Battle histories of the American Civil War
The Civil War
A nation divided by secession and war. This growing visual atlas traces the people, places, and decisions that remade the United States over four years of fighting.
The American Civil War
The war preserved the Union and ended slavery.
In 1861, eleven Southern states seceded from the United States to protect a slaveholding order and formed the Confederacy. The Union initially fought to preserve the nation and later made emancipation a war aim. The conflict became the deadliest war in American history.
About this atlas
This is a history built in chapters. Each battle story combines military strategy, decisive moments, and the human cost of battle. New entries will join the archive over time.
Secession
& rupture
Emancipation
& turning point
Surrender
& reunion
Four years that changed the republic
The battle archive
Battle histories
Each entry tells the story of one battle. Begin at Fort Sumter, where the first shots made the crisis a war.
April 12—13, 1861 · South Carolina
Fort Sumter
A thirty-four-hour bombardment forced the federal garrison to surrender—and turned secession into civil war.
Read the story ↗
April 6—7, 1862 · Tennessee
Shiloh
Nearly 24,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or left missing—a toll no previous American battle had reached.
Read the story ↗
September 17, 1862 · Maryland
Antietam
About 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing in twelve hours—the bloodiest single day in American history.
Read the story ↗Chronology
The battles in order
The archive will cover battles in the war’s eastern and western theaters, from 1861 to 1865. Fort Sumter, Shiloh, and Antietam are now open.
-
02
1861
Fort Sumter
South Carolina · Eastern coast
Read story ↗ -
—1861
First Bull Run
Virginia · Eastern theater
Planned -
01
1862
Shiloh
Tennessee · Western theater
Read story ↗ -
03
1862
Antietam
Maryland · Eastern theater
Read story ↗ -
—1863
Gettysburg
Pennsylvania · Eastern theater
Planned -
—1863
Vicksburg
Mississippi · Western theater
Planned -
—1864
Atlanta
Georgia · Western theater
Planned -
—1865
Appomattox
Virginia · Eastern theater
Planned
1861—1865
Battle histories · 1861—1865