Famous American Civil War Battles

The American Civil War was a time when the nation was divided into two groups. One side fought for freedom and the abortion of slavery while the other fought for their perceived birthright of slave ownership. It was the most unprecedented event in America's history where the union between Northern and Southern states was really tested. The war itself ravaged cities, towns and states and has seen more than 620,000 casualties suffering on both sides. That number far exceeds American deaths from the Revolution to the Iraq War.
 
For military historians, the Civil War had several battles that defined the character and personal strategy of different generals. From Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant to Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, each specific battle displayed the audacity and personality of each one. Unlike the battles of today, where modern weapons play an important part, the battles of the civil war were decided by fast and swift maneuvers on an enemy's flank or exposing and attacking a weak side. It has been said that the American Civil War had a couple of battles that affected the outcome of the whole war. Out of the many battles during those trying times, three battles deserve recognition from all the rest.
 
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first large-scale battle fought by the Union and Confederates during the American Civil War. The battle, fought on July 21, 1861, pitted the inexperienced troops of both sides to the realities of war. The Union army led by Brigadier General Irvin McDowell crossed into Bull Run to face Confederate generals Joseph Johnston and P. Beauregard. The battle ended as the Union army fled back to Washington D.C. This battle displayed the lack of preparedness of both armies.
           
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862 was the battle between the Union armies and Confederate armies near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek. This battle also marked the first major battle to take place on the Union side of the North/South line. The casualties for that day mounted to an all time high of 23,000 casualties. Shortly after the battle, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
 
Of all the battles fought during the Civil War, nothing had a more permanent impact on the outcome of the war than the Battle of Gettysburg. Fought July 1 to July 3, 1863 in the area surrounding the town of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. It was the last offensive ever made by the Confederates led by commanding officer, General Robert E. Lee. This battle claimed the largest number of casualties in the war with the estimated number of deaths at 57,225 from both sides. This battle also marked General Lee's last attempt to invade the Northern States.
 
All of the other Civil War battles are well worth mentioning, but did not have the impact of the above three battles. Each of these battles played such a major role in the direction of the war that if one battle had of had a different outcome the war could well have ended differently, changing the course of America's history.

Famous Nurses From the Civil War

"During all periods of the (Civil) War, cases of women is found in the ranks, as the fight against the common soldiers, their sex yet unimagined, and the special motivation in each case, often unknown" . F. Moore, 1866

Nurses - Dorothea Dix, Sally Louisa Tompkins, Mary Todd Lincoln, Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke, Mary Jane Safford, and Clarrisa (Clara) Barton - angels of the Civil War battlefields.

Dorothea Dix was sixty years when the Civil War began, regarded by some as "too old" to "do no good" for the sake of the North. However, Dorothea was a veteran of hospitals, having devoted his life to reforming the insane asylums. Despite his age, was elected to head the nursing staff assigned to medical facilities in the North. Assertive and dominant, Dorothea was the importance of his appointment to the heart and immediately set rigid standards for nurses, issuing this call for volunteers: "No women under the age of 30 need apply to serve in public hospitals. All nurses needed to be plain-looking women. Their clothes must be brown or black, no bows, no curls, no jewelry and no hoop skirts. " This expectation of hard work soon gave him a reputation for reliability among the wounded. And although his Dorothea pushed nurses, asked nothing more of them made of herself and often opened his home to the tired nurses to enable them to stay closer to hospitals.

Sally Louisa Tompkins lives in Richmond, Virginia in the outbreak of war, when Richmond was flooded with casualties who filled sufficient capacity beyond hospitals. Sally, an influential woman in Richmond, no small reputation, persuaded a judge in Richmond to leave his home in the interest of war. Sally turned it into a private hospital, staffed with his friends and slaves of their home. As the matriarchal head of care, Sally at the prospect of cleaning is different from other hospitals. While on the battlefield, the same surgery tools were used without washing between patients; Sally's encouraged cleaning techniques as part of treatment for the wounded. Sally's hospital gained a reputation for saving lives. In fact, most Confederate soldiers returned to the battlefield of Sally hospital in Richmond than any other medical facility in the south. During the 45 months that Sally's hospital was in existence, countless soldiers were sent to her. Only 73 were lost to death. Confederation President Jefferson Davis granted the rank of captain Sally and a hospital official in the army-supported medical service. It was renamed Robertson Hospital and was led by "Captain Tompkins" for the duration of the war.

