The Civil War ...?

Question

What was the the first major battle in the war to take place on Northern soil? On what date? No "cut and paste" answers, please.

"paintballer391" I am in my fifties. Well out of school!! I'm just giving you guys a little fun quiz. I think this is fun. Have a good day, friend.

Answer 1

Antietam was the first major battle of the Civil War on northern soil It is also known in Confederate histories as Sharpsburg. It took place near the town of Sharpsburg, MD and is particularly notable for have had the largest number of Americans killed in battle in one day in the Nation's history--more than on D-Day, more than any battle in WWI or WWII.

Major actions at the battle took place at the Cornfield, Burnside Bridge and the Bloody Lane.

Answer 2

The first major battle of the Civil War to take place on Northern soil was Sharpsburg/Antietam in September of 1862.

Answer 3

It's a FUN question. And of course it is a "trick" question because the query specifies a "major battle" (as opposed to a small skirmish) on NORTHERN soil.

Many people might say the opening battle of the American Civil War - the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. It was, in fact, Northern territory so long as the Union held this island fortress in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. That's a fair, if hair-splitting answer, since South Carolina had begun the march toward war with her secession some time before.

The next temptation is to speak of the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas Junction if you are one of those who still calls the ACW "the War Between the States") on July 21, 1861. Since Virginia had already seceded from the Union, however, this is incorrect.

Perhaps the largest very early conflict to take place in any UNION territory during the war was in Missouri, at Camp Jackson, on May 10, 1861. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Missouri Reserve Corps and 3rd Missouri Volunteers of the Union Army met with a Confederate force that left 639 Confederates as prisoners. This wasn't much of a battle, but the casualty count given as those taken prisoner was significant.

The separation of West Virginia from Virginia, consequent to a difference between delegates to a state convention about secession, created the newest Union state in June, 1861. And THERE the first substantial "campaign" of the war took place, with McClellan leading Union forces in the field and Robert E. Lee directing the Confederates from Richmond.

There were several smaller battles in both West Virginia and in Missouri throughout June and July, 1861. River conflicts took place in Maryland and other locations, with Union gunboats encountering infantry and artillery ashore or small Confederate boats. On July 2, 1861, at Falling Waters, Maryland, the 1st Wisconsin and 11th Pennsylvania, fighting for the Union, clashed with Confederates, with 8 dead and 15 wounded in blue, and 31 dead and 50 wounded in gray. The casualty count begins to edge toward a bigger battle.

Three days later at Carthage, Missouri, the 3rd and 5th Missouri regiments and a battery of the Missouri Artillery face a Confederate force. Now the casualties are serious - 13 Union killed and another 31 wounded, and Confederate losses of 30 dead, 125 wounded, 45 taken prisoner.

So the fighting goes, "minor" battles around the South and West, punctuated by terrible slaughters such as First Bull Run.

Finally, the first very substantial fight in Northern territory occurs on August 10, 1861. The Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri, near Springfield, pours the blood of brothers onto Union soil.

Missouri and Kansas Union cavalry units, regular U.S. Army cavalry, plus infantry and artillery from Kansas, Missouri and regular Army units encounter a strong Confederate force and the butcher's bill is high indeed. Union Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon is killed, along with 223 other men and officers in national colors, while 721 Union are wounded and 291 are "missing" (meaning they have been killed, likely by artillery shells, but cannot be accounted for). On the Confederate side, 265 men are killed, 800 wounded, and 30 missing. This was a minor tactical victory for the Confederacy and a strategic defeat for the Union and greatly damaged the reputation of Union Department Commander John C. Fremont.

This is the event that ultimately answers the question - which was the first "major battle" on Northern soil? It was out West, in Missouri, where so much of the festering conflict leading to the Civil War had first appeared in violence and bitter partisan division.

Answer 4

Who's Civil War?

Answer 5

I believe the first major battle was Gettysburg on July 2-4th. There were smaller battles before that.

Answer 6

ok, i gotta gripe here. Which Civil War. Please ya gotta understand that there's more countries in the world than the United States of America. Most countries go through a Civil War in there history so perhaps you might be a little less obtuse by not presuming this is an American-only sharing of questions and answers. Thanks.

Answer 7

There have been thousands of Civil Wars in all of history. Which one is the one you speak of?

Answer 8

i believe it was Gettysburg in July of 1863

Answer 9

Oh okay. Let me think then...

The first battle was at Fort Sumter.. however that was in SC.

Was it at Manassas?

Sorry if I offended you.

Answer 10

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1863