The Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run took place 25 miles south from Washington and was on July 21, 1961. The Northern General was Irvin McDowell and the Southern General was Thomas J. Jackson his was the first major land battle in Virginia. On July 16, 1861, McDowell charged from Washington to Behind Bull Run. On July 21, 1861 McDowell crossed Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederates on Matthew Hill. They fought all day until the Confederates were driven back into Henry Hill. Late that afternoon, the Confederates reinforcements broke down the Union. Jackson earned the Nom De Guerre. On July 22, the Union was broken down and weak, so they went back to Washington. The significance of this battle is that it was the battle that made people realize the meaning of the Civil War and to let them understand it.
The Battle of Antietem
The Battle of Antietam was on September 7, 1862 along Antietam Creek in Maryland. The Northern leader was General McClellan and the Southern leader as General Robert E. Lee. What happened was The Army of Potomac under the control of George McClellan, had many series of assaults between Lee's forces near Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17, 1862. There were many assaults throughout Miller's Cornfield and the West Woods. On the Third day this was the major final assault by the Union at Antietam Creek. Just as the federal forces collaspe, A.P Hill's division from Harper's Ferry drove away the Potomac Army. The significance of this battle was to make Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. It might have been the most single bloodiest days in American History, but it gave Abraham Lincoln victory before the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Battle Of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was on July 1-3, 1863. What happened was Lee brought his army to Pennsylvania but Grant was already there waiting for him and his army. On July 1st, Confederates drove the Union to Cemetery Hill. The next day, Lee extended the Confederate line, which shortened the Union territory, and the Union had a fight with them at Devil's Den, Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, Culp's Hill, and East Cemetery Hill. Southerners land extended their land, but didn't remove Grant from his ruling. In the morning of July 3, there was a fight on Culp's Hill and the Union regained its land sucessfully. That afternoon after a big bombartment, Lee attacked them on Cemetery Ridge, yet he lost a lot also known as Pickett's Charge. In conclusion, Lee lost his second battle of tying to take over the North. The importance of this battle,
Citations
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg.html
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_getty.htm
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/bullrun.html
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_bull1.htm
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_antie.htm
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_getty.htm
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/bullrun.html
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_bull1.htm
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_antie.htm