Abstract
An insoluble conflict between North and South clashed these two parts of one country and lead to the bloodiest war, the USA had ever been involved into – American Civil War (1861-1865). First Bull Run, also known as First Manassas, Gettysburg and Fort Sumter are placed to the list of major battles of Civil War.
American Civil War (1861-1865) has proved to be one of the bloodiest that American people ever witnessed. Both sides fought for dear life and no one wanted to yield.
Fort Sumter in Charleston (April 12-April 13, 1861) became the place for the first clash between the Union and the Confederation. The battle resulted in the surrender of the bastion, after 34 hours of defending, to Confederate army. The importance of the battle lies not only in superiority but also in realization of the Union that the war was not going to be a blitz war, as it had been planned, but would prolong for indefinite time and that the South was going to fight for its rights and lands.
A small river Bull Run in northern Virginia turned out to be the witness of the first major battle during the whole war. Both South and North considered it to be the last (Major Civil War Battles). The Union troops commanded by General Irving McDowell and the Confederate forces led by General Joseph E. Johnston collided on 21 July, 1861. The first attack of the Union threw the Confederate lines back and seemed to have predetermined the outcome of the battle, but unexpected reinforcement of the last, made McDowell’s army retreat. The South elated and gained the false sense of secure, whereas the North was stunned and got one more proof that the war promised to be a long one.
And, finally, the battle in Gettysburg is considered to be a turning point in the war, mainly because of the huge losses from both sides and the element of unexpected. The Gettysburg campaign lasted 3 days from July 1 to July 3, 1863. The two armies were going to confront each other. Not knowing about exact locations, they met in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The outcome was mainly predetermined by the location of armies. One was hidden with rocks and another fought on the almost flat area, though the heavy losses undermined both sides. The Union lost 23.000 men and the Confederate troops – 28.000. This was the largest number of killed and wounded in all battles American soldiers took part in.
References:
Major Civil War Battles. (2012) Retrieved from http://historyworld.org/some_major_civil_war_battles.htm
