Union Names:
* Descriptive Names: The Union tended to use descriptive names for battles, focusing on the location or a prominent feature of the battlefield. For example:
* First Battle of Bull Run
* Battle of Gettysburg
* Battle of Antietam
* Names Emphasizing Victory: The Union sometimes used names that emphasized their victory or the defeat of the Confederacy. For instance:
* Battle of Vicksburg (Union victory)
* Battle of Five Forks (Union victory)
Confederacy Names:
* Names with "Battle of": The Confederacy often used the phrase "Battle of" at the beginning of battle names, even when the engagement did not occur at a specific town or landmark. For example:
* Battle of Fort Sumter
* Battle of Fredericksburg
* Battle of Chancellorsville
* Names Honoring Confederate Leaders: The Confederacy sometimes named battles after Confederate generals or leaders who played a significant role in the battle. Examples include:
* Battle of Stonewall Jackson (named after Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson)
* Battle of Jefferson Davis (named after Confederate President Jefferson Davis)
* Names Emphasizing Confederate Claims: The Confederacy occasionally used battle names that asserted their claims to territory or sovereignty. For instance:
* First Battle of Manassas (Confederate name for the First Battle of Bull Run)
* Names Emphasizing Southern Heritage: The Confederacy sometimes named battles to highlight their connection to the South or Southern culture. For example:
* Battle of the Wilderness
The naming of battles during the Civil War reflected the strategic objectives, ideologies, and emotional attachments of both the Union and the Confederacy.