Because Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln, was born in southern heritage, this caused some suspicions about his loyalty to the start of the Civil War. However, Mrs Lincoln proved herself a loyal union and a nurse of great endurance. She frequented hospitals, feeding, cleaning, and consoling the wounded. The story is told of the First Lady's visit to Campbell Hospital shortly after a number of limb amputations had been carried out. The stench was unbearable and amputees lay gemido of anguish. Many of the volunteers left, overcome by the smell and noise. Mary stayed Lincoln, holding the hands of people who suffer from bathing and its fevered brows with wet rags.

Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke was known throughout the world as a Galesburg, Illinois native as "Mother" Bickerdyke, so it was no surprise when asked to take supplies to the northern hospital in Cairo, Illinois, a walk several hours. Mary Ann was appalled by the filth that was present in the hospital, launching his own campaign to clean up the hospital in Cairo and hospitals on the battlefield as well. Mary Ann often walked the battlefields after sunset, in search of wounded who might have been overlooked by the brigades stretcher. General Ulysses S. Mary Ann Grant asked to join the campaign in Atlanta as a hospital volunteer. Because Mary Ann fought for a better hospital, she offended hospital staff and doctors. But she was loved by the soldiers. When a doctor informed Mary General Sherman, his response was to dismiss the complaint with these words: "She outranks me. You'll have to see President Lincoln in this regard."

Mary Jane Safford served as a nurse under the indomitable Mary Ann Bickerdyke. Although she was small and fragile, Mary Jane Mother Bickerdyke adopted the rules and she also walked the Union battlelines at night, looking for wounded. Mary Jane nursed the sick and wounded in the battles of Belmont, Missouri and Fort Donelson, Tennessee. The story is told that Mary was once so close to enemy lines Confederates who shot her. She made a white flag of his white Petticoat and a branch and continues to nurse the sick. Mary Jane accepted duties aboard the Union ship "of the city of Memphis," to make five trips before subsequent collapse of exhaustion. When the Civil War has ended, Mary Ann Safford studied medicine and became one of the first female surgeons in the United States.

Clarrisa (Clara) Barton, attributed to the founding of the American Red Cross, began her nursing career when Union soldiers arrived in Washington, DC, after being brutally by secession supporters. She met baskets of food and supplies for their own home and the homes of friends and donations to these bloody regiment. This opened a new service area - the collection of supplies for the wounded. Clara is credited with what bandages and dressings for surgeons in the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, as well as the hospital ran out of supplies. Once there, Clara delivered supplies and brought food and water to the men lying wounded on the battlefield. It was there that the surgeon James Dunn considers its "angel of the battlefield", a name that stayed with Clara Barton since then.

Dorothea Dix, Sally Louisa Tompkins, Mary Todd Lincoln, Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke, Mary Jane Safford, and Clarrisa (Clara) Barton - some of the northern states of the south and some - but all on the battlefield.

Famous Civil War Battles

The American Civil War was a time when the nation was divided two groups. One side fought for freedom and abortion to slavery, while others fought for their birthright of alleged slavery. And 'the event was unprecedented in American history where the association between the North and the South was really tested. The same war devastated cities and provinces, and page views have more than 620,000 deaths from both diseases. This figure far exceed deaths from the American Revolution to the war in Iraq.

For military historians, Civil War generals had several different battles that defined the character and personal strategy. From Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, battle-specific shown the courage and the personality of each individual. In contrast to the battles of today, where modern weapons play an important role in the battles of the Civil War attack of the war 'has decided to side with fast and easy maneuvering on the enemy side or stay and weak. It 'been said that the American Civil War had some fight, all affected the outcome of. Among the many battles in these difficult times deserve recognition by all three battles.

The First Battle of Bull Run was the first great battle of the Union and Confederates during the American> Civil War. The battle, fought on July 21 in 1861 gutted the inexperienced troops of both parties to the reality of war. The army of Union Brigadier General Irvin McDowell led crossed in Bull Run Confederate General Joseph P face . Johnston and Beauregard. The fight ended with the fleeing Union army in Washington DC This battle displayed the reluctance of the two armies.

The Battle ofAntietam fought September 17, 1862 was the battle between the armies of the Confederate and Union troops in Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek. This battle also marked the first major battle for space on the Union 's to take the North-South line. The losses for the day in question, built on a historic high of 23,000 victims. Shortly after the battle, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Of all the battles during the Civil WarNothing had a lasting effect on the outcome of the war when the battle of Gettysburg. Fought July 1 to July 3, 1863 near the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It 'been the last offensive ever given E. Lee commander of the Swiss Confederation, the General Robert. This battle was the largest number of deaths in the war with the estimated number of 57 225 deaths from both parties. This battle also marked the last attempt to General Leeinvade the Northern States.

All other Civil War battles are also worthy of note but not the impact of three battles. Each of these struggles have played a big role in the direction of the war, a battle that if he had a different outcome of the war would have ended differently and the course of American history.