to Richmond, thus bringing the war to a quick end. The offensive would begin with an attack on Confederate troops under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard camped near Manassas Junction, Virginia (25 miles from Washington, D.C.) along a little river known as Bull Run.

In the heat of battle, against her own people, America fights the most destructive war to the country, which killed more of her own lives than any other war in history. The United States, not nearly as united as before, started splitting in two when in 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union, quickly followed by other Southern states, forming the 11th state, the Confederacy. Since the Southern states used agriculture done by slaves as their economy, when Northern states started opposing slavery’s extension into the West, the Southerners feared they would lose their main money source. The Confederacy was “founded upon the truth that the Negro does not equal the white man” (The Civil War). Lincoln did not want to start a war with his own

Juan Seguin- Juan Seguin joined William B.Travis’ army on February 23 in the Battle of the Alamo. He was there for the 13 day siege but he didn't participate in the actual battle. He left to carry a message to the enemy from everyone in the Alamo. The message was that the Texans "shall never surrender or retreat.". Juan got it across and went to get soldiers to help the Texans. By the time he returned. The Alamo had already fallen to Santa Anna’s

The information that Bragg recorded is much different from many of the other primary sources. He received information that was more accurate and realized that the Confederates did not have a victory at Shiloh. Bragg wrote that Beauregard fell back to Corinth. He goes on to state, “Reinforcements had been rec’d by the enemy and that he [Beauregard] had not been able to secure all the artillery & ammunition which they lost in the battle.” This shows how the Confederacy has failed to complete their objective of driving back the Union army before it was reinforced. It also mentions how they could not secure the Union’s artillery and ammunition because they were driven back to Corinth on the second day. The information that Thomas Bragg received is accurate from a factual standpoint. One of the possible reasons the information he received was good was because of his position in the Confederate government. Information was most likely received directly from officers and not clouded by rumors or speculations and views of soldiers. Braggs perspective and understanding of the Battle of Shiloh is much more broad as well.

Although the battle was won and the Seminoles were pushed out of their stronghold the casualties were tallied up. Once the casualties were assessed, the battle did not seem so great. Out of 1100 Soldiers they took 26 casualties and 111 injured. The Seminoles took 13 casualties and 9 wounded. The Americans were unable to capture any of the Seminoles due to their light equipment.

To begin with, there were three men who played major roles in this battle, with the first being Robert Edward Lee, a Confederate general. Born on January 19, 1807, Lee was the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, the most capable army in the South. (“Robert E. Lee,” Brittanica) By Lee’s side was another Confederate general known as Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Indeed, Jackson was among the Civil War’s most skilled tacticians, earning the moniker “Stonewall” after his success at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861.

The first battle of Bull Run began near a small stream (Bull Run) in NE Virginia, and about 30 miles SW of Washington DC. The Battle began on July 21st, 1861, this battle was also the first preeminent undertaking of the Civil War. The Civil War had started a couple months before Bull Run at the battle at Fort Sumter. Both sides were hopeful that the war would be quick and over soon.The south thought if they could take another victory, the north would just give up and leave the confederate states as they were. While at the same time many from the north

For my battle analysis assignment, I have chosen to examine the battle of Shiloh. This battle began April 6 – 7 1862, in the Pittsburg Landing area of Tennessee. In Hebrew Shiloh, means “peace” nonetheless, this battlefield was far from a place of peace from April 6-7 1862. This battle was the bloodiest civil war battle to date and occurred between the Union and Confederate armies. Having analyzed the battle from multiple sources, I have discovered a number of operational, tactical, and logistical mistakes that contributed to the Confederate losses suffered. My sources include documentaries, historical videos, books, and articles from historians and civil war experts who have spent their lives studying and dissecting the civil war, its battles, commanders, and tactics. As part of my analysis, I will highlight the Confederate mistakes that could have produced a different outcome of this historical battle.

This battle analysis methodically examines one of the most famous battles of the American frontier during the country’s growth westward: the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as The Greasy Grass to the American Indians. It took place along the Little Bighorn River in what is now the state of Montana. The battle was fought during a sweltering summer day on June 25, 1876 between the United States Army’s Seventh Calvary Regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and the Sioux and Cheyenne American Indian tribes led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The significant history leading up to this fantastic battle and all aspects of the opposing forces such as command and control, composition, and strategic and operational tactics