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The Deadliest Battles of the Civil War

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The Deadliest Battles of the Civil War

Published: by David Beren

The Civil War was one of the deadliest conflicts in United States history, with over 10,000 battles between 1861 and 1865. From Vermont to as far away as Arizona, Union and Confederate soldiers would repeatedly clash after the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. For the next four years, this conflict would lead to the deaths of more than 360,000 Union and 258,000 Confederate deaths. With this in mind, let’s look at the 20 deadliest battles of the Civil War.

20. Battle of Franklin

Battle of Franklin
The Battle of Franklin devastated the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

©Andrein / Public Domain - Original / License

  • Dates: November 30, 1864
  • Union Forces: 27,000
  • Confederate Forces: 27,000
  • Casualties: 8,578 (2,326 Union; 6,252 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

19. Battle of Cedar Creek

The Battle of Cedar Creek ended the Confederate’s attempt at capturing Washington, D.C.

©"9007 Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia" by lcm1863 is licensed under BY-ND 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: October 19, 1864
  • Union Forces: 31,610
  • Confederate Forces: 21,102
  • Casualties: 8,674 (5,764 Union; 2,910 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

18. Battle of Opequon

Union General Philip Sheridan led Union troops to victory near Winchester, Virginia.

©"looking NW wide - General Phil Sheridan - Sheridan Circle Washington DC - 2013-09-15" by Tim Evanson is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: September 19, 1864
  • Union Forces: 40,000
  • Confederate Forces: 15,514
  • Casualties: 9,035 (5,020 Union; 4,015 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

17. Battle of Nashville

The Battle of Nashville monument honors those who died in the battle.

©"Original Battle of Nashville Monument" by Brent Moore is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: December 15-16, 1864
  • Union Forces: 55,000
  • Confederate Forces: 30,000
  • Casualties: 9,061 (3,061 Union; 6,000 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

16. Battle of Seven Pines

Battle of Fair Oaks
The Battle of Seven Pines is also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks.

©Alfred Waud / Public Domain - Original / License

  • Dates: May 31-June 1, 1862
  • Union Forces: 34,000
  • Confederate Forces: 39,000
  • Casualties: 11,165 (5,031 Union; 6,134 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Both sides claimed victory

15. Battle of Atlanta

Battle of Atlanta
The fall of Atlanta boosted President Lincoln’s re-election campaign.

©John Francis Edward Hillen / Public Domain - Original / License

  • Dates: July 22nd, 1864
  • Union Forces: 34,863
  • Confederate Forces: 40,438
  • Casualties: 12,140 (3,641 Union; 8,499 Confederate)
  • Winner: Union victory

14. Battle of Missionary Ridge

The Battle of Missionary Ridge forced part of the Confederate Army to retreat to Georgia.

©"Battle of Missionary Ridge" by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is licensed under CC0 1.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: November 25, 1863
  • Union Forces: 56,359
  • Confederate Forces: 44,010
  • Casualties: 12,491 (5,824 Union; 6,667 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

13. Battle of Gaines’s Mill

Battle of Gaines's Mill
The Battle of Gaines’s Mill was a big victory for Stonewall Jackson.

©Muhranoff / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license - Original / License

  • Dates: June 27, 1862
  • Union Forces: 34,214
  • Confederate Forces: 57,018
  • Casualties: 14,830 (6,837 Union; 7,993 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Confederate victory

12. Battle of 2nd Petersburg

A Civil War re-enactment taking place with the Battle of 2nd Petersburg.
  • Dates: June 15-18, 1864
  • Union Forces: 62,000
  • Confederate Forces: 38,000
  • Casualties: 15,385 (11,386 Union; 4,000 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

11. Battle of Cold Harbor

The Battle of Cold Harbor was a hopeless Union assault against the fortified Confederate Army.

©"File:NPS Battle of Cold Harbor marker 1.jpg" by Pi3.124 is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: May 31-June 12, 1864
  • Union Forces: 108,000
  • Confederate Forces: 59,000
  • Casualties: 17,332 (12,737 Union; 4,595 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Confederate victory

10. Battle of Fredericksburg

One of the locations where the Battle of Fredericksburg took place.

©"Sunken Road, Battle of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: December 11-15, 1862
  • Union Forces: 114,000
  • Confederate Forces: 72,500
  • Casualties: 18,030 (12,653 Union; 5,377 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Confederate victory

9. Battle of 2nd Bull Run

The Battle of 2nd Bull Run was a major battle that led the Confederates to attack Maryland.

©"Brooklyn 14th 2nd Battle of Manassas Twilight Clash Sign" by Dennis H. Begeal is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: August 29-30, 1862
  • Union Forces: 62,000
  • Confederate Forces: 50,000
  • Casualties: 18,300 (10,000 Union; 8,300 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Confederate victory

8. Battle of Antietam

President Lincoln visited Union troops before the Battle of Antietam.

©"President Lincoln Battle-Field Antietam Alexander" by J. Paul Getty Museum is licensed under CC0 1.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: September 17, 1862
  • Union Forces: 75,500
  • Confederate Forces: 38,000
  • Casualties: 22,717 (12,401 Union; 10,316 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

7. Battle of Shiloh

General Grant overlooking the Battle of Shiloh battlefield.

©Public Domain / Flickr - Original / License

  • Dates: April 6-7, 1862
  • Union Forces: 66,812
  • Confederate Forces: 44,699
  • Casualties: 23,746 (13,047 Union; 10,699 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

6. Battle of Stones River

Battlewagons that were used at the Battle of Stones River.

©"Battle wagons grounds Stones River" by Carol M Highsmith is licensed under CC0 1.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863
  • Union Forces: 41,400
  • Confederate Forces: 35,000
  • Casualties: 24,645 (12,906 Union; 11,739 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Union victory

5. Battle of The Wilderness

Memorial sign highlighting some of the contributions to the Battle of the Wilderness.

©"Higgerson Farm, Battle of the Wilderness, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: May 5-7, 1864
  • Union Forces: 101,895
  • Confederate Forces: 61,025
  • Casualties: 28,699 (17,666 Union; 11,033 Confederate) 
  • Winner: Inconclusive 

4. Battle of Chancellorsville

Memorial sign highlighting General Robert E. Lee’s victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

©"Lees Greatest Triumph, Battle of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: May 1-4, 1864
  • Union Forces: 133,868
  • Confederate Forces: 60,298
  • Casualties: 30,500 (17,197 Union, 13,303 Confederate)
  • Winner: Confederate victory

3. Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Sign indicating the Battle of Spotsylvania battlefield movements.

©"Map of Spotsylvania Campaign, Near The Bloody Angle, Near the Bloody Angle, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House" by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: May 8-21, 1864
  • Union Forces: 100,000
  • Confederate Forces: 52,000
  • Casualties: ~31,086 (18,399 Union, 12,687 Confederate)
  • Winner: Inconclusive  

2. Battle of Chickamauga

Monument celebrating the Confederate Victory at the Battle of Chickamauga.

©"Monument to Kentucky Units at the Battle of Chickamauga image 2" by DrStew82 is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. - Original / License

  • Dates: September 19-20, 1863
  • Union Forces: 60,000
  • Confederate Forces: 65,000
  • Casualties: 34,624 (16,173 Union; 18,451 Confederate)
  • Winner: Confederate victory

1. Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest of the Civil War.

©Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com

  • Dates: July 1-3, 1863
  • Union Forces: 93,321
  • Confederate Forces: 76,699
  • Casualties: ~51,000 (23,049 Union; 28,063 Confederate)
  • Winner: Union victory

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com.

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