1. Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12-14, 1861): The bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, marked the start of the American Civil War. While the Confederates won this initial battle, it solidified Northern support for the Union cause.
2. Battle of Rich Mountain (July 11, 1861): Union forces under General George B. McClellan defeated Confederate troops led by General Robert S. Garnett in western Virginia (now West Virginia). This victory helped secure Union control over the strategically important region.
3. Battle of Philippi (June 3, 1861): Union troops led by Colonel Benjamin F. Kelley caught Confederate forces off guard near Philippi, Virginia, resulting in a Union victory and the capture of several Confederate leaders.
4. First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) (July 21, 1861): Initially, a Confederate victory, but the Union Army managed to retreat in an organized manner, preventing a complete rout. This battle exposed weaknesses on both sides and led to a realization of the war's seriousness.
5. Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) (September 17, 1862): The bloodiest single-day battle in American history. Although tactically inconclusive, the Union's successful defense halted Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of Maryland and provided President Abraham Lincoln with the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate territories.
6. Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11-15, 1862): A Union defeat, but it demonstrated the determination and resilience of the Army of the Potomac under General Ambrose Burnside. This battle contributed to the Union's eventual victory at Gettysburg the following year.
7. Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): A decisive Union victory that ended General Lee's second invasion of the North and marked a turning point in the war. The Confederate defeat at Gettysburg significantly weakened their chances of achieving independence.
8. Battle of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863): A major Union victory that led to the capture of the strategically vital city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and split the Confederacy in two. This victory, along with Gettysburg, helped secure the Mississippi River for the Union and severely damaged Confederate morale.
9. Battle of Chattanooga (November 23-25, 1863): Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant defeated Confederate troops led by General Braxton Bragg, securing Union control over Tennessee and opening the way for the eventual capture of Atlanta.
10. Battle of Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865): The final major battle of the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the war and leading to the Confederate surrender at other fronts